San Migual and the last week of school

Last weekend (July 11) we went with Anna, a fellow student from Esculea Mexicana, for an overnight trip to San Miguel de Allende. It is a beautiful city a little over an hours bus journey away. Yet another gorgeous colonial city with bougainvillia spilling down walls in a riot of reds and pinks over brightly coloured walls; huge arched doorways filled with heavy wooden doors; and grand cathedrals. I sat on the terrace of our hotel on Saturday afternoon writing in my diary enjoying the view across the city. The light was that hazy light that reminded me of Umbria, Italy. When I looked at the pots of red geraniums that lined the balcony that feeling was complete. The place is a favourite with ex-pat Americans and you can see why.

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On Saturday night we took advice from the Lonely Planet and drank margueritas at a rooftop restaurant bar. They were the best margueritas (plural) I have perhaps ever had! Here we are toasting our good health and good fortune. I include a photo as proof of the architectural superiority of these drinks. You'll have to take my word for the taste.

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Sunday was spent at the local Aguas Calientes - hot springs recovering from a sleepless night (curse the Spanish design of rooms around a central courtyard and the Mexicans love of all night parties!) and perhaps the slightest hangover. The spas included a long tunnel that you could swim along through to an inner cave with hot water spouting out of the wall. There were four light holes in the ceiling and the shafts of light playing on the rippling surface and were reflected to the cave ceiling. It was very tranquil.

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We began our last week exhausted and Ange decided to play hookey from classes. I ploughed on with only two hours a day. We seemed to whip through an extraordinary amount of grammer with our teacher Ilsa - three new tenses. I can now say: I have spoken Spanish, I would speak Spanish, and I will speak Spanish! But really, I can still hardly speak Spanish at all - and I can't say that in Spanish!

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We have spent a relatively quiet weekend packing for our next leg - we go to Mexico City on Monday.