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Books Worthy of Your Bookshelf (and your travel bag)

"The Best of San Miguel de Allende"
by Joseph Harmes

Review by Angela Becerra

First off, let me explain myself…
I realize this is a travel guide book, not a novel. Or so it would appear to the casual shelf-browser. The reason I’m recommending it to you, is because this is honestly unlike any guide book I’ve ever consulted (and I actually have flipped through quite a few guide books in my day). Believe it or not (and you should!), this is a guide book you can read just for fun.

I’ve heard about and met people who habitually read guide books about far-off places to transport themselves when they, for whatever reason, are stuck without the ability to go anywhere. In one of Pedro Almodóvar’s movies, “Talk to Her,” one of the characters reads guide books to forget the fact he is in prison (serving time for something very disturbing, I might add…but I digress). It’s not just psychos, either. My very sane parents keep the guide books to places they’ve been to laying around, so they can occasionally pick them up and remember the fun times they had. I got the concept in theory, but I never fully understood until I sat down with Joseph Harmes’ book. I laughed, I was shocked, I admired, I drooled over the pastries—I really felt like I was getting to know this Mexican city intimately, despite the fact I have never been there.

That is because Harmes does know the city intimately. Although he hails from right here in San Antonio, and graduated from Trinity University, Harmes now lives in San Miguel de Allende. His ability to bring places and people to life has been widely recognized. Harmes has written for Time-Life and Newsweek, and was the bureau chief for People magazine both in Houston and Miami. Also, South Texans will be glad to hear that true to the times—The Best of San Miguel de Allende is bilingual. Just flip it over to enjoy in English or Spanish.

Before I came across this book, I'll admit I did not know about San Miguel de Allende. Usually when people think of Mexico vacation spots, the first think of Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, or Acapulco. All gorgeous beaches—but admittedly all fairly commercialized tourist spots specially-designed for the benefit of the hordes of Spring Breakers. From the photographs in Harmes’ book, San Miguel appears more uncorrupted—traditional Mexico, you could say.
 
So I asked around, and found my own family knew about this great city—and had been keeping all the info to themselves. Apparently San Miguel does appeal to quite a variety of vacationers. My parents tell me they have been dying to visit San Miguel, and say a lot of artists and writers go there for inspiration. On the other side, my cousin Juan (the family party expert—and yes…that’s an expertise fine-tuned and earned over many years) tells me he actually did go there on vacation—and had a great time. Juan’s biggest recommendation in San Miguel is the place where he stayed—which ironically enough used to be a monastery. He says the doors of the rooms still have the name-plates of the monk who lived in each one.

Oh…and by the way, in case you are wondering (I was), San Miguel is located in central Mexico. If you drew a line east from Guadalajara, and another line north from Mexico City, San Miguel would be close to where the lines meet.

To me one of the best parts of The Best of San Miguel de Allende is the section titles. It’s a riot just to read through them. Of course there’s the necessary “Dining Out” section…with information on the “Best Authentic San Miguel de Allende Restaurants,” as well as the spots for vittles we Texans can’t live without—“Best Barbecue,” “Best Burrito,” “Best Salsas,” etc. Whether you’re ditching your diet, looking for fast food, or trying to avoid traveler’s diarrhea…Harmes is ready with the answers. But scattered throughout the art galleries, history and restaurants, Harmes surprises you with hilarious random information like “Best Places for Public Sex,” “Best Activities to Do While Intoxicated,” and “Best Places to Look for Your Teenager at 3 A.M.” There’s also useful info for the “gringos,” like the fact that groceria does not mean grocery store. Take it from Harmes, “if you ask for the best grosería, the answer might offend you.”

But I don’t want to give it all away. On Wednesday Joseph Harmes himself will be here in San Antonio, and you can hear what he has to say in Part 2 of this review, as well as see his appearance on the San Antonio Living show on News 4 WOAI at 10 a.m.
 
The Best of San Miguel de Allende has something for everyone—whether you’re a visitor, new resident, or simply a homebody or workaholic who needs a few minutes to get away from it all. Now I can’t wait to visit San Miguel; and when I do—I can think of no better way to get to know the town, then through the eyes of Joseph Harmes. As he so eloquently puts it in “The Best Reason to Live in San Miguel de Allende…” “No matter how hard many well-intentioned people try to screw it up, it’s still a great town.”

Be sure to check out Part 2 of Angela’s review of "The Best of San Miguel de Allende" on Wednesday. Tune in to the San Antonio Living Show at 10 a.m. that day for an appearance from the author, Joseph Harmes. You can see his one-on-one interview with Angela here at woai.com.

Editor’s note: Don’t miss Angela’s weekly book reports on Saturdays, exclusively at woai.com.  Email her with ideas on a great book to review, as well as any comments, complaints and suggestions.