Page 188 - WDT MAGAZINE PORTUGAL

along the procession. Pungent clouds of copal
incense float by, mingling with the aroma of roasted
corn.
Crowds jam into the Centro to watch religious
groups bear huge floral sculptures called xuchiles to
the church, where they rise high against jagged
pillars and spires. As the weekend progresses, huge
intricate wood forms appear around the Jardín to
serve as the frameworks for elaborate castillos, or
firework displays. The air is
punctuated with blasts and
horns seemingly 24/7.
San Miguel, in the sun-
drenched high mountain
desert in central Mexico,
serves as the perfect
backdrop for this
quintessentially Mexican
th
celebration. Its 16 century
Centro is a UNESCO World
Heritage site with a core of
24 blocks of narrow stone
sidewalks running past
galleries, markets,
sophisticated hotels and
modest family-owned shops.
Buildings are painted
subdued gold, rose, rust and
blue, complementing the gray,
white and ochre tones of
historic mansions and
churches.
Travel & Leisure's readers
voted San Miguel the best
city in the world for 2017 and
2018. It slipped to second
place this year, but was
named the American Capital of Culture for 2019.
The city of some 170,000 residents is celebrating
with extraordinary vigor and there's a constant
buzz in the international arts and literary scenes.
Arts oriented events, installations and
performances are in the works for urban and rural
communities. Symphonic concerts, photography
exhibits and weekly dance, cinema, music and stage
events are scheduled through 2019.

Performers mug for the cameras. The
architecture and design constantly catch
the eye. There’s something to see in
every direction.

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