"Saludos desde San Miguel de Allende" – Greetings from San Miguel de Allende. I am currently on the fourth day of a month-long sojourn in Mexico.

Should you have read my previous blog post, you would be aware that I was preparing to depart for this retreat from the cold weather. I left the frigid conditions of Toronto several days ago, following a period of record-setting snowfall, making the timing quite opportune. The journey was extensive, comprising a flight of over five hours, followed by a car transfer of approximately three to four hours to my accommodation. I arrived while it was still daylight, and the driver facilitated a curbside drop-off.

My friend, Bob, was awaiting my arrival, as I was experiencing slight apprehension regarding the entry process and logistics. Prior communication with the property owners had been challenging due to language barriers; however, I am pleased to report that the situation was successfully resolved, and all arrangements are satisfactory. The apartment is situated on the ground floor, accessible via an alleyway that, like the rest of the city, is entirely paved with cobblestones. I estimate the apartment to be approximately 500 square feet, featuring two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a modest kitchen area equipped with a table and a sofa. The stove is gas-powered and requires the use of matches for ignition. After settling in, I dined out, and subsequently took the bus south to the largest grocery store to acquire provisions for the following morning's breakfast.

The bus fare is 8 pesos, equivalent to about $0.62 USD, and navigating the routes is reasonably straightforward. I have utilized this mode of transport on several occasions thus far. The locale is characterized by significant hills and gradients. My accommodation is located in the "centro" area, which provides convenient access to prominent landmarks, notably the Parroquia in the main square (El Jardín), an impressive church situated within a welcoming park.

On my second day, I played pickleball at a local outdoor facility boasting six courts. We found ourselves on the "challenge" court, which, naturally, felt like a scene from a low-budget sports movie. I managed to participate for approximately one hour, attempting to channel my inner pickleball pro, but mostly just running around. The facility, named La Deportiva, is a vibrant multi-sport club. To protect my foot—because apparently, even a casual game is a high-risk activity for me—I departed earlier than others and returned by bus to City Market to conduct additional shopping.

The mornings here are quite cool, warming up considerably in the afternoon, and it is my understanding that the area experiences limited rainfall. Morning temperatures range from approximately 5-9 degrees Celsius, reaching about 22-24 degrees by midday, under sunny skies. The standard recommendation is to dress in layers; however, today I commenced with a hoodie and shorts, a look I can only describe as "confused tourist chic," and by 3 p.m., the temperature was quite warm.

On the third day, I played at La Capilla Club Deportivo, a private club featuring five courts and various amenities, including courts for padel and tennis, as well as a swimming pool. This was an organized group session managed by an individual from South Africa, and participation is by invitation—yes, they let me in. Players are assigned to a group, and performance determines movement up or down in the following game, which sounds far too serious for hitting a plastic ball with a paddle, with sessions held twice weekly. As a newcomer, I was not placed on the top two courts; nevertheless, I engaged in several excellent games and met pleasant individuals.

The session lasted for three hours, and the ongoing plantar fasciitis issue was noticeable for the remainder of the day—my foot staging a full-scale protest.

In the evening, I dined at a lively restaurant named Pork Belly, where I enjoyed my first margarita along with a superb pulled pork sandwich. The margarita was the perfect pain reliever, and the sandwich was worth the ache in the foot.

There is no pickleball scheduled for today (Friday), and I was pleasantly surprised that my foot felt acceptable this morning. With a flexible agenda, I ventured out around 11 a.m. to capture some interesting photographs and procure coffee. Later in the afternoon, I grabbed lunch at The Inside Cafe, a popular establishment for breakfast and lunch. They are purportedly renowned for their grilled cheese sandwiches, so I ordered the El Birria Grilled Cheese, which consists of brisket and cheese on a toasted bun—it was delicious.

Following lunch, we strolled for a few hours before deciding to return for some much-needed rest. I accumulated a significant number of steps today (11,247, or 8.10 km)—an admittedly excessive amount. Consequently, this evening will be a quiet one. Sorry for the short blog but I don’t want to bore you too much. See you soon!

Un abrazo desde San Miguel!