Dancers in San Miguel

During the first weekend in March each year, villagers from the towns surrounding San Miguel de Allende process into the cityin their native dress and dance around the square in front of the cathedral. This is in celebration of the indigenous peoples' acceptance of Christ. We arrived by taxi at the square about 10:30 Friday morning, expecting activities to begin about 11. Drums were already beating, and dancers were swirling and flowing and swaying to the rhythms. We rushed to see what we thought was the end of the celebration. There were probably 40 dancers on the street to start. A few minutes later from another direction came a second group of dancers from a different village, dressed in entirely different ceremonial garb. They entered the other side of the square to the beat of their own drummers. The crowd flowed in their direction and enjoyed the dance.This continued, with more groups entering the square and rotating around so that each group had a turn dancing in front of the cathedral. For three hours the dancing continued. Feather head dresses, sequinned robes, ankle rattles adorned people of all ages, from toddlers to ancients. Banners identified the different groups. The atmosphere was electric with sights and sounds that touched the soul......Among the dancers mingled folks with cameras, garbed in expensive outfits, who looked as if they had just stepped off of Rodeo Drive. Okay, so there were some others..... rough looking bohemians from the hills of Oregon! The mix of cultures gave the square a surrealistic atmosphere....a blend of cultures that seems somehow to work, though mainly to the benefit of the expatriots who have settled in this enchanted mountain city.San Miguel de Allende has become an artist's colony, where exclusive art galleries and fine shops abound. The real estate priceshave skyrocketed and their are few good buys to be found. The hand-crafted tops we found in Uruapan for 100 pesos are 350 pesos in SM. Tomorrow morning (Saturday), we will leave bright and early...headed for Guadalajara. There, we will spend a few days and do some research for furniture and appliances for the condo in Mazatlan.