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    San Miguel de Allende:
    the soul of mexico
    People, part 2
    From the book

    Part 1

    December 31, 2023

    by Cathi and Steven House
     
    Mexico came into our lives as an unexpected surprise. As beautiful as the architecture is, as rich as the culture is, as mesmerizing as the traditions are - it is the people here that make this country and the community of San Miguel so overwhelmingly precious.

    Strangers are welcomed and made to feel part of all that is Mexico, adding unimagined depth to their lives. For the extraordinary gift of so many years traveling and working in Mexico - we dedicated our book to the people of Mexico and particularly those of San Miguel de Allende, who welcomed us with open hearts and who have shared their lives and their families with us.

    Through them we have come to know the richness of the different cultures that meld to make Mexico one of the most amazing countries on earth. Their kindness and generosity, the artistry of the craftsmen, the beauty of their cities and towns have given us a new perspective on life and the wonders to be found in each day.
     

    *

    The sounds of San Miguel are unique and varied, carrying in their tones meanings that give texture to each day. The milk truck, the trash truck the knife sharpener, the fresh corn seller and donkeys with bags of rich dirt - the sounds of each one makes us pause for a moment and appreciate life.
     
    "All faces are as old as the world" - Picasso
     

    The weathered faces of the beautiful older people of San Miguel tell much of the stories of their lives. But to take the time to sit beside them and hear their stories is a gift from the past from people who have seen and learned much to teach us. These people are the iconic remains of a generation that will soon be lost, and it is a gift to come to know them.
     
    "Age has no reality except in the physical world. The essence of a human being is resistant to the passage of time. Our inner lives are eternal, which is to say that our spirits remain as youthful and vigorous as when we were in full bloom. " Gabriel García Márquez
     

     
    "Recognize yourself in he and she who are not like you and me." Carlos Fuentes
     

     
    "To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes; to hear it is to see it with our ears." Octavio Paz
     

     
    "Regardless of the size of the city or town where men or women are born, they are, in the end, the size of their work, the size of their will to enlarge and enrich their brothers." Ignacio Allende
     

    The art of papier-mâché, called cartoneria in Mexico, was introduced by the Spaniards in the 17th century, though the art dates to 200 BC China. Mexican artisans use cartoneria to make piñatas, fanciful creatures, masks, dolls and is often used as an inexpensive way of creating sacred figures in churches. Larger than life papier-mâché figures in colorful dress wander and dance in the streets of San Miguel and accompany most celebrations. These mojigangas, also called catrinas during Day of the Dead, were originally created to be destroyed during the burning of the Judases. In San Miguel these mojigangas are part of the general population and spend their time celebrating with everyone else

    *****

    San Miguel de Allende: the soul of mexico is available from your favorite bookstores including Aurora Books and La Biblioteca Tesoros in San Miguel, or from many of your favorite internet sites including Schiffer, Amazon, Barnes & Nobel and Thrift Books. If you would like an autographed copy of our new book, please send us an email request and you can buy it directly from us at steven@houseandhouse.com.

    **************

    Cathi and Steven House, the founders and principals of House + House Architects, have received over 50 design awards for their work in California, Mexico, Africa and the Caribbean, and have been featured in prestigious publications throughout the world including two monographs, House + House Architects: Choreographing Space and Houses in the Sun: light movement embrace. Their studies of vernacular architecture have been published in Mediterranean Villages: an architectural journey, and in Villages of West Africa: an intimate journey across time, which document the people, villages and unique architecture. Cathi and Steven lecture extensively and created CASA, The Center for Architecture, Sustainability + Art, a study abroad program based in Mexico.

    House + House Architects' work reflects Cathi and Steven's passion for soulfully designed buildings intimately responsive to their site and to their inhabitants.

    www.houseandhouse.com

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    *****

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