The Newcomer’s Guide to San Miguel de Allende What’s Inside? All the details you’ll need to: • set up your utilities • make emergency phone calls • use the metric system • meet others with similar interests • enjoy cultural events • find everything from This Guide Is For You If... doctors to hair stylists • You’ve just moved to San Miguel and you’re not quite sure how • learn important words in to go about setting up your new life. Spanish • better understand Mexican • You’re a visitor here for a few weeks or even a few months, and culture you’re ready to dive in but are hoping for some “insider” tips. • You’re thinking of moving here and want to get the low down on la vida loca, the crazy wonderful life we expats enjoy here in SMA. Brought to you by Realty San Miguel... one of the largest and most transition a smooth one. Our 185-8407 (214.884.7540 from respected real estate website, RealtySanMiguel.com, the U.S.) or come see us at agencies in San Miguel de also offers a wide range of Hernández Macías 101, in Allende. We understand that resources about San Miguel, Centro, with any questions you living in San Miguel for the including current news, videos, might have about purchasing a first time is both exciting and real estate blogs, and one of property or home here in San challenging, and we hope the largest selections of prop- Miguel. We’d love to earn your this guide will help make your erties for sale. Call us at business! ! © NANCY P. HARDCASTLE DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION !1 Table of Contents Cooking in San Miguel ..............4 Shipping Services Baking at High Altitudes MexPost and the “Regular” Post Office Equivalents Substitutions Medical Care............................. 23 Daylight Savings Time............... 6 The Metric System.................... 24 Conversions EMERGENCIES!..................6 Important Phone Numbers and Money........................................ 25 Related Information Traveler’s Checks and Cash ATM Fees & Precautions Food.......................................... 9 Exchange Houses vs. Banks Long Term Banking Disinfecting Your Produce The Food “Schedule” Eating on the Street The Tamale Stand LIVE WEB CAM! The Gorditas Ladies Check out what’s happening in The Fruit Stand The Ice Cream Stand El Jardin, the main square of Anatomy of a Taco Stand San Miguel de Allende, by In a Restaurant clicking here. Information About San Miguel... .14 Realty San Miguel.com The Civil List The Atención Out and About........................... 28 The Juarde Greetings and Exclamations The Phone Book Gestures Leaving the House The Facilities (bathroom etiquette) Insurance - Auto........................ 17 Phone Calls............................... 30 Legal Matters............................. 18 Real Estate................................ 31 For American citizens We Welcome The Curious For Canadian Citizens Know What You Want The Immigration Office & Visas We Jump Through The Hoops For You Visas and Buying Real Estate It’s Not Rocket Science, But.... Mail and Packages.................... 22 Repairs...................................... 34 Mail and Delivery Services page !2 Shopping................................... 34 Transportation........................... 41 Discounts The Bus The Ginormous Taxis The Big Ones Shuttle Services The Medium Ones Rental Cars Local Tiendas Specialty Stores Trash Pick Up............................ 43 Tuesday Market The Organic Market The Daily Mercados Utilities....................................... 44 The Artisans Market Electricity Water (not for drinking) Telephone and Internet Spanish Schools........................ 41 Gas Drinking Water Culture Club When it comes down to it, doubt delight you and others to practice acceptance when it we’re all just people, and will likely frustrate you. comes to these differences Mexican culture really isn’t that and try it, whatever it is, the different from North American To help increase your Mexican way. You might be culture, right? Wrong. While enjoyment and reduce your pleasantly surprised to find we do share a common frustration, we’ve provided that you like “their” way of humanity, Mexican culture is some tips to help you doing some things, and we actually quite different. Some understand just a few basics of promise in the process you will of these differences will no Mexican culture. We invite you gain a deeper appreciation of the culture. About Words to Know Find Spanish help in the Words to Know box in each section of the guide. It includes relevant Spanish terms and their pronunciation. By learning these words and phrases, you’ll be able to be friendly, be polite and ask for what you need. page !3 Cooking in SMA Baking at High Altitudes With an elevation of about 6,000 feet, San of butter is called for, reduce it by 1 Miguel is considered a “high altitude” when it tablespoon. (See also note about butter comes to baking. Not to worry - with a few measurements below). This should prevent adjustments, you can have your cake and eat it, your cookies from spreading too thinly during too. We suggest the following: cooking. 1. For cakes, cookies, quick breads, brownies, 3. If your baked goods are too dry, try reducing etc.: the amount of sugar by 1-2 tablespoons per • reduce baking powder and baking soda cup and increasing liquids slightly, by half. This is the most “universal” rule tablespoon by tablespoon. and should be applied across the board. Yeast amounts 4. If your baked goods are still too can stay the same in dry, increase the oven temperature breads. somewhat (15-25° fahrenheit) and reduce baking time (observation will • add a little extra flour, tell you when items are done). about 1 tablespoon per cup of flour. For repeated baking success, note directly on your recipes what adjustments 2. For cookies: were made, since these adjustments often vary In addition to the above adjustments, reduce from recipe to recipe. Bon appétit! the fat somewhat. For example, if 1/2 a cup Equivalents If you are an American, you’ve probably been system, at least for a while. This works fine with using the Imperial system of measurements (vs. bulk items like flour, sugar and spices, which you the metric system, which is discussed more on can easily measure out in your cups and page 24.) Unless you plan to buy all new teaspoons, but requires a little more work when cookbooks, measuring cups, it comes to items that are often measured in spoons, etc. sticks (like butter), or cans (like evaporated milk). when you arrive A few of the more common equivalents are listed in Mexico, it’s below for your convenience. likely that you will continue to cook using the Imperial page !4 butter 1 tablespoon 15 g 1/2 cup (1 American stick) 113 grams. [A stick of butter in MX is 90-100 grams.] chocolate bars 8 oz. 227 grams 5 oz. 141 grams chocolate chips 2 cups/1 12 oz. package 340 grams cream cheese 8 oz. (U.S. large box) 227 grams. 4 oz. (U.S small box) 113 grams evaporated milk 12 oz. can 340.19 grams. [Cans in MX are 378 grams.] graham cracker crumbs 1/2 cup (10 crackers) about 1 roll (170 grams) of Maria’s cookies, ground into crumbs (see also substitutions below) sweetened condensed milk 14 oz. can 397 grams Substitutions Bisquick - This baking mix is increasingly easier how many of those little squares equals, say, 1/2 to find here in San Miguel. Sometimes Mega cup of cajeta. carries it, and the Mini-Mart on the Ancha also carries it. However, if you’re counting your graham crackers - Graham crackers are nearly pennies, you might try making your own. It’s very impossible to find in Mexico. However, you can easy and keeps in the refrigerator or freezer for substitute Maria’s brand cookies for graham months. Go here for a recipe. crackers with very good results. buttermilk - You’ll have to resort to the old cottage cheese - This is another item that Mega “vinegar + regular milk” trick because buttermilk is now frequently carrying. However, if you can’t has still not arrived on the list of American get your hands on a carton, you can substitute imports at any store in San Miguel. ricotta cheese in the same quantities and the result is still pretty delicious. caramels - You won’t find those little squares of individually packed caramel here in Mexico, but sour cream - Purists argue that if you want sour you will find cajeta, the delicious Mexican cream you need to find something called crema equivalent. It comes in plastic bottles of various acidica, but what is called simply crema in the flavors and can be easily purchased at both dairy section tastes like sour cream to me. Do grocery stores and small tiendas. You’ll have to note, however, that crema batir is whipping estimate quantities, as it’s difficult to determine cream. page !5 Daylight Savings Time Daylight savings time (DST) is No matter where you are from, observed in Mexico in the if you are living here in San same way that it is observed in Miguel and wondering when most of the United States and you’ll need to change your Canada. The only difference is clocks, the easiest solution is that most* Mexican states to go here http:// change their clocks anywhere www.worldtimezone.com/ from one week to a month daylight.html, where you will before or after the rest of until April 6th in Mexico. Then, find an easy to read North America. For example, in the fall, DST ends in Mexico international chart of DST in the spring of 2014, DST on Oct. 26th and in the US/ dates. begins on March 9th in the Canada it ends on Nov. 2nd. *Those that border the US are the US/Canada and doesn’t begin exception.