Hilltown gem with terrace views, spacious garden setting in San Miguel de Allende

This lovely home is situated in a hacienda-style compound only a
15-minute walk from San Miguel's main square and a 5-minute walk to restaurants, artisans and produce markets, bus stops and the
artists' haven, La Aurora. Tucked away on a cul-de-sac in the town's
smallest colonia with only 5 one-block streets, it offers a quiet, bird-song filled alternative to the higher traffic areas found in much of San Miguel.
The house is surrounded by garden on three sides, bounded behind by open
hillside providing intensely changing colors for every season, and its
roof deck commands a stunning 360 degree view of San Miguel's hilltown centro. With its dramatic blend of jacaranda trees, cathedral belltowers, and colorful hillside homes, San Miguel and the Santa Rosa mountains to the
west combine to form a spectacular backdrop sunset-watching.

-A very spacious ground floor consists of a 'great room'(LR/DR/Kit)with gas log fireplace, a fully tiled master bath(double sinks and large shower)/dressing room andbedroom w/king bed as well as an individual day bed in LR. The great room opens onto a large, south-facing portal with sitting and
dining areas and an woodburning fireplace.
Ground floor rooms and the portal overlook a very large patio and multi-terraced garden (Lower site photos are of the ground floor.) The beautifully tiled kitchen
overlooks the entry patio, with jade plants and ferns surrounding a hand-carved fountain. 
-A staircase leads from the entry patio to a second-floor suite consisting of a cozy, book-lined sitting area, breakfast bar and dining/game alcove, large bedroomw/king bed and sitting/dressing area, and a fully-tiled bath with twin copper sinks and separate tub/shower for two overlooking the open hillside beyond. Second-floor rooms open onto a flower-filled terrace, partially covered by tiled roofs, for dining and relaxing. The terrace has a second kitchen area with a gas grill.   (Upper terrace can be seen in the last site photo.)

-The terraced patio garden, visible from both floors of the home, has
pomegranite, palm and banana trees, with flowering hibiscus, bouganvilla, and plumbago bloomingyear-round.
Saltillo-tile floors stretch throughout the home, warmed by a varietyof mexican and persian rugs and all living spaces are decorated in a colorful style which includes the owner's personal folk art collection. Excellent beds and comfortable seating areas provide comfort both inside and out. 

-A separate two-story, one-bedroom casita sits across the patio garden
from the main house. The first floor consists of a sitting room with fireplace and french doors opening onto the garden, w/small kitchen and dining area and bath. The second floor contains a large bedroom w/ queen bed and sitting area with a beautiful boveda(arched brick)ceiling and sliding doors which open onto a
balcony shaded by a large old pirule(chili)tree. An umbrella table with seating for two is reserved for the casita in the patio garden.
-Smoking permitted only in outdoor areas. Inquire about pets. More
photos provided upon request.

This home offers:
-a friendly neighborhood of both locals and ex-pats
-numerous beautiful outdoor spaces for dining and entertaining
-large well-equipped kitchen w/microwave, toaster oven, coffeemaker,
blender, juicer,
standard cooking equipment and purified water
-House has 2 large bedrooms with king beds, down comforters and
designer bedding plus reading lamps,
alarm clock/sound machine/cdplayer,2 luxurious baths with linens,
hairdryers and electric heaters
-regular land line for local calls
-vonage phone service for free calls to the U.S. and Canada
(extensions in both house and casita)
-cable tvs in both house and casita with major U.S. networks
-stereo cd players
-wireless internet access for your laptop
-two laundry areas w/washer and gas dryer for both house and casita
-ironing board and iron on each fl. and in casita
-fans in all rooms(ceiling fans in most)
-gas heater or fireplace in each sitting area
-plenty of street parking
-Housekeeping service two days per week

Curl up with a margarita in front of the outdoor fireplace and enjoy
the spectacular night sky or drink your coffee while watching the
swallows and hummingbirds in the sun-filled garden. If you must
have more, San Miguel offers a wide range of intensely varied
experiences from language, art and writing classes to flamenco dance,
yoga, pilates and tai chi. Hiking, horseback riding, hot air ballooning,
plus visits to nearby archeological sites, day trips to Dolores
Hidalgo to visit their famous talavera workshops or to the state
capital of Guanajuato which offers several excellent museums and other
sites of interest. For a complete list of activities available, just
google san miguel de allende and discover lots of great websites.
Guides can be arranged for day trips whenever necessary.

Rental rates for house:
December through April:
$1000/wk; $1,500/2wks; $2,500/mo. (limit 5 people)
May through November:
$750/wk; $1,200/2wks; $1,700/mo. (limit 5 people)

One-bedroom casita: (unavailable now through August, 2009)
December through April:
$550/wk; $800/2wks; $1000/mo. (limit 2 people)

Entire compound:
January through April:
$1200/wk; $2000/2wks; $3500/mo.