“This is the best dessert ever!” my six-year-old son gushed enthusiastically as he dunked a churro into a cup brimming with Mexican hot chocolate.
He might have wanted to say more but decided to concentrate on downing the cinnamon-sugared wand of fried dough instead. I didn’t blame him; I was practically hoovering up my order.
He, my wife and I were sitting in Cafe San Agustin, a go-to sweet spot in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The brightly lit, always busy churreria’s walls are covered with photos and media clippings of its owner, telenovela star Margarita Gralia, and wicker baskets hang from the ceiling. Consider it the city’s answer to Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans.
Far from the packed resort beaches of Cancun, Cabo’s nonstop party atmosphere and the hipsterdom of Tulum, San Miguel de Allende exists as its own singular slice of Mexican life. Located in the state of Guanajuato, 170 miles (273km) north of Mexico City, it boasts cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, giving visitors the impression they’ve stepped out of time.
Just walking around is rewarding. Colour is everywhere. Violet jacaranda trees and bougainvillea flowers of radiant pink and royal purple are in full bloom. Street vendors hawk a rainbow of chewing gums, flamboyant handicrafts and a wild kingdom of balloons.