San Miguel is a lovely town with cobbled roads and colonial style Spanish buildings. The people are friendly and the vibe is laid back. On one night out, we meet an American man who has been living in Mexico for 10 years. He is a scientist who works on menopause medication and married a Mexican woman who is the head of the company he works for. They have two children and he has just finished building an eco friendly ranch which he is thinking of renting out on Airbnb while he and his wife move to Holland to work for a while leaving the children behind with the in-laws.

We stay at a room in an Airbnb place for a few nights. Our host, Angelica, lives alone and has 5 dogs. She is a lovely woman who owns a local pharmacy. Angelica rarely works in the pharmacy anymore because she can't say no to those people who come in needing medication for serious illnesses but can't pay for them.
Recently two 14 year olds came in for the morning after pill but could only give her a couple of coins so she gave them away free.

Angelica gives us some last minute advice as she generously drove us to the bus station via a stop at an artist's compound. She grew up in Chihuahua (one of our next destinations) and remembers the days when the train didn't stop at any of the Copper Canyon villages and people had to throw their bags off and then jump while the train slowed. Angelica had to leave Chihuahua because a Narco took an interest in her teenage daughter. Her advice involved how to identify a cartel member - apparently they wear a cowboy hat, pointy cowboy boots, a big belt buckle and an expensive looking checkered shirt. We promised to be on the lookout!