Every day of the year, everywhere you look here in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, you see beauty — both natural and manmade: flowers in bloom in all seasons, artful decorations celebrating any and all occasions. But at Christmastime, it seems to me, this beauty becomes boundless.

Come take a walk with me and see…

On yesterday’s walk in centro I saw several nativity scenes and liked this nearly life-size one (above) the best. At all of them the manger was empty, because here in Mexico the baby Jesus doesn’t appear on the scene until he’s born on Christmas morning.

I came across many welcoming angels and one sneaky devil (above), hiding near the crèche scene in the Jardin. What was he planning to do, I wondered?

This grand and elegant Christmas tree in front of the city’s iconic Parroquia church is the hub of this year’s Christmas festivities.

A short walk from the Parroquia you’ll find a popular Starbucks coffee house (above), with, appropriately, countless silvery stars glittering above it.

And on other streets, if you look up, you’ll find pinatas dotting the daytime sky.

Many doorways are festooned with Christmas garlands. To me, this one (above) wins the prize.

Everywhere you go in SMA, the beauty of the season welcomes you. If you don’t already live here, or you’re not one of the 145,000 expected visitors to this stunning old city this Christmastime, I hope this short tour will magically transport you.

Happy Holidays – and all best wishes for a beautiful 2023!