Peace. Traquility. Joy.

February 2026

Dear Friends,

“I can’t wait to go home,” I said last week while visiting San Diego, where I lived my adult life for 34 years.

But the home I meant was in Mexico. Casa Avra. San Miguel de Allende.

After six months here, something has shifted in me.

Everyone I saw in California said the same thing:

“You look so peaceful and happy.”

They’re right.

Life here moves differently. Slower. Warmer. More connected.

Yes, Mexico has been in the news recently. Like any large country, there are moments of chaos. But San Miguel is a mountain town, a UNESCO World Heritage city known for art, culture, and community. It’s seven hours from the ocean and feels worlds away from headlines.

When I returned this week, I exhaled.

Smiling faces in the Jardin, the center of town.

Life flowed and moved with the same ease.

Sunny 75 degree days and cool nights with the windows open.

Life is calm here, grounded, safe.

And so full of life.

Here’s what my life looked like this past month.

Culture at Your Doorstep

TEDx event in San Miguel:

One afternoon at Hotel Matilda, a Michelin star rated hotel, a flash mob of opera singers appeared from every corner of the courtyard. Angelic voices rising into the sky.

In San Miguel, culture isn’t something you drive to.

It’s something you walk into.

TEDx events. Opera schools. Art walks. Literary talks. Music in courtyards. Fireworks in the Jardin.

There are dozens of events every week.

When you stay at Casa Avra, you’re a short walk from all of it.

Art, History, and Story

In the Guadalupe neighborhood, artists open their studios and welcome you in.

That’s where I met Luis Fernando Romaña and purchased a piece of his bold, contemporary work based on an indigenous technique. I fell in love with his story, wrote about it and it was picked up by Lokkal a local magazine.

I later visited the Toy Museum Museo del Juguete Popular Mexicano, and received a private tour from the founder Angélica Tijerina, learning about generations of indigenous craftsmanship. It was one of the most charming museums I’ve ever seen!

On January 21 the town celebrated the 257th anniversary of Don Ignacio Allende. The Jardin filled with families as an hour fireworks show exploded against the pink stone Parroquia. Stunningly beautiful.

Evenings of Chocolate and Conversation

One night I attended a private chocolate tasting dinner. Eight of us sampled ten bars, discussing flavor notes as they melted slowly on our tongues.

Artists. Entrepreneurs. Writers. Chefs.

San Miguel attracts curious, thoughtful people. Conversations here go deeper.

When guests stay at Casa Avra, this is the energy they step into.

Nature Close By

Casa Avra is in the heart of town so I seek nature to balance my urban life. 

I hiked through El Charco del Ingenio, a local nature preserve and botanical garden beneath the old stone aqueduct ruins.


I visited Via Organica, a massive organic farm and Esperanza Equina, adjacent horse sanctuary.

I slept in an Airstream on a farm thirty minutes away, surrounded by wild horses, canyons, caves, streams and open sky.

Nature feeds my soul.

At Home at Casa Avra

My home Casa Avra continues to evolve.

Each month I upgrade something in the downstairs casita to make it more comfortable for guests. I keep adding to the kitchen for folks who like to cook. Your stay is in a private separate one-bedroom with a loft that includes another bed and desk. Guests only see me if they choose to join the shared rooftop deck.

When people arrive, I invite them to share a glass of locally made wine or fresh green juice prepared by my cocinera (cook), Silvia.  Silvia has also been making classic homemade Mexican meals for Casa Avra visitors.

Here’s Casa Avra’s open dates:

March 21 to April 8

April 13 to April 30

June 1 to June 30

Sept 1 - Sept 14

Oct 1 on is open 

Remember Dis de Muertos - Day of the Dead at the end of October is one of the most magical times in San Miguel.  Book early!

Want to visit? Email me at audrey@casaavra.com or send me a WhatsApp message to +1-619-993-9077

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