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Behind the Doors of San Miguel de Allende | 
 enlarge | Creator: Robert De Gast
Publisher: Pomegranate Communications
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $18.50
You Save: $1.45 (7%)
New (3) Used (8) from $16.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 354261
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 95
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 6.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 0764913417
Dewey Decimal Number: 720.97241
EAN: 9780764913419
ASIN: 0764913417
Publication Date: July 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Book Description
This unusual book celebrates the colorful, sunwashed doorways of San Miguel de Allende, one of the oldest towns in Mexico. Picturesque, intellectually stimulating and historically fascinating, this arts-and-crafts and cultural center is a popular destination for tourists, expatriates, and vacationers. When photographer-writer Robert de Gast first visited there in 1987 he was particularly captivated by its doors---of mansions, houses, stables, churches, banks, studios, and stores. He returned five years later to document them; eighty of his photographs from that trip have been selected for this entrancing book. De Gast lives part of every year in San Miguel, where he continues to photograph and write.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 From the Publisher November 22, 2005
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
"Robert de Gast, author of the popular The Doors of San Miguel de Allende crosses the thresholds of homes in this historic Mexican town to discover their remarkable outdoor paradises--sunstruck, lushly colored courtyards, patios, and breezeways--that lay beyond them. Come with de Gast as he guides viewers to parts of San Miguel visitors seldom see and offers glimpses into the daily lives and traditions of those who live in this unique place.
"Established in the sixteenth century as a Franciscan mission, the lovely town of San Miguel de Allende has been an art and artisanal center for nearly two centuries. Its cool summers and mild winters have more recently made it a popular destination for vacationers from North America and Europe.
"A part-time resident of San Miguel since 1991, Robert de Gast is an award-winning photographer and a widely published writer. His avocations include hot-air ballooning, which he pursues in Mexico, and sailing, which he does for part of the year on the East Coast of the United States.
"96 pages, size: 6 1/4 x 8 1/4". 96 full-color photographs. Casebound book, with dust jacket. ISBN: 0-7649-1341-7."-- Pomegranate
Great examples of Spanish colonial architectural details... July 3, 2005
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Strolling down the cobblestone streets of San Miguel De Allende is a unique experience. From behind the unassuming whitewashed walls standing flush with the sidewalks, pierced here and there by a window adorned with a moucharabieh , one can catches glimpses of life... Music, laughs, the scent of a promising menudo in the making, a child whose eyes will follow you down the street, a kitten napping in the sun on the window sill...
In this Spanish colonial town, much of life takes place out of the passer-by's sight. Following a traditional Andalucian floor plan, the rooms, linked by a colonnaded court, open around a central courtyard, or patio outfitted with a pila , and whose lush and colorful vegetation tempers the austerity of the house seen from the street...
Through the eye of Robert de Gast, we are ushered behind these doors to discover lush gardens, antique cantera and saltillo floors,soothing fountains and all these amazing construction details that define Spanish Colonial architecture.
A great book to savor, whether you are building or remodeling in the Southwest or Mexico, or you simply enjoy great photography and architecture...
 narrow scope October 12, 2002
11 out of 17 found this review helpful
San Miguel de Allende is a lovely historical colonial town located in the central highlands in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico. A sleepy town until a bunch of American GI's returning from the war settled there, so it was suggested and now the de facto fact. Word soon spread and the price of the real estate soared. San Miguel de Allende now boasts the second largest expatriate community found in Mexico. This book romantizes and glamorizes the homes and hotels of and for the wealthy. Perhaps the title is more applicable "Behind the doors of the rich in San Miguel de Allende". It has beautifully photographed pictures and probably makes a nice coffee table book. If you are thinking of buying or remodeling your home in San Miguel, this book surely gives you some good ideas. Better yet, go visit there yourself and take a couple of the home and garden tours offered by the library in San Miguel. Oh, the front page showed the hotel Casa Sierra de Nevada in the park. It is no longer that but now the Hotel Quinta Real. It no longer qualifies for the small luxury hotel (SLH) designation. Let's hope behind the doors of this hotel under new management, the service and quality can equal the beauty of this property. It would be more fun and interests if behind the doors offer more into the history and intrique of each property, not to mention the juicy stuff that is going on today behind closed doors.
 Disappointed August 10, 2002
10 out of 12 found this review helpful
I wanted interiors, not courtyards. Based on what little info Amazon has provided I expected interiors to be "behind the doors". As for courtyard ideas it is good but not great. Most are a little better than average. I didn't want to rate the book lower just because it isn't what I wanted and the title is a little misleading. The author's book "The Doors of SMA" is very good. It shows doors. - jim
 IF YOU LIKE PHOTOS...THIS IS YOUR BOOK March 1, 2002
16 out of 19 found this review helpful
However, If you would like to read about San Miguel, then this is not the book for you. There are about 8-9 pages of reading, then 80 pages of photos. Not very much info on San Miguel.
Not what I was looking for.
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