By Adriana Mendez Acosta
—How old is Sofia?
—About 75.
—Is she really? I can’t believe it! She looks so much younger. What a privilege to see a woman that age enjoying dancing like that!
I met Sofia about 15 years ago. She was a close friend of my cousin. They always liked salsa and were party and life partners. In those years at the beginning of the century, San Miguel was just as much fun as it is now, although there were much fewer places to dance and less culinary options in general. I remember that, back then, the place to dance salsa was in Bóvedas, a big, old warehouse in the San Antonio neighborhood. I remember how amused I was when, upon arriving at the place, the waiter would greet my cousin effusively with a kiss and a hug, while running to the bar to bring to her table a bottle of Cuervo, labeled with her name and with a mark drawn with indelible pen, indicating the progress of the tequila consumption. She didn’t even last two minutes sitting at the table when local dancers of all heights, complexions, and socio-economic classes came to greet her under the nickname of «Bety» and invite her to dance. A couple of hours later we would continue to the next bar or restaurant to complete the tour «of the seven houses» that ended, almost always, at Benjamin Lara’s cantina, El Quita-penas.
One night, about three years ago, I went to Baradero, a small salsa bar with contemporary decoration and a bar illuminated by a mirror, full of bottles and reflections. It is located on Cuadrante Street, in the heart of downtown San Miguel. I was sitting watching the couples dance when my eyes stopped to try to decipher the movement of the feet and shoulders of an older, slim, short-haired woman dancing with a man at least 30 years her junior. Her wooden-soled high heels glided across the floor as her lips smiled and her eyes sparkled. I was entertained, dumbfounded, and infected by the woman’s enthusiasm. Within minutes, my neurons began to synapse, and I recognized her face. Could it be Sofia?
It turns out that there is a group of about 30 persons who regularly go to the different dance floors with live music in San Miguel: on Wednesdays they meet at El Faro, on Thursdays at Cent’anni, on Fridays at La Chula or Lolita, and on Saturdays at Baradero.
I go to El Faro to dance on Wednesday nights. My body and mind appreciate a change of pace in the middle of the work week. I am lucky enough to be friends and neighbors with Roberto, who is the oldest salsa teacher in town, so I enjoy the combo: dance partner + class.
I am surprised at how many foreigners dance well. It is very common to see sentimental couples of Mexicans with Americans whose relationship started dancing. I don’t know why, but it moves me to be part of this collage of nationalities, socio-economic backgrounds, and ages brought together by the pleasure of dancing and having a good time. You never know if you are dancing with a multi-millionaire New Yorker, with an acclaimed doctor, with a famous writer, or with a bus driver. In this environment, profession and origin have no relevance.
In San Miguel, socially and culturally invented differences are diluted. Many of the people who settle here do so alone or as a couple. Most of them have no family or networks, so they are eager to connect with others and are ready to chat and make new friends. Anonymity, an irremediable consequence of migration, provides fertile ground for reinventing oneself and building new ways of bonding and living.
San Miguel offers a repertoire of options that few cities in the country offer. From my point of view, it has everything. We have any number of artistic, sports, altruistic, and intellectual activities. The city has the necessary services to live comfortably: from corner grocery stores to department stores like Liverpool and luxury supermarkets like City Market; organic and handicraft markets; furniture stores and art and decoration centers; hospitals and specialized doctors; theaters and cinemas.
How cool to live like Sofía, who does what she loves four nights a week! She exudes happiness to the beat of different Latin rhythms, such as salsa, bachata, and cumbia. She transmits a zest for life. Her smile and pupils show her well-being.
Could it be that finding an activity that you are passionate about is exactly what adds salt and pepper to life and adds quality to it?
And you, do you already practice that activity you like so much, or are you so eager to start practicing?
Come to San Miguel! Here, you will surely find it.
