By Jesús Aguado
Leticia Fernández is the face of the San Miguel Red Cross. She is energetic, multifaceted, in love with art, and has been involved with San Miguel de Allende for 45 years. She moves with ease among foreigners, locals, and visitors in “this and that” events, but she also visits outlying communities, where she delivers humanitarian aid through the institution that she has represented with pride, honor, and love for seven years. We interviewed her and learned about her relationship with San Miguel, art, and the Red Cross of San Miguel.
Jesús Aguado: When and how did you discover San Miguel?
Leticia Fernández: My husband, Carlos Noyola, and I discovered San Miguel 45 years ago. I loved coming for “long weekends” to enjoy the little town. I confess, though, that it was very different from what it is now. It had a lot of charm.
JA: How did you decide to buy a house? What area was the best?
LF: We bought a house when we decided to change our residence in January 2004. We began to research where it would be best to buy. We lived in Centro, but we were not convinced of the busyness of life that comes with living there. In the end we love living in a quiet area, where you choose the moments when you want the hustle. The best area for us is the quietest, because we like to live like this and choose the times when we want another type of existence.
JA: If you could make a comparison between your city of origin (San Pedro Garza García, Nuevo Leon) and San Miguel, what would it be? How do they differ?
LF: They are diametrically opposite! San Pedro is a competitive city, with a lot of action, very complicated, totally of asphalt. We left it just when it was getting complicated. The cities differ in that in San Miguel you are more in control of your time. The lifestyle is very different. Here you live more as a in town with the cultural and glamorous ingredient that characterizes SMA.
JA: How did your interest in art start?
LF: [It’s been] ever since I got married. My husband comes from a family of antique dealers, so he planted the seed in me. The truth is I became more passionate than he on the subject. I can tell you that I love my job, I love my store, and I have not lost my capacity for wonder, even after 50 years of being established in our business.
JA: If you could do a count, from how many countries have you seen art, and which is your favorite?
LF: My favorite is France, then the Czech Republic. Paris and Prague are my favorite cities to enjoy art in all its expressions. They are places where the artistic activity is endless and you can find anything that truly amazes you.
JA: How did La Buhardilla start?
LF: The idea was born while my husband and I were engaged, to be able to get married and have a way of life that would give us the opportunity to work together and grow and strive together. I loved that he was already involved in the subject of family art. I began to learn about the world of antiques and art. I am a very curious person and I always wanted to know more about any piece I was offering to the public. Research has always been one of the tasks that most satisfies and delights me; I can stop eating and sleeping to pursue that.
JA: What is the most precious piece of art you have?
LF: I am not struck by how valuable a piece is, but rather the sentimental value that it carries. Among the pieces that we enjoy in our house are several that are very precious to me because they remind me of a special moment in our life. But, just as we have pieces of very special and beautiful pre-Hispanic art, we also have art from the Old Masters. I really like ivory and everything that the hand of man could create at some point in time.
JA: Why help those who need it most? How did you get involved with the Red Cross?
LF: I have always thought that we are privileged in life and we must give back a little bit after we receive so many blessings. I appreciate being in a place that gives me the opportunity to help anyone who is in a vulnerable situation. When I came to SMA in 2004 I was invited to participate as a volunteer at the Red Cross. Every day I fall more in love with their mission and capabilities. It is the perfect means to give if it is really what you want to do, because it is about your effort being reflected in the well-being of others, treating each other as brothers to achieve a better and more just world.
JA: Have you visited the rural communities of San Miguel? Which one has impressed you the most?
LF: Many. I did a lot more field work before the pandemic, and have since stopped that work. But there are many forgotten communities and they worry me most during the winter. They are very difficult places to live in.
JA: How has San Miguel changed since you arrived?
LF: I arrived when the day to day was very simple! Now there is rush hour. That makes me sad because the flavor that I used to feel of the people here is getting lost. San Miguel has lost the feeling somewhat due to snobbery and growth, which is exaggerated to my way of seeing things.
JA: If you could turn back time for San Miguel, what would you take away from it, what would you add?
LF: Right now I would take away half of the people, but leave the hotels, restaurants, shops, and wonderful galleries. There should be more neighborhood cafes and little places, as well as trattoria or bistros that are more intimate and are also the product of SMA people.
JA: What is your favorite place, square, restaurant, cafe in the city?
LF: If we talk about restaurants, I can say Atrio and Trazo. As far as galleries, there is Gallery Noyola Fernández! (no way can you miss that one); Plaza La Aurora has no comparison! And the Café de la Aurora is one of my favorites!
JA: How about a Council for young locals?
LF: We ought to encourage our beautiful people. We ought to grow with that grain of sand that each one is, we ought to make sure the recommendations are met in order to truly have the best city in the world.
JA: A tip for young visitors?
LF: That if they want to continue coming to enjoy the wonders that SMA offers, we must take care of it, act with responsibility and order.
