Gabriela Peña Garavito has lived in San Miguel for nine years, but her love for this place began in 1991. She is a talented interior designer and has led projects at Casa Dragones, Casa No Name, La Única, Cantera 1910, Casa Nómada, and Casa Karina, among others.
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Positive: committed, creative, trustworthy.
Negatives: analytical, perfectionist, bossy.
What song best sums up your life?
“I Feed Love” by Donna Summer.
What kind of publication would you be on the cover of?
Design and interior design.
What do you do for fun?
Dance, I love to dance.
What inspires you?
Teaching what I know.
What do you value most in a person?
Honesty.
What is your ideal vacation plan?
A private bay on the beach or a cabin in the woods.
What are you most grateful for in life?
Emilia, my daughter.
What is your favorite dessert? From where?
Ufff, Lavender’s guava cake and Petit Four’s chocolate truffle cake.
What is your favorite bad word?
You’re useless, said by Paquita la del Barrio.
Why live in San Miguel?
Because since I first set foot in it, I said I wanted to live here.
Tequila or mezcal? Where?
Mezcal. Venencia, La Mezcalería, San Mezcal.
Taco, torta, tamale? Where?
Taco definitely, at Brasimix.
What public person would you not let in your house?
Fidel Castro.
If you were able to change anything in the world, what would it be?
Teach people how to have a better relationship with themselves. A world therapy.
How do you contribute to make San Miguel a better place to live?
In my work, building homes and businesses, we try to promote a sustainable approach to counteract the ravages of the impact on the environment.
What does it mean to you to be an “expatriate / responsible citizen” of San Miguel?
A retiree who decides to settle in such a beautiful and peaceful place and decides to respond in kind.
What would you recommend to someone considering a move to San Miguel?
I would have to know more about your plans, but I would be happy to buy you a coffee to talk about the pros and cons according to your interests: schools if you have children, places to live, activities, and so forth.
What do you think makes San Miguel a unique and special city?
That it is a city that can be so picturesque and cosmopolitan at the same time. For me, without a doubt, it is the most beautiful city in Mexico because of its fine architectural details and incredible interiors. Also, it is always surrounded by an air of tranquility that belies the fact that there is always something very interesting going on.
What worries you most about the future of San Miguel?
The water that is becoming increasingly scarce and is contaminated with arsenic and fluoride.
What excites you most about the future of San Miguel?
Knowing that it is a place that will never lose its charm. The energy of the people who live it, who celebrate it, is very special. And to know that there are people who have been here proactively for years, taking action in projects that will contain it even more. It’s a beautiful community.
