Who doesn't know Armando? Or maybe you don't know him, but you've probably seen him or one of his unmistakable donkeys, which have been the protagonists of practically the vast majority of photographs in San Miguel that are seen on Instagram. For this month of September, there was no more suitable San Miguel personality than Don Armando Rivera, a hard-working man who for more than 15 years has been in charge of rescuing and keeping alive the traditions of the town through his walks and tours with some of his famous donkeys.
The protagonist of LOCAL September 2021
We had the opportunity to exchange a few words and thoughts with Don Armando, to learn more about him, his profession and the experience of seeing how San Miguel became a must-see tourist spot for travelers from all over the world. Read the interview here.
L: How did you get into this profession or how did it come about?
AR: It occurred to me so as not to lose our culture and traditions of the town, which was always a town in which the donkeys were our work companions and help for the people of San Miguel.
L: How long have you been doing it?
AR: I have been working for 15 years and I really enjoy it because I give my donkeys a better quality of life and better daily food.
L: We know Filemón and Junior, but we know that he has many! What are the names of the burritos and how long have you had them?
AR: The names of my donkeys are Filemon, Palomino, Kique, Paloma, Lucia, Pancho, Alondra, Casimira, Nacho, Peña Nieto, Ambrosio, Maclovio.
L: What do you like most about organizing street parties?
AR: Let's not lose the traditions and customs of our people, and also earn income to feed my donkeys all year long.
L: How did you see the town when you started?
AR: I saw the town of San Miguel de Allende, Gto. as lacking tradition, culture and, worst of all, without donkeys, and the sad thing is that they are already in danger of extinction. That worried me and I managed to improve the atmosphere in the town and reactivate the economy by attracting tourism.
L: What changes have you seen in San Miguel over the years?
AR: The changes I have seen are for the better and, above all, more tourism. We have 70% of weddings in our city nationwide and the best thing is that they are weddings of foreigners that leave a significant economic spillover that helps the people of San Miguel.
L: Do you think there are more people interested in supporting local businesses and services?
AR: Yes, our next president-elect is always more inclined to reactivate our tourism and give more priority to our people to be better every day and have the opportunity to earn more income for our families.
L: What message would you like to give to tourists and those who visit San Miguel?
AR: The nicest message would be to visit us and take good care of yourselves during the pandemic, using the safety protocols for a better stay in San Miguel. And of course, don't forget to visit and take your photo with my donkeys so that you can support us and have a better quality of life. We are located at Calle Aldama no. 9 ready for your photo session. Greetings to everyone and have a happy trip!
We would like to thank Don Armando for all the facilities he provided for this edition of LOCAL. Visit him at his address to hire his services and take a photo with one of his burritos.
Find LOCAL September 2021 in hotels, restaurants, concept stores, galleries and all the hotspots around San Miguel de Allende; and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to find out about new places and everything that's happening in the city. See you next time 'On the Cover'!
