To accompany our series of Mexican articles, I had the chance to speak with Peggy Stevens Falkenstein, author of Tying Loose Ends in Mexico, a travel and photo essay book on her experiences in the culturally rich and literary town of San Miguel de Allende.
Literary Traveler: How did you come up with the concept for Tying Loose Ends? What originally attracted you to San Miguel de Allende and Mexico in general?
Peggy Stevens Falkenstein: I had an opportunity to study Spanish in Mexico. I chose to enroll at the Instituto de Allende because of its reputation as a cultural center and for its intimate outdoor setting integrated with both contemporary and folk art. My journey became more than a mere study of the language. As I reveal in the book, my travels led me to a cultural encounter which made a connection for me in my life: thus the title Tying Loose Ends in Mexico.
LT: What do you hope for literary travelers to gain from reading your book? What elements of the “literary” did you find in San Miguel de Allende?
PSF: SMA has been a community where discussions of literature and new ideas have changed history. In the early 1800’s Don Ignacio de Allende, a Mexican revolutionary (and the town’s most famous resident), was president of the Literary Club in nearby Queretaro where intellectuals gathered to discuss contemporary books. Through my essays and images, I hope readers will discover SMA is still an environment that facilitates thought provoking literary discussion.
LT: What part of San Miguel de Allende would you recommend for a literary traveler?
PSF: El Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramirez, a.k.a. Bellas Artes. It’s a lovely art school and cultural center named after a famous SMA native, Ignacio Ramirez. Ramirez is considered the Voltaire of Mexico. Belles Artes also is home to the most famous work of art in SMA: an unfinished abstract geometric mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros. Siqueiros and Diego Rivera are hailed as the most famous muralists in Mexico.
In addition the Biblioteca Publica houses one of the finest bilingual libraries in Latin America along with a small theater for lectures as well as a variety of year-round performances and events.
LT: You have beautiful images that encapsulate the city, especially after reading our article on Neal Cassady in San Miguel de Allende. When traveling, how do you recommend selecting subjects and taking photos for our readers?
PSF: My favorite John Mayer lyric is “Didn’t have a camera by my side this time/Hoping I would see the world with both my eyes.” When I carry my camera I make sure the experience is the most important thing.
For instance, the subject might become a family who has befriended me or a café where I’ve had a lively discussion. At that point I always take at least two shots of something because natural light can change in a split second and what you might think will be a duplicate shot never is.
Many thanks to Peggy Stevens Falkenstein. And remember to explore your literary imagination with Tying Loose Ends in Mexico . . .
Jennifer, Network Editorial Director




