I have noticed here in San Miguel that there is virtually no garbage on the streets, not even cigarette butts. A little occasional doggie poo yes, but that is it. Harry and I had filled up our own bag of garbage this past week at the condo and did not know what to do with it. We looked in our condo guide book and the owner rather obtusely instructed us to listen for the bell in the morning. About 7:45 today, while still in bed, (life is tough) I heard a pleasant but loud bell ringing. Harry and I looked at each other and he said, "Who's going?" and I said. "You are." He made a mad dash, but had to chase the little truck down the cobblestones with our bag. One does not recycle in your house here, the garbage men go through each bag and take out what can be recycled. I guess people keep their garbage in their houses or businesses until they hear the garbage bell each day and personally hand it to the garbage man as he rings by. No pile ups on the curbs or the streets like you always see in NYC and no huge plastic garbage bins like elsewhere in the US. The sidewalks and streets are so narrow here that this system is obviously a good one. Plus you might find yourself creating less garbage.

There is definitely a feeling of neat and tidy in this town. About an hour after the garbage man with his loud bell went by I heard yelling from a truck. When I looked out the window to the street I realized he was the junk collector. His truck was full up with everything you could imagine. In the town square yesterday near the church, an old old man swept around us as we sat reading on a bench. The other day I watched as a dog carefully took the time to carefully maneuver himself to potty neatly on the edge of the curb and not just anywhere in the street or sidewalk by planting his front feet in the street and his back legs on the curb. Wish I had had my camera ready, you really had to see it to believe it. I guess this is what comes with being a UNESCO World Heritage sight, even the dogs do their best to keep the city clean.