I am recently returned from a wonderful tour in Oaxaca and am so pleased to have finalized the details for my October 2018 tour - October is a great time to be in southern Mexico, it's harvest time and the hills are green. People are just starting to prepare for muertos. If we're lucky maybe a big thunderstorm! Plus sunny skies and warm days. This tour focuses on one of my big loves in Oaxaca - the artisan/craft traditions and village life. Basically we're going to visit as many different artisans, craftspeople, and markets as time allows, try a wide selection of food both traditional and cutting edge including a couple of home cooked meals at our artisan/hosts house, and learn about the enduring dimensions of Zapotec and Mixtec culture all from our homebase, the lively and contemporary city of Oaxaca. Please join me -
Village Life & Folk Art in Oaxaca
(10 days/9 nights - Oct 12 to 21, 2018 )
A chance to meet village artisans and explore the folk and food traditions of Oaxaca with a small group of inquisitive, adventurous folks (max 12 people) and our beloved and inspiring local guides.We want to leave you with a deep feeling for the rich history of family, food, handwork, and sustainability that Oaxaca embodies.
We'll stay at a charming bed and breakfast(think of it as summer camp for adults) in Oaxaca City and take day trips out to villages where we'll meet with potters, weavers, dyers, carvers, cooks, and other talented,beautiful people. Most evenings are spent at your leisure enjoying the sites of the city or relaxing at our home away from home. Plus visits to marketplaces (where all the action takes place), pre-hispanic archaeological sites, & gilded baroque churches - We'll round out our touring with nourishing home cooked meals and dining at some of Oaxaca's finest restaurants.
The Itinerary is as Follows (subject of course to change based on opportunity, whim, & availability)
Friday October 12 - Arrive and check in at our lovely bed and breakfast (referred to as The Casa) in Oaxaca City for a light meal and get together in the evening - We'll pick you up at the airport if need be.
Saturday October 13 - After a nourishing breakfast of fresh local fruits and coffee, eggs al gusto (how you like them) and local pastries, we'll gather with Pablo, our charming and knowledgeable guide and head up to the ancient ruins of Mt Alban, built to be close to the gods. We'll start where it all began. Lunch at the Casa. Late afternoon we'll stroll into the city and have a Welcome Fiesta at one of Oaxaca's finest.
Sunday October 14th - This glorious day finds us on our way to the Tlacolula market, really one of the longest continuing farmers's markets in the Americas, where indigenous people come from all over the Central Valleys to buy,sell, trade, socialize, eat, and pray. That's pretty much our agenda for the day too. We'll try pre-hispanic drinks, get our fortunes read by canaries, have a chance to shop, find out what those embroidered aprons are all about, enjoy the Hall of Smoke, and visit the famous and recently restored Silver Church. Lunch means goat barbacoa at our favorite market stall - mariachis included! Later afternoon finds us at the mysterious and magnificent ruins of Mitla. Evening dinner at the Casa.
Monday October 15 -
Today finds us heading out to the famous weaving and rug town of Teotitlan de Valle. We'll visit an artisan textile making family and they'll demonstrate the rug making process from beginning to end including a spectacular presentation of natural dyes and the chance to purchase direct from the maker. Afterwards, we'll enjoy a meal with the family that includes the grandmother's famous mole. We'll end our Teotitlan time with a visit to their 16th century church, built on an ancient Zapotec site, where you can marvel at all manners of delights, pagan, catholic, floral and otherwise. Evening on your own or dinner provided at the Casa.
Today finds us heading out to the famous weaving and rug town of Teotitlan de Valle. We'll visit an artisan textile making family and they'll demonstrate the rug making process from beginning to end including a spectacular presentation of natural dyes and the chance to purchase direct from the maker. Afterwards, we'll enjoy a meal with the family that includes the grandmother's famous mole. We'll end our Teotitlan time with a visit to their 16th century church, built on an ancient Zapotec site, where you can marvel at all manners of delights, pagan, catholic, floral and otherwise. Evening on your own or dinner provided at the Casa.
Tuesday October 16 - Our day devoted to the urban life of the city. Visits to my favorite small museums, printmaking studios, shopping, and time to weave into the tapestry of this most Mexican of experiences, life at the zocalo. Evening finds us enjoying a 7 course tasting menu at NYT reviewed El Criollo for dinner.
Wednesday October 17th - We'll meet with the dedicated folks from NGO, microfinance organization En Via and head out to explore women owned food businesses in the Central Valley. I've met fishmongers, chocolate and tortilla makers, bakers and makers of sweets on these small business tours. An authentic glimpse into life in a Oaxacan village. Your chance to talk art, politics, relationship with some women very different from you. Lunch at women owned restaurant, light dinner at the Casa.
Thursday October 18 - Some nature and fresh air with our morning visit to the hilltop archaeological site of Atzompa and it's small and noteworthy museum. After our jaunt we'll travel a short way down the hill to visit with internationally renowned ceramic artist Angelica Vasquez at her private home studio and gallery where three generations of family potters work. We'll have a ceramics demonstration and storytelling from this maestra followed by a home cooked meal from her daughter. Angela learned ceramics at the feet of her parents and grandparents and has brought story telling with a feminist touch to her ancient craft. I'm really looking forward to this day- Light dinner at The Casa
Friday October 19 - Today, our last full touring day, we'll visit backstrap loom weavers, woodcarvers (the makers of the mythical animal alebrijes) and have an afternoon visit with one of my favorite families, the makers of the famous black pottery of Coyotopec.. Watch how all members of this talented family contribute to make pottery in the same way their ancestors did a thousand years ago. Light dinner at the Casa.
Saturday October 20 - A free day to enjoy at your leisure. We can arrange a trip to Mt Alban for you or maybe horseback riding, cooking class, a massage or take the time to visit in town, shop, and pack. We end the trip with a Farewell Fiesta at the casa, some people say the best meal of the trip!
Sunday October 21- Travel home or extend your trip with a few more days at the Casa. We'll arrange airport transport or extra days if you wish.
Details
Cost for the tour is $2,195
It includes-
all hotel rooms based on double occupancy (+$395 for a single supplement), all meals, guides, transportation and entrance fees while in Oaxaca. Cost does not include airfare/transport to Oaxaca airport, alcohol, laundry, personal shopping (!!!), or tips (which are completely optional). A $500 non refundable deposit is required to hold your place. We ask that you be committed to the trip and strongly recommend travel insurance to cover you in case of emergencies. Final, non refundable deposits are due 30 days before the tour. Send inquiries to me at jewel.murphy@gmail.com. Upon deposit, I'll send you an everything you need to know including a packing/ reading list and restaurant recommendations to let you start dreaming on the trip.
About Me -
I've been organizing tours to Oaxaca since 2012. What was once a side gig has now become my full blown obsession. I love traveling with packs of inquisitive people through the city and countryside of the state - as one happy tour goer said, "We never knew a place quite like Oaxaca still existed". I've saved you the time and money and done the research and I've crafted something special to make you fall in love with Oaxaca. Many of my past clients have returned over and over. I believe in slow travel, taking our time, going deep (and wide sometimes too), putting our tourist dollars directly into the hands of local people, and I love to go out and platicar (spanish for chat) with Oaxaquenos. I'm an artist, gardener, naturalist, & lover of all things handmade. Hoping you'll join me for a most enchanting trip.
Saturday October 20 - A free day to enjoy at your leisure. We can arrange a trip to Mt Alban for you or maybe horseback riding, cooking class, a massage or take the time to visit in town, shop, and pack. We end the trip with a Farewell Fiesta at the casa, some people say the best meal of the trip!
Sunday October 21- Travel home or extend your trip with a few more days at the Casa. We'll arrange airport transport or extra days if you wish.
Details
Cost for the tour is $2,195
It includes-
all hotel rooms based on double occupancy (+$395 for a single supplement), all meals, guides, transportation and entrance fees while in Oaxaca. Cost does not include airfare/transport to Oaxaca airport, alcohol, laundry, personal shopping (!!!), or tips (which are completely optional). A $500 non refundable deposit is required to hold your place. We ask that you be committed to the trip and strongly recommend travel insurance to cover you in case of emergencies. Final, non refundable deposits are due 30 days before the tour. Send inquiries to me at jewel.murphy@gmail.com. Upon deposit, I'll send you an everything you need to know including a packing/ reading list and restaurant recommendations to let you start dreaming on the trip.
About Me -
I've been organizing tours to Oaxaca since 2012. What was once a side gig has now become my full blown obsession. I love traveling with packs of inquisitive people through the city and countryside of the state - as one happy tour goer said, "We never knew a place quite like Oaxaca still existed". I've saved you the time and money and done the research and I've crafted something special to make you fall in love with Oaxaca. Many of my past clients have returned over and over. I believe in slow travel, taking our time, going deep (and wide sometimes too), putting our tourist dollars directly into the hands of local people, and I love to go out and platicar (spanish for chat) with Oaxaquenos. I'm an artist, gardener, naturalist, & lover of all things handmade. Hoping you'll join me for a most enchanting trip.
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