An Oaxacan Adventure in October 2015

An Oaxacan Adventure

I have put together an eight day guided tour 
in Oaxaca and the Oaxaca valley for

October 4 - 12, 2015.

For those who have been on my San Miguel de Allende tours and 

my Artisan and Architecture tour in the state of Michoacan, I know if you join me, Oaxaca will also capture your heart.

The main plaza, the zocalo, is one of the most spectacular in all of Mexico with its gazebo that usually has mariachis or a marimba band playing in it at night, vibrant cafes and restaurants lining the plaza on the main and second floor, the Cathedral on one side, towns people visiting...  We will be staying right in the heart of the historic center of Oaxaca City at the colonial Hotel Parador San Miguel.

One morning we will explore Monte Alban, the Zapotec ruins that was founded around 500 B.C..  At its grandest, over 25,000 people lived here.

The architecture in the Oaxaca valley is diverse from this brilliant painted church in Ocotlan,

to the 16th century monastery in Cuilapam de Guerro, the Baroque Santo Domingo Church in the historic center of Oaxaca with its amazing ethnobotanical gardens off to one side to the Contemporary Art Museum that is in a beautiful colonial mansion dating back to the late 17th century.

We will take in a cooking class one day which includes a shopping tour of the market. 

Oaxacan cuisine is some of the most interesting and colorful in the world.

It is known for its use of Queso Oaxacan (string cheese), chocolates, tlayuda (shown above), empanadas with squash blossoms...

Famous for its numerous and diverse moles.  And its mezcal.
We will visit the City of Oaxaca market, the true spirit and soul of Oaxaca with the indigenous people dressed in their colorful clothing.
A real stimulation of the senses.

We will visit many of the Oaxacan masters in their villages such as the Aguilar Sisters famous for their ceramic figures, the weavers in Teotitlan de Valle and the Angles family world renown for their hand-carved wood and beautiful painted Alebrijos (animals).
There is an abundance of museums:  Rodolfo Morales Museum in Ocotlan.  Rufino Tamayo Museum, Museum of Oaxacan Culturers, M. Alvarez Bravo Photographic Center,
Museum of Textiles and Museum of Contemporary Art in Oaxaca.  There is even a Stamp Museum, the only one in the country. 
There are cutting edge galleries in the historic center of town.  

Lovely climate and fabulous restaurants. 


Oaxaca has maintained its artistic identity.
The culture, folk art, contemporary art, music, native dress, cuisine....
An adventure I would love to share with you.


An Oaxacan Adventure in October
October 4 - 12, 2015.

For a more detailed day-to-day itinerary and pricing, please send me your mailing address and I will send you all the information in the mail.

Robin Mullen
robindsg@aol.com

The Panteon in San Miguel de Allende is a spectacular site on Dia de Muertos

November second is a busy day in San Miguel de Allende, especially at the cemetery, The Panteon.  On any other day, this street is deserted with an occasional car or pedestrian.  But being All Souls Day, their is a steady stream of families going to the cemetery to decorate the tombs and visit with those who have passed on.

All these temporary little stalls are selling a variety of flowers, painted tin cans to hold the arrangements, crosses and fruit.  All to be purchased as offerings to passed loved ones.

 Cotton candy for the children.

This lady is making individual bouquets all with the flowers representing Dia de Muertas:   Marigolds (Flores de Cempasuchil), Cockscomb (Cresta de Gallo) and Baby's Breath (Aliento de Nino).

It is a busy place.  The priest is giving mass over a load speaker. Families are gathering around the grave sights.

Musicians are waiting to be hired to play a favorite song of the passed family member.

Talk about color.

Beautiful combination of colors. So simple but heart warming.

Tiny little table with a meal on it along with plates full of food.

Another colorful sight.

Over the top!

The graves sites have been scrubbed and a fresh coat of paint applied.  Flowers planted.  All in honor of their passed loved ones.

Beautiful.

And last but not least, is the North American section which is very tidy and orderly.  Just like an English garden.