We head up to Mt Alban where it all began - the first city state in North America. It was built by the Zapotec people whose descendants still inhabit Oaxaca today. We’ll contemplate civilization and the march of time before we head to the home of potter Angelica Vasquez and enjoy a homemade lunch with her family while she regales us with Mexican folktales and we learn her story - how she went from single mom to world class artisan. Dinner back at the Casa. 

Sunday in Tlacolula is the biggest market day in the Oaxaca Valleys. People come from all over to eat, pray, shop and peddle their wares.  Get your fortune told by a canary, sample pre Hispanic beverages, shop for red pottery or embroidered aprons, maybe an ox yoke or a grinding stone?  It’s all here. We’ll finish at the town church which is a Baroque masterpiece and current day pilgrimage site before we head to Teotitlan de Valle, a famous weaving village. Lunch with a favorite chef and then time to learn about natural dyes and weaving - they call it Zapotec magic.
Dinner back at the Casa.

A glorious morning in the studio as Mija introduces us to stencil techniques and we begin to fill our journals. We contemplate different ways to use art to tell a story. Lunch at the Casa.  Late afternoon we head over to the Tamayo Museum filled with five rooms of pre Hispanic artworks carefully chosen by the maestro and his wife. A jewel box of a museum. Afterwards we’ll wander into town and enjoy a lovely meal together. 

Another joy filled morning with Mija making art in the studio. We'll explore several mixed media art techniques followed by a nourishing lunch at the Casa.

Late afternoon we head over to Jalatlaco neighborhood for a private street art tour where we’ll learn about the history of muralismo (prepare to be delighted). We’ll also visit our favorite street artists collective Subterraneos. Evening in town to dine and explore on your own.

A really special day as we head out to visit with “The Embroidering Ants of Tanivet” and learn about this beautiful, socially empowering art project. There are often tears involved. The women will teach us their applique embroidery technique, we’’ll have a meal & a chocolate drink together and learn about each others lives while sharing stories and making art. 

On our way back to the city, we'll stop at the early colonial church of Tlacohuyauha and learn about the recent restorations including stenciling with cochineal and indigo. Dinner at the Casa.

We’ll spend the morning in the studio, continuing to explore new techniques and work on our art journals. After lunch at the Casa, we’ll walk Into town and mix it up a bit with cacao and mezcal tastings by people dedicated to these crafts!  Find out why these drinks are thought to bring you closer to Gods. Dinner on your own. 

It's our final day in the studio. Today we’ll share our stencil art with each other and refine our journals. After lunch we head out to the always fabulous San Pablo Cultural Center including the Museo Textil but not before a visit with our friend and award winning weaver Odilón Merino Morales. His shop is brimming with stacks of some of the finest textiles in all of Mexico. Hear his story, find yourself something amazing & support indigenous makers.  

Today we’ll have free time to do last minute shopping, visit archeological sites, take a temescal or continue making art. In the evening we put on our festive finery and celebrate with an all out fiesta with live music and fireworks (for real). We come as tourists, we leave as a community of friends.

We‘ll help you to arrange transport to the airport for your flight home or you can stay on and keep the adventure going. We hope you leave with a renewed  creative spark, deeper faith in humanity and a sense of joy filled connection. We love sharing Mexico with you!