NOTE: OUR TOURS ARE ONLY ON DATES LISTED, NOT YEAR AROUND UNLESS YOU BOOK A CUSTOM TRIP WITH A MINIMUM OF 6-10 PEOPLE.
THE DATES FOR THIS JOURNEY ARE: OCTOBER 30th-NOVEMBER 7th, 2010
Day of the Dead – A Celebration of Life!
It’s commonly thought that the greatest fear humans experience is that of death. However, from our point of view the biggest fear humans possess is the fear of living life boldly and audaciously, free of judgment and pain. On this amazing week long journey, we celebrate the beloved Mexican holiday – The Day of the Dead in the beautiful culinary and artisan center of Oaxaca. During our week together we’ll learn how to enjoy life as it is – to cultivate our joy and vitality and explore our manifestation as true “Artists of the Spirit.”
Indeed, becoming a supreme artist of the spirit involves creating from the heart, not from a mind filled with fear-based beliefs about what we can and cannot do. Here we learn to connect with the bliss deep in our hearts and to use that feeling to guide us as artisans of our lives. By the end of this journey you’ll have the tools to re-create your reality and to face your greatest fear – expressing your life with integrity, honesty, fearlessness and joy. On this spiritual journey of the heart and let’s celebrate and honor all we can be and create in our lifetime.
Just so you know – The Day of the Dead (El Día de los Muertos or All Souls’ Day) is the day we gather family and friends together to pray for and remember those beloved friends and family members who have passed away. The celebration occurs on the 2nd of November in connection with the Catholic holiday of All Saints’ Day (Nov 1st) and All Souls’ Day (Nov 2nd). On Day of the Dead, families build private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, along with a festive visit to their graves! This week we’ll have the opportunity to join a local family and celebrate in the graveyard and create your own altar to those you love (or even an old version of yourself, a relationship that has ended, or to someone you would like to forgive). And – we’ll also visit the powerful ruins of Monte Alban and much, much more!
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Oaxaca, Mexico
We leave home and meet in Oaxaca, Mexico. Oaxaca is one of the top ten “world’s best cities,” and number one in Mexico/Central and the South American region, based on “sights, culture/arts, restaurants/food, people, shopping, value” – according to Travel+Leisure magazine issue August 2004. Most of us will be arriving around 6:30 pm and we’ll meet our wonderful guide at the airport and proceed to the Hotel Casa del Sotano – our beautiful B&B for the week. The smell of great food in the air – we’ll go for a bite to eat at the delicious Asador Vasco restaurant overlooking the main plaza/zocalo. Perhaps we will try the chapulines (crispy grasshoppers fried in garlic and lime)! After dinner we gather as a group and share our intent for our week together. Includes: (D).
Day 2: El Tule & Mitla
Today we’ll be traveling east of the city to visit the Tule tree and the beautiful sacred ruins of Yagul and/or Mitla. To top the day off we’ll continue to the Zapotec weaver’s town of Teotitlan del Valle, where we’ll visit the famous “Cuevita/Cave” where all locals claim their origin and bring offerings for the past 3,000 years. Then we’ll have lunch in the home of a local family in the weaving town. Even if you’re not especially interested in trees, this one will blow you away. The Tule tree, “El Arbol del Tule” is said to be the world’s largest tree, and once you see this magnificent natural wonder you will not doubt this claim. El Tule, which is actually a Ahuehuete Cypress, is over 130 ft. high, boasts a diameter of over 170 ft., weighs over 500 tons and is approximately 2000 years old. A very impressive ancient being!
In ancient times Mitla was an important Zapotec ceremonial center and home of the Zapotec priestly class. It was inhabited from around 100 AD to its peak around 750 AD. The ancient city was probably planned and is known for the artistic quality of construction and the beauty of the intricate patterns and designs of some facades and tombs. To date, five large architectural complexes have been found. The main church of the small town was actually built by the Spaniards on some of the ruins. We’ll have time to meditate at the site and have a ceremony at this ruin. The Yagul archaeological site was settled at approximately the same time as Monte Albán, but actually outlasted Monte Albán. The site, which is located on a beautiful hillside location, contains three distinct parts and houses the largest ball court in the Oaxaca valley. The architectural makeup is, in many ways similar to that of Monte Albán and also contains parts that resemble parts of Mitla. Yagul contains some incredible facades, engravings and hieroglyphics. This site is easily accessible and makes for some great photography, especially from the hill above the ruins. Includes: (L).
Day 3: Cuilapan de Guerrero & San Martin Tilcajete
Today we visit the XVI century convent of Cuilapan de Guerrero & wood carving village of San Martin Tilcajete. This Dominican ex-convent of Santiago Apóstol was left unfinished sometime in the middle of the 16th century, but the cloister, walls, cupola and foundations of what was supposed to be an enormous church remains. Afterwards, we’ll stop at the traditional village of San Martin Tilcajete to see the traditional wood carvers of the famous Alebrijes. Alebrijes, are imaginary, fantasy animals, and many other objects that are carved out of a local wood named copal. Collectors prize these brightly painted wood sculptures and some have become very valuable. These imaginative carvings come in all shapes, sizes and are usually brightly colored with intricate designs, all panted by hand. Here we’ll be hosted for a traditional lunch by a family of wood carvers.
On our way back we’ll stop to see the making of the famed black pottery of the village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, where we will first visit the famed potter Carlo Magno Pedro who specializes in Day of the Dead Art. Then we’ll visit the home of Sofia & Simón Reyes, a family with many generations of making traditional ollas and they will give a demo of their traditional work. Includes: (L).
Day 4: Abastos Market
This is the day we to go to the market to get everything we need to create our altars! We’ll dedicate the entire morning to visiting the amazing “Day of the Dead Tianguis” at the Abastos Market. It’s so photogenic seeing the piles of unique breads, sugar skulls, flowers, candles and all the Day of the Dead ornaments that local families purchase to make their home altars to their loved ones. Every one will buy their breads, special skeletons, candles, flowers, and food for our Day of Dead Altar that our group will make at the hotel.
In addition, tonight is the main night for our cemetery visit. The most popular graveyard is in the village of Xoxocotlan which we will visit between 7 p.m and midnight. We will join with a local family who is kind enough to have us join them, have some tamales with them, hot chocolate, and bread made for the group. It will be wonderful to help them clean & decorate one of their families graves. We’ll bring along a gift for allowing us to join them: flowers, incense, candles, etc and also leave a donation. Includes: (S).
Day 5: Monte Albán
Today we explore Monte Albán, one of ancient México’s most impressive ceremonial centers. This massive complex of pyramids, terraces and crumbling temples is considered one of the most important examples of pre-Columbian culture in all of México. Constructed by a culture that possessed a genius for building, this spectacular city is one of the most thoroughly explored archaeological sites in México. Throughout the centuries Monte Albán has continued to amaze those who study the site and has never failed to remain both magical and mysterious. Monte Alban sits 1200 feet above the valley floor. This location gave the residents a clear view of the Oaxaca valleys. The city was constructed by the Zapotecs who first moved to this site around 500 B.C. The city experienced its peak or golden age for a period of 500 years, ending around A.D. 600. During this time, the population of the city was nearly 25,000 people with an additional 100,000 people living in the valley below. After this golden age, and for reasons still unknown, the city was abandoned. We’ll have time to meditate at the site and have a ceremony at this powerful ruin.
From here we can have some lunch at the traditional restaurant Los Caporales and the village of Soledad Etla to take part in the Comparsa Parade. The Comparsas – are a series of Carnival style parades that go from village to village in an area of the valley. The people will be all dressed up with fantastic outfits and brass bands accompany them and it’s very festive. If we have time we might visit the artisan town of Atzompa. Atzompa is where the green-glazed pottery is produced. It is incredibly beautiful and is in use daily all over México, and other parts of the world. We may stop by the “La Casa del Artesano” and see how these beautiful terracotta and green glazed items are made following ancient, ancestral techniques. Includes: (L).
Day 6: This is our opportunity to explore the town of Oaxaca and have a relaxing day to shop, eat and just walk the lovely streets. It is the perfect day to visit the big cathedral in the center of town and feel the festive energy of this amazing place. In the evening we will gather for a farewell dinner together at the wonderful local restaurant Las Quince Letras in Historic Centre of Oaxaca. Includes: (D).
Day 7: Today we leave our beautiful bed & breakfast hotel and make our way back to the airport and get ready for our flights home. We say our last goodbyes, hugs and kisses as we prepare to take our new dream of heaven back to our lives!
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Three lunches, two dinners, one late night graveyard snack
- All spiritual teachings, ceremonies, and classes
- All admission fees to the ruins of Monte Alban, Mitla &/or Yagul & the convent of Cuilapan de Guerrero
- Your wonderful guides
- All tips for the drivers, guides, and bell-boys
- All ground transportation (unless you fly in or out of Oaxaca and miss the group transport)
- Trips to the artisan towns
- Our Day of the Day experience at the cemetery and market!
Note: You are in one of the culinary capitals of Mexico! We did not include all the meals so that you would have an opportunity to sample the foods you would like to try and enjoy! Trust us – this is the way to go.
Also see tour packages in:
North America
Mexico
Spiritual Odyssey
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
Cultural Journey
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
|
, ext: 19674
