Grand master weaver Arnulfo Mendoza
and his wife, Mary Jane Gagnier de Mendoza, have built a spectacular
home and guesthouse atop the Cerro Sagrado in his native Teotitlan
del Valle, Oaxaca, just a few miles from the capital city. Tierra
del Sol arranged with the Mendozas for you to spend an incredible
week with them enjoying a complete immersion into the life and culture
of Teotitlan during the week the village holds its most important
celebration of the year. Your hosts are uniquely qualified to guide
you through this week. With over 3000 weavers in the village producing
the coveted Zapotec rugs and serapes, Arnulfo Mendoza is the only
one included in the widely exhibited "Grand Masters of Mexican
Folk Art." His weavings are remarkable. Mary Jane Gagnier de
Mendoza, originally from Canada, has taken her La Mano Magica, gallery
and folk art shop in Oaxaca city, to the top of the list among both
art and folk art aficionados. She has also written and lectured
widely on these subjects, especially as practiced in her adopted
home, Teotitlan del Valle.
Your week with Tierra del Sol and the Mendozas will include:
Welcome
dinner with marimba concert
Seven night double occupancy lodging in the Casa Cerro Sagrado
Daily
breakfast at the Casa Cerro Sagrado
Light
lunch and full dinner on all other days, except when we
are having cooking classes
Two
cooking classes featuring typical Zapotec cuisine, with
meal to follow
Lectures
by Mary Jane Gagnier de Mendoza on Guelaguetza (traditional
Oaxacan folk dance presentations accompanied by chocolate
atole) and the ritual of contentar (using the traditional
Zapotec altar to illustrate the staging of premarriage and
marriage celebrations in Teotitlan)
Guided
tours with Mary Jane Gagnier de Mendoza. One tour is the
convite, a procession with over 150 village senoritas in
traditional dress carrying standards with religous icons.
There is also visit to candle makers, another important
tradition in Teotitlan, with a discussion of the use of
the candles in the village. There will also be a Teotitlan
market tour with discussion of food stuffs and traditional
utensils.
Other
Activities
Danza
de Pluma, the ultimate dance of Oaxaca, which is directly
associated with Teotitlan and performed during the annual
festival
Fireworks
display
Cochineal
dying demonstration by Arnulfo with translation and elaboration
by Mary Jane
Program Cost (back
to top)
Total cost of the programs is $1,335 per person. Total cost includes
transportation from and return to the Oaxaca airport; double occupancy
room in the Casa Cerro Sagrado; breakfast everyday; lunch and dinner
most days; cooking classes; lectures and tours as described.
Single
supplement is $175.
Arrangements for airfare to and from Oaxaca are your responsibility.
Space in the program is limited. Reserve your place with a non-refundable
deposit of $200. Full payment must be received four weeks before
the event. In the event of cancellation, payments beyond the initial
deposit are refundable until four weeks before the event. After
that date, no payments are refundable.
