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Behind The Scenes Adventures are specialty trips--- small groups of friendly people with common interests in traditional festivals and celebrations, ethnic textiles and indigenous costume, archaeology, cultural history, art and architecture. If you love going "behind the scenes" to meet the people and experience exotic destinations, savory local cuisine, flamboyant festivals, gorgeous scenery, and remote villages where the people still make all their own exquisite textiles, then BTSA is for YOU! THE ARTS, CRAFTS AND FESTIVALS OF OAXACA August 8 through 22, 2010 (Arrive in Oaxaca on Sunday 8 August, depart Oaxaca on Monday August 23) Chloë Sayer, specialist in Mexican art and culture and Cynthia LeCount Samaké, expert in world textiles will lead this discovery tour to the beautiful and tranquil state of Oaxaca, Mexico.
People in the Isthmus part of Oaxaca State are famous for their festivals! Others in the villages surrounding the ancient city of Oaxaca are known for their creativity and for their production of fine textiles, distinctive ceramics, and colourfully painted wooden carvings. As an introduction to Oaxaca's cultural traditions, the group will travel to Zapotec-speaking villages in the central valleys of Oaxaca to visit the workshops of weavers, embroiderers, pot-makers, and carvers. The cultivation of cochineal (an insect that provides a rich crim Local culinary traditions include the preparation of chocolate, and the making of a wide range of corn dishes and rich mole sauces. We will have a special morning cooking lesson with accomplished cooks, then will eat our feast for lunch! A comfortable hotel in Oaxaca City will be the base for day-trips to artists’ villages, magnificent colonial churches, and the archaeological sites of Mitla and Monte Albán. Then we will travel south to the Isthmus region of Oaxaca State by first-class bus to attend the lively Festival of the Assumption. The Zapotec women of the Isthmus are world-famous for their beauty and spirit, and for the splendour of their gala attire: their velvet skirts trimmed with lace, and their huipiles (traditional blouses) boldy embroidered with colorful flowers— all worn with a profusion of gold jewelry.
After our trip to the Isthmus, we return to Oaxaca City for free time to enjoy the charms of the shady plazas, the superb restaurants and the fascinating markets and shops. Co-Leaders: Chloe Sayer has traveled extensively in Mexico. An internationally-renowned expert on Mexican art and culture, she has made ethnographic collections for the British Museum, and has worked on television films for the BBC. Her many books include The Arts and Crafts of Mexico (Thames & Hudson, 1990), Mask Arts of Mexico (Thames & Hudson, 1994) Textiles from Mexico (British Museum Press, 2002), and Fiesta: Days of the Dead and other Mexican Festivals (British Museum Press, 2009). Cynthia LeCount Samaké specializes in indigenous costume and has taught World Textiles in the Department of Environmental Design at University of California, Davis. She has studied ethnic dress and traditional textiles in many parts of the world, including Thailand, Laos, Mali, Ghana, and Turkey. She is the author of Andean Folk Knitting: Traditions and Techniques from Peru and Bolivia, and the “Bolivia” chapter of Carnival! (University of Washington Press, 2004). TRIP PRICE: to be determined. Check back tomorrow! ADVENTURE IN THE ANDES: TEXTILES AND ARCHEOLOGY Traditional Knitting and Weaving plus Pre-Inka and Inka Art, Textiles and Cultures March 20 through April 2, 2010 Travel with the Experts! Cynthia LeCount, Andean textile expert, accompanies the group on this popular adventure with a small group of textile fanatics. We fly from home in time to arrive in Lima on March 20. We'll visit Lima's great textile/ceramic museums, then fly north to Trujillo to meet Peruvian textile specialists, and visit several fascinating archaeological sites--the famous pyramids of Huaca de la Luna, the amazing recently-discovered site of the Señora de Cao, and the brand-new museum dedicated to this exciting find. We stay several nights in Huanchaco on the coast where we will see the reed fishing boats and eat delicious fish. Then we fly over the Andes to CUZCO where we visit highland textile villages with Peruvian Master Weaver, Nilda Callañaupa, Director of the Cuzco Center for Traditional Textiles. We'll meet the knitters and the weavers--and learn to dye alpaca yarns with natural dyes. We'll also get up close and personal with some of the furry beasts! We also witness the spectacular Lord of the Earthquakes procession which takes place in the beautiful Plaza de Armas.
We spend two days at mystical MACHU PICCHU, then fly back to Lima for an experience sampling local cuisine. Next day, (April 3) we fly home in the evening. During the trip we travel by commercial jet and private van; all of our hotels are safe and charming and the food is delicious. Price: $3095 Includes 14 nights accommodations in comfortable hotels and day room on last night (April 3), four R/T flights, interior transportation by private van, train to Machu Picchu, all meals except 2 lunches, entrances to museums and sites on itinerary, one day entrance and shuttle bus to Machu Picchu.
Textiles, Temples and Festivals of NE Thailand and Laos June 14 through 30, 2009 (We had a great time--check back for 2010 dates !!)
Join Cynthia LeCount, textile author and expert on this adventure to little-visited areas of Thailand and Laos, and the unique Phi Ta Khon festival. This great trip includes one fabulous festival, lots of temples and even more textiles!! CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE - LAOS/THAILAND PHOTO GALLERY We leave home on the 13th and fly into Bangkok, arriving on the 14th. Then we head for Luang Prabang, LAOS, the beautiful and laid-back former Royal Capital, and UNESCO World Heritage site. We will stroll around the calm and pretty town, visiting the night market and photographing the glittering Buddhist temples. We will visit silk and cotton weavers in several towns along our route. We head south to Vientiane by private van, visiting several well-known weaving studios and temples. We will also see the bizarre sculpture garden called Sala Kaew Ku Park at Nong Khai, where scenes from Hindu and Buddhist folklore are interpreted in huge sculptures. Crossing a corner of northeastern Thailand, known as Isaan, we then head for Mukdahan and into Laos, south to Pakse to see interesting weavers and traditional textiles. We'll meet some weavers around Udon ThaniThen for the final highllight of the trip: Phi Ta Khon festival, an event so special that the spirit medium waits for an auspicious message to decide on the actual dates of the festivities. Revel with the masked dancers at the flamboyant and joyous PHI TA KHON festival! This is a very raucous but safe celebration, where highly talented mask artists paint amazing creations and wear them in the parade through town. We will stay at the brand new resort near town, owned by Cynthia's friend, Neeracha. All in all this will be a fabulous trip, full of variety--welcoming people, beautiful sights, comfortable hotels, and delicious food! We fly home from Bangkok on July 1. Price: $3395 This trip includes 17 nights in comfortable hotels, all meals, interior flight, in-country travel by private van, archaeological and museum site entry fees. International airfare, alcoholic beverages, airport transport and departure taxes, and personal items such as visas, not included. Textiles and Taj Mahal Adventure INDIA September 12 through 28, 2010 We had a fabulous time last year!! CLICK HERE TO SEE INDIA BTSA GROUP PHOTOS We land in New Delhi, visit Red Fort and the market, then go to nearby Agra to see the breathtaking Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then we head west to the famous textile and art producing states of Gujarat and Rajisthan, where we will visit many textile artists in their workshops and homes. Three of the Master textile artists will hold private textile workshops with natural dyes, just for our groups! We tour the world-famous Calico Museum with its exceptional textile collections. We stay in fascinating Heritage hotels in towns, and new, traditional bunghas in the little-visited northern Gujarat area of Kutch. We meet the delightful Rabari group women who do the intricate mirror embroidery. When we have made some wonderful projects in our workshops, and have seen all the art that we can possibly absorb, we head south to relax a bit in the tropical state of Kerala. We land in Cochin and drive to the interior to visit plantations of rubber, tea, coffee and spices. Cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger all grow in the area; here we also take a boat ride in a freshwater lake, a birdwatcher's paradise. Finally we spend 24 hours floating in the gorgeous backwater lagoons, on private houseboats!
Thoroughly relaxed from our houseboat cruise, at the end of our wonderful tour, we fly home from New Delhi on October 1, arriving home on October 2. Price: $5595 includes international airfare from San Francisco; 17 days, three hands-on workshops, all accommodations in comfortable boutique or heritage hotels, all meals, three interior flights, one overnight first-class A/C train ride, private van transportation, and expert English-speaking guides. E-mail or call for more information about itinerary and flights from other cities.
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son dye) will be demonstrated on a cochineal farm.
Highlights of our itinerary here are the mid-August Assumption festivals, called velas, in the towns of Juchitán and Tehuantepec. Women wear their glorious outfits to celebratory events such as church services, parties and dances, complete with typical music and foods. Anyone who wants to purchase (or rent) a traditional outfit and join the dancing will be welcomed by the local people who have become friends of the trip leaders. We will also visit the workshops of the skilled embroiderers who create festival clothing. 
