Chloe Sayer, author and expert on Mexican costume and culture, and Cynthia LeCount Samaké of UC Davis will lead this discovery tour to the beautiful and tranquil state of Oaxaca, Mexico

People in the villages surrounding the town of Oaxaca are known for their prolific textile production and regionally distinctive traditional dress. As an introduction to Oaxacan textiles and costume, the group will travel to Zapotec-speaking villages near Oaxaca-to visit weavers at work, tour a cochineal farm and learn how to dye with cochineal at a private workshop. (Cocineal is a dye made from an insect?s pupae; depending on the other substances mixed with it, color results vary from lavender to orange to wine red. The hotel in Oaxaca will be the base for day trips to the artists' villages.

Then we will travel south to the Isthmus region by first-class bus, to attend the lively Assumption festivals and to see the fabulous costumes and dancing. In this southern Isthmus area, the women are world-famous for their beauty, spirit and glorious festival dress called traje?incomparably lovely velvet blouses embroidered with bold colorful flowers, matching full skirts, and a profusion of gold jewelry. Highlights of our itinerary are two important mid-August Assumption festivals, called velas, in the towns of Juchitan and Tehuantepec. In these towns, the women wear their glorious outfits to the various celebratory events, including 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 embroiderers who create the stunning huipiles (traditional blouses) that are the specialty of the area.

At the end of the trip, we relax back in Oaxaca City and enjoy the charms of the shady plazas, the superb restaurants and the fascinating markets and shops.

TOUR PRICE: $1995. Includes ALL accommodations and ALL meals except two dinners. Airfare from US and departure taxes not included. (Incoming luggage limited to ONE MEDIUM suitcase.) Single supplement $300. See also our trip information section.

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