Walking up to 2.5 miles throughout the day; uneven streets and sidewalks.
At the hotel restaurant, enjoy a buffet including a variety of hot dishes, bread, pastries, yogurt, fruit, plus coffee, tea, juice, water.
Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures including contact numbers for key staff, and answer any questions you may have. An instructor conducts classroom sessions, a certified expert will lead field trips, and transportation will be via bus unless specified otherwise. We have set aside some free time in the schedule for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules, and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. We will board our bus to take us downtown and from there will walk to explore the Historical Center. Led by a local expert, we will visit some of the most important historical buildings. Though the current city was founded in 1532, the Zapotec and Mixtec pre-Columbian civilizations settled in the area for thousands of years. The city is known for these archeological sites and the large number of colonial-era structures.
At a local restaurant, we will enjoy a 3-course lunch, including. Coffee, soft drinks, water included; other beverages available for purchase.
We will continue with our field trip we will see and learn about the Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Founded by the Dominican Order, the rooms that once constituted the monastery today house the Cultural Center of Oaxaca. The construction started in 1570 and continued over a period of 200 years and has since undergone a complete restoration that was finished in 1999. Located next door, we will visit the Convent of Santo Domingo de Guzman, founded in 1528 by the Dominicans. We will get to see and learn about the second largest treasure after the Tutankhamen tomb, found in Monte Albán. We will then walk with our local expert to the famous Mercado Benito Juárez where we’ll feast our eyes on the rich colors of the fruits and vegetables, the smells of the aromatic herbs and exotic spices, and the sounds of the vendors calling out “Tortillas! Tamales! Chocolate! Chapulines!” We’ll take in the hustle and bustle of local chefs picking ingredients for their evening culinary delights and watch artisans as they weave rugs, put finishing touches on pottery, and create paintings. At 5:00 p.m., we will stop at the Zocalo to see artisans preparing for the “Fiesta de Rábanos” radishes festival, which our instructor will introduce us to during a lecture. The “Fiesta de Rábanos,” or Festival of Radishes, refers to carving of oversized radishes for the annual event that takes place in the evening. Named after the main plaza in Mexico City, the term zócalo has been adopted by many towns and cities to refer to their main plaza.
Hotel plated meal.
With guests at the hotel, we’ll enjoy a group activity where we will learn and participate in a traditional Posada as performers sing and act out seasonal stories. Known as Las Posadas, it is a Spanish festival that is predominantly celebrated in portions of Latin America and some of the Southwest. The festival lasts for nine days, with its last night coinciding with Christmas Eve. The nine days represent the nine months that Mary was pregnant with Jesus.The festival gets its name from the story of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay before Jesus’ birth, with participants going from house to house in search of “lodging,” singing carols and holding candles. They are turned away until reaching the final “inn,” which they are allowed to enter. Festivities inside may include prayer, food, and piñatas, depending on the hosts.