The dates for my next retreat/workshop (Personal
Narrative, Culture and Myth) in Oaxaca, the glorious Mexican colonial city in
southern Mexico, will be Monday, January 7 thru January 11, 2008.
My wife Nan and I spent a week in Oaxaca last March and found it as lovely as
ever. There have been political struggles involving dissatisfaction with the
governor but that activity is almost always in the Spring and Summer when there
is an annual teacher strike/ demonstration.
Dec/Jan is fiesta season and, of course, the weather is near perfect, sunny and
dry, warm days, cool nights.
We work from 9am — 1pm each day and leave the afternoons and evenings open for
cultural touring, rest, writing, classes (Spanish, cooking, arts/crafts, etc).
The New York Times recently noted that Oaxaca is considered the “...art center
of Mexico.”
Over the years the workshop/retreat has proven beneficial not only for
storytellers, writers, artists, etc, but also for career changers or people in
transition, retiring etc. OR for anyone interested in examining the wisdom of
mythology and their own life experience (stories) to inform, to make decisions,
and to enhance their life journey. Exploring these issues in a city (and
surrounding villages) renown for it’s art and ritual that reflects centuries of
the mix of indigenous and European traditions can and has had a profound and
positive impact on workshop participants.
We stay at Casa Colonial in the heart of city within walking distance of
museums, markets, churches, galleries, libraries, language centers, cooking
classes, etc, and the glorious shaded central plaza (The Zocalo) with its many
outdoor restaurants, street musicians, and vendors — a meeting place and ritual
gathering place for local and tourist alike. It is often referred to as the most
beautiful plaza in all of Mexico.
The Casa Colonial is the number one rated B+B in Oaxaca. It is a restored, court
yarded mansion with mature fruit trees, a lush garden and hundreds of folk art
objects (on the walls, on shelves and in the well stocked English language
library, as part of the mosaic stucco of the building, etc). The North American
family who owns the Casa has been collecting Oaxaca’s now world famous folk art
for over 15 years.
The staff (cook, housekeeping, manger, etc) has over one hundred years of
continuous service. The cook, Theresa, is renown for her dishes and has been at
the Casa for over 25 years. The website for more info on Casa Colonial is:
www.casa–colonial.com The local staff is well paid, are provided health
insurance and scholarship funds for their children.
The cost of the workshop is $495 ($100 discount if you have already taken any of
my weekend or weeklong workshops). Add to that the cost of room (see website —
current – 07- rates are $95 for double and $50 for single) and flight (thru
Mexico City or thru Houston on Continental Airlines). The room comes with a
sumptuous American style breakfast with many courses. Other food throughout the
city is delicious and very inexpensive.
Hope to see some of you in January. Call me for details or to answer any
questions. I will need a $150 non-refundable deposit by Oct 15 to hold your
reservation for the class/lodging.
Best,
--
Jim May
Storyteller, Author
815-648-2039