2026 02 Oaxaca Mexico For the Michael deMeng Workshop Fandango Fantastico Day One and Two

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Today we begin our 2026 Oaxaca, Mexico, adventure. We are heading there a few days early before we join Michael deMeng for his workshop, Fandango Fantastico: Puppet Creatures Inspired by Oaxacan Carnival. 

The alarm went off at 4:15 a.m. today to get us going. We were lucky that Denice’s sister Marijeanne was willing to pick us up at 5:30 a.m.

At the Milwaukee airport we were supposed to fly out at 7:50 a.m. but because it snowed overnight, the plane had to be de-iced and then we go blocked in by another plane getting de-iced, we left one hour late. We got to Houston at 11:30 a.m, only 20 minutes late so I think we were speeding.

Our layover was until 4:45 p.m. when our flight to Oaxaca took off. We were pleasantly surprised to find one of our classmates, Holly, was on our flight. We got to Oaxaca at about 7:10 p.m., again earlier than projected.

This might be the time for a little explanation. The city we are staying in is actually Oaxaca de Juarez. It is located in the state of Oaxaca. This might get a little confusing but I will try to be good about saying where we are as the days go by. 

Meeting us in Oaxaca at the airport were Dan and Marilyn Bugenhagen, my cousin and his wife, who are joining us in Oaxaca but not taking the workshop with Michael deMeng. However, they can attend the meals and the excursions so it will be fun, fun, fun.

Our hotel is the Holiday Inn Centro Historico which always surprises people as it is not what you would think of as a romantic Oaxaca hotel. But over the years it has been a perfect fit for these art workshops, has a great breakfast buffet to start the day and has a great staff of workers who are so good to us. There is plenty of art everywhere in Oaxaca including our hotel.

From our room window I can see this wall art across the street. Wall art is one of my favorite things to shoot anywhere but in Oaxaca it is one of the reasons that I come. 

Marilyn and Dan Bugenhagen

At 9:00 p.m. the Niebuhrs and the Bugenhagens went to Del Jardin in the neighborhood of the hotel for a light dinner. Then we were back in our rooms, unpacking and going to bed as we are very, very tired.  

Monday, February 9, 2026

Photography is very important to me. This is how you would see me most of the day if you went on this trip with us. I love it. 

I have been to Oaxaca and taken some many photographs there

that I have been immortalized in wall art

Today we decided to meet the Bugenhagens for breakfast at 8:30 a.m. It is amazing to me that not only does the Holiday Inn breakfast staff recognize us but I got a big hug from two of the wait staff. I love this place.

At breakfast we met up with a number of the participants including Michael deMeng, Mija and Jon, Holly, Una and Anna Lise. I thought we were early arrivals until Mandy (from Australia) told us she has been here since the 6th.

Today we rented a van for our first excursion in Oaxaca. What does this mean for me? It means I obsessively have to sit in the last seat in the van on the sidewalk side because I spend the travel time shooting what I call Out the Window shots. This is street photography on the move so that means anything goes including blur as long as the photo is interesting.

Today we are heading out to Santa María del Tule. 

OUT THE WINDOW #1

Here you can see a reflection of my hand in the window I shoot through

Someday I will publish all my photos of Marilyn from all over the world

Our goal on this trip is El Árbol del Tule. The Tule tree is the 2,000 years old, has a world record circumference of 138 feet and has been DNA tested to prove it is all one tree. 

You can take one of these home and somewhere between 2,000 to 6,000 years...

Templo de Santa María de la Asunción (Temple of Saint Mary of the Assumption)

I love the way I can spend a little time settling in and do a study of something so photogenic as this church and its flags. 

Sometimes it is just brooms and mops. 

The tree and the church are surrounded by a flower garden with topiary.

Mariposa Denice

Its time for the ride back to Oaxaca de Juarez so it is time for

OUT THE WINDOW #2

We got dropped off at the Zocalo, the central square of the town of Oaxaca de Juarez. Our first stop was the Catedral Metropolitana de Oaxaca Nuestra Señora de la Asunción. The glass doors are amazing.

We walked around and then went to the Sin Nombre Hotel (where Denice had stayed on a previous trip) to have drinks and snacks. This was our rooftop view of the Auditorio Guelaguetza, the dance pavilion on the hill above our hotel know colloquially as The Diaper. 

Then we walked up the Alcala (the pedestrian street) back to our hotel to change for our night out. 

Tonight I made reservations at the Michelen 5 star restaurant, Los Danzantes, which is on the Alcala near the Santo Domingo Church. The Bugenhagens and us shared a bowl of Oaxacan bugs as an appetizer which was very salty but very good with guacamole. 

I had a fig salad followed by Oaxacan mushrooms for dinner and my drink was a soda made from lavender. We had a great waitstaff so the whole evening was quire the dining experience. 

How I felt after our big dinner

We were back in our room by 7:30 p.m. which was fine as we are still getting our vacation sea legs.