2026 02 Oaxaca Mexico For the Michael deMeng Workshop Fandango Fantastico Day Seven

Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14, 2026

Today I went down at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast in the hotel but there was no walkabout for me today. 

At 9:00 a.m. we all boarded two vans to head out to the community of San Pablo Villa de Mitla. 

OUT THE WINDOW #3

Our first adventure was a tour of the archaeology site of the Zapotecs. 

The horror story here is that when the Spanish conquered this area they build a Catholic Church on the most sacred site in the Zapotec community in order to oppress the people. This proves to me once again that people who use religion in order to gain power are as evil as any. 

Today the church structure and the remaining walls of old Zapotec temple stand next to each other. A recent lidar search has discovered more of the Zapotec ruin but no money is available to begin the process of discovering what is left and what it tells us about the Zapotes of old. 

Photo by Denice

Robert

OUT THE WINDOW #4

Our next stop was the Oaxaca Oscura gallery and to meet with artist and screen printer, Andreas Mendez. 

It always amazes me to meet artists who are great in multiple disciplines. 

What Dara bought

Andreas does make figurative sculptures similar to what we are doing in class. The major different is that Andreas begins with a wire structure and then uses cloth to build the bodies. 

Michael and Robyn with the dolls they bought

I bought two works of watercolor and pen that I just love for their emotional content. 

Lunch today was at Dona Chica. I finished early so I went around the neighborhood to see what I could find.

OUT THE WINDOW #6

Yes I am a Junk Yard Dog

We next went to the village of Teotitlan del Valle and San Pascual Velas to visit an artisan family who create elaborate ceremonial candles at their studio.

Tom makes a candle

There was also some textiles being made there

OUT THE WINDOW #6

We did not stop here despite me yelling like a schoolgirl that we should

(P.S.: there was another one that we did not stop at either--

wonder what these would have been like to visit)

Is that...?

We got back to Oaxaca in time for me to run over to the alcala for the second day of Carnival parades. Once again the parade was forming up just a block or two from our hotel. 

Someone was going to have a Valentine's Day party but I did not get invited.

Now its time to settle in on the alcala for the actual parade. 

Now it is time for the cowboys and their whips. Trust me, these ropes are more dangerous to be around then they might look (speaking from experience). 

Tonight the Bugenhagens and Niebuhrs went to Café Celia near our hotel for a 7:00 p.m. reservation. This was a change from the original arrival time but when we got to the restaurant they could not seat us because the change in time never got accounted for. So we walked a short distance to the Argentinia restaurant, El Fogoncito. We had tacos and other stuff which proved to be just fine for all.

Back in the room by 8:30 p.m. tonight needing a good night sleep for another class session tomorrow. 

Happy Valentine's Day to all.