Oaxaca Storytelling/Writing/Personal Quest
Retreat and Cultural Tour

Oaxaca City, Mexico
March 21-25, 2009

The dates for my next retreat/workshop (Personal Narrative, Culture and Myth) in Oaxaca, the glorious Mexican colonial city in southern Mexico, will be Saturday, March 21 thru Wednesday, March 25.

Over the years the workshop/retreat has proved beneficial not only for storytellers, writers, artists, etc, but also for career changers or people in transition -- anyone interested in using the wisdom of mythology and their own life experience (stories) to make decisions and enhance their life journey.

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.”
The weather is near perfect, sunny and dry, warm days, cool nights.

We will be staying at the Casa Colonial, the number one rated B+B in Oaxaca, in the heart of the city within walking distance of museums, markets, churches, galleries, libraries, language centers, cooking classes, etc, and the historic colonial 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. Taxi and van service is available at the Casa front door and is inexpensive – about $3.00 to any downtown areas.

The Casa itself is a restored, court-yarded mansion with mature fruit trees, a lush garden and hundreds of folk art objects (on the hallway walls, in your rooms, and in the well stocked English language library). The North American family which 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 at the Casa. The cook, Theresa, is renown for her dishes and has been at the Casa for over 25 years. The room comes with a sumptuous American style breakfast with many courses. Other food throughout the city is delicious and very inexpensive; Chicago’s acclaimed chef, and possible future White House head chief, Rick Bayless, sends his students to Oaxaca to study the local cuisine.

The website for more info on Casa Colonial is: www.casa–colonial.com

The cost of the workshop is $495 ($100 discount if you have already taken any of my weekend or weeklong workshops or if you bring a friend). Add to that the cost of room (see website — current – 08- rates are $95 for double and $50 for single) and flight (thru Mexico City or thru Houston on Continental Airlines).

The Casa has been owned by a U.S couple from Oregon (they live in Oaxaca) for years and they are very deferential to the needs of visitors from the U.S. in terms of the wonderful food served, and the quality of the rooms and drinking water. Our host, Jane Robson knows all the best doctors and dentists in town. In the past we have had very good medical and dental service, some on a “house call” basis when necessary.

Hope to see some of you in March. Call me for details or to answer any questions. I will need a $250 non-refundable deposit by Jan 31 to hold your reservation for the class/lodging.

Jim

P.S. My wife Nan and I have been traveling to Oaxaca for many years and staying at the Casa Colonial. We have found the city to be beautiful and very accessible, as well as safe for walking expeditions. We spent a week in Oaxaca March of 07 and Jan 08 and found it as lovely as ever. There have been political struggles involving dissatisfaction with the governor (05, 06) but that activity is almost always in May when there is an annual teacher strike/ demonstration.