Colonial Mexico Culture and Art Trip
Day 1 – San Jose, Mexico City – We begin our adventure to Mexico with an evening flight from San Jose to Mexico City, where we will meet our guide, spend the night, and get some rest before exploring the spectacular megalopolis of Mexico City!
Day 2 – Mexico City-Teotihuacan – We start the day today with an early breakfast and then make our way to the famous Museo Frida Kahlo. Guillermo Kahlo, Frida’s father, built this Casa Azul at the corner of Londres and Allende Streets for his family in 1908, less than a year after Frida’s birth on July 6, 1907. Frida Kahlo lived in the house for most of her life. She spent all of her childhood there, when Coyoacán was still a village south of Mexico City, and continued to live there off and on, with and without Rivera, after their marriage in 1929 and remarriage in 1940. Frida Kahlo died in the Casa Azul on July 13, 1954, just one week after her forty-seventh birthday. Today her ashes are kept there, and the house has been transformed into the Frida Kahlo Museum.
Next, we will head to world renowned National Anthropology Museum. In bringing together the rich history of Mexico with the depth of modern Mexican culture, the National Museum of Anthropology has achieved a truly magnificent collection. We will browse through all of the the major archeological and ethnographic collections gathered in Mexico since the 18th Century, when interest in the Mexico’s native heritage first began.
After lunch, we will travel to Teotihuacán. Shortly after the Olmec civilization vanished, a new civilization arose in the second century BC in the valley of Mexico. This grand civilization would dominate the culture of the valley of Mexico for almost a millennium and stands as the most significant cultural influence throughout the history of Central American civilizations. This civilization was centered around the city of Teotihuacán. At its peak, Teotihuacán was a city of over one hundred thousand people—not only was it the largest city in America, it was one of the largest cities in the ancient world, period. Tonight, we have the special treat of staying inside the archeological site at The Hotel Villa Arqueologica, the only hotel located in the archaeological zone at only 5 minutes walking distance from the main entrance of the site.
Day 3 – Teotihuacán- San Miguel de Allende – After breakfast, we head for a more in depth exploration of Teotihuacán. The ancient city of Teotihuacán is the most visited of Mexico’s archaeological sites and a must-see. The site is impressive for its scale, both in the size of the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world) and the majesty of the Calle de los Muertos (Street of the Dead) – originally 4km long and flanked by temples, palaces, and platforms. Look for amazingly well preserved murals in the Palace of the Jaguars or the Palace of the Quetzal-butterfly and bold sculptures in the Temple of Quetzalcoátl. Be prepared for lots of walking and climbing here, and remember that the altitude will make your exertions more tiring than usual. The Pyramid of the Sun is the tallest of the two major pyramids, though it is an easier climb than the Pyramid of the Moon which has larger steps. After taking in all there is to see, we head to the historical artistic center of San Miguel de Allende.
Day 4 – San Miguel de Allende – San Miguel de Allende is a cosmopolitan and picturesque colonial city, internationally renowned for its beautiful architecture and artistic community. Today, high quality artistic and cultural events are carried out here, like the International Hall Music Festival, the Winter Classic Music Festival, the Wool and Brass Fair, the traditional Pamplonada in September, and the Jazz Festival, among others.
In the morning, we will begin our first art class, creating a paper maché sculpture and using recycled everyday objects to create our own art pieces. Our instructor is a local San Miguel de Allende resident artist, Ingalora Dwyer, who has been a self declared artist since age 3! According to her theory on art, the focus in her work is color, texture, and diversity. Creativity is being open and willing to work in many different media’s, combine media’s and try everything. Under her creative instruction, we will design and then produce our own masterpieces! In the afternoon, we will explore the surrounding town of San Miguel de Allende while our work dries.
Day 5 – San Miguel de Allende – After breakfast, we will put the finishing touches on our art projects and pack them up to take home! In the afternoon, we will visit a local spa and relax while experiencing the natural wonder of this famous thermal hot spring.
Day 6 – San Miguel de Allende-Mexico City – Today is our last day in San Miguel. We will spend the morning exploring the artistic corners that we have not yet uncovered and then head back to Mexico City fr our farewell dinner in the capital!
