I knew I shouldn’t have let Mary Ann into that rug village!

When last week, we went to the Sunday market in Tlacolulu with the kids and Sebastian, we did not make it to the native rug making village of Teotitlán del Valle which is a few miles nearer to Oaxaca.  While in the Sunday market this week with Tom and Mall Boyd, we all had a good time watching the meat being barbecued, buying watermelon, and small gourd handicrafts.  They were all very impressed that I even found the parking lot that Sebastian used on our first trip to the tianguis. 

Next we headed to the rug village with all the families weaving rugs, and other woven products right in their individual stores. It is a delightful village with shops up against a very impressive colorful painted church.  While Mary Ann, Mall and Tom (well he was walking along) were looking at the craft makers, I went up to the church.  It was very unique, and while standing there, a band and a group of locals came out, which I think was a funeral procession for a child, judging by the mournful sound of the band and the very small table being carried with a wrapped object and preceded by a person swinging incense. 

I went back down the hill and told the others they really had to see the church.  When walking up the hill they were invited into a shop by an older native woman who actually spoke some English.  This was obviously my downfall.  Mary Ann found a wool wall hanging sized rug that must have said to her – buy me, buy me! The only good news for me is that, it does not look large enough to require shipping.  At least I am not real sure yet of the total haul of the many Oaxacan Valley craft products she is hiding in our bedroom.

We had a very nice lunch down the street which consisted of various orders of Azteca sopa, tacos with Oaxacan cheese, and quesadillas.  The final stop of the day was the huge el Tule tree.  It was easier to appreciate today as there were not so many people around.  Oh, we did stop at a bank for the Boyd’s to hit an ATM machine.  Only took two banks to accomplish a withdrawal. Tom and I agree it is the big bank business plan to irritate customers as often as they can. Now the Boyd’s are fixed up to do some real Oaxacan handicraft damage this week.

When we arrived back at the casa we had received a sad e-mail from Anne White, who with Bob, were to arrive tonight.  She had been running a fever following a bad cold, and they cancelled their trip.  Ay, caramba! We have invited them to come post haste, if she should recover this week. Anne has been the inspiration for this trip, and hopefully it can be resurrected.  What am I going to do with my Bob-site chart?

 

The Church in Teotitlan

 

Dyeing the rugs in Teotitlan

 

El Tule Cypress Tree

 

Quirky Living Note

 

How are your investments doing with this credit union -  At least I think it is a credit union.  In downtown Villa de Etla there is a fairy tale castle being constructed, ala Disney World.  Check out the photo of it below.  Maybe it is just a playland center being financed by the credit union.  Who knows?  (Sebastian says it is in fact a credit union.)

 

Oh my goodness!  The Credit Union.