Oh my! How could I forget?

Posted 10/26/22

SPELLING BEE Time “Traveling – It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” -Unknown How could I not mention my FAVORITE stop until now? That was the day we did a trip to the …

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Oh my! How could I forget?

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SPELLING BEE Time

“Traveling – It leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.”

-Unknown

How could I not mention my FAVORITE stop until now? That was the day we did a trip to the area that specializes in weaving in the form of tapestry. It was a place that had hundreds of rugs and table runners in a wide range of styles and colors and all made from raw wool from the area. Everything was also all naturally dyed using products from plants and the earth. Very hard to think a human hand had spent hundreds of hours creating just one of the items. The man in the shop was the head of three family branches that all worked together to produce these treasures. His ancestral background was from people who lived in the area for thousands of years and he spoke a number of languages.

This amazing man gave an in depth demonstration of how the wool was spun and colored. He moved on to show us how the dyed wools are used in making a tapestry and I fell in love with the work he was doing on one of the looms. (The end story of this part is that it is a M.C. Escher Print done in local colors and he has 2 and ½ months to finish it. After much back and forth in Spanish, (Arre) I am on the list to purchase it. He said I must see a finished picture of it before I pay for it)!!!! We then went to his main showroom and saw hundreds of finished pieces. We became part of the family when we purchased four pieces and maybe spent in the area of $1,000 American. I picked out a piece that I kind of liked for Daughter Nissa but as we were leaving the room I saw THE ONE. It turns out I have “most great eye, understanding and most magnificent taste”. Per square foot, this was by far the most expensive in the whole shop and it’s only several feet in size. This is one of a kind and made with extremely fine wool. Daughter Nissa, you will wait until Christmas to see it.

And how can we forget about drinks and not think of Tequila, Mescal and the agave plant. Making these products is very controlled and only blue agave can be used for making tequila. The mescal can be made from up to 20 different agave and almost all grow wild and will not grow if transplanted. Mescal can only be made in the Oaxaca area and a several places right around it. Mescal is considered to be “more classic” than tequila. Each is made by a different process and equipment. We did go to a modern mescal making place and see the process and my Brother Marvin would have loved it. They use a horse to turn the big stone piece to crush the smoked material that is used to make the mescal. So even the modern has old ways. We did a tasting of 6 mescals, and yes, one did have a worm in it. Emma’s grandpa is a great fan of mescal and says you have mescal on a bad day to feel good and you also have mescal on a good day to keep feeling good. I think I have had my lifetime tasting of mescal so I will have to find something else to have that work.

We also went to a place that is world known for saving the art of local heritage painting of wood items and can combine many animals in one to show how a family is made up. They also make sliver items and pottery from local materials. Years of study required and sometimes it takes years to complete. They have a small bull that is all painted and has gold and sliver inlay for $50,000 American. It took five years to make. It’s for sale right now.

I did a few purchases including a wool backpack, a wooden spoon, big table runner or I can wrap it around me to keep warm, and an old looking, small object that looks like a pineapple with lots of carvings. It represents man and woman and how the earth and sky give life with corn, water and sun. I did buy a collection of flan mixes from Walmart and I got several hair clips for the young ladies at Rio Gran. That is where Sitka and Pumpkin had their vacation. I am sure they also had a good time. So until my next grand adventure, I will call this one to the end. Oh oh, just thought of a few more must tells, so more next week.