Every morning we wake up to the smell of fresh brewed coffee — with a Oaxaca flavor: The addition of fresh grated Oaxaca Chocolate. This way we keep our memory of Oaxaca alive as we start each day. Here’s how it goes: Stephen puts the ground organic beans into the filter and we turn on the pot. We usually bring 10 kilos back from Elsa’s family coffee farm located in the highlands between Oaxaca and Puerto Escondido. When we run out (which we do frequently), we turn to a fresh grind from Weaver Street Market (Carrboro, NC) or Trader Joe’s (most everywhere) that is a mix of Columbian and French Roast. With our coffee paraphernalia, we keep a stick of hard Oaxaca chocolate that is blended with cinnamon, sugar and almonds and a small grater. The grated chocolate goes into the cup first, then we add a little sugar or Splenda, pour in the coffee and stir. You can buy this form of chocolate at good Mexican tiendas. This is a delicious drink, and if you add hot milk, makes a great hot chocolate-style beverage. Enjoy!
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Why Travel With Us: Help sustain traditions.
- We know the culture! This is our land! We are locally owned and operated.
- Eric Chavez Santiago is tri-lingual --Spanish, English, Zapotec.
- Eric was founding director of education, Museo Textil de Oaxaca + folk art expert
- Norma Schafer has lived in Oaxaca since 2005.
- Norma is a seasoned university educator.
- We have deep connections with artists and artisans.
- 63% of our travelers repeat -- high ratings, high satisfaction.
- Wide ranging expertise: textiles, folk art, pottery, cultural wisdom.
- We give you a deep immersion to best know Oaxaca and Mexico.
We organize private travel + tours for museums, arts, organizations, collectors + appreciators.
Creating Connection and Meaning between travelers and with indigenous artisans. Meet makers where they live and work. Join small groups of like-minded explorers. Go deep into remote villages. Gain insights. Support cultural heritage and sustainable traditions. Create value and memories. Enjoy hands-on experiences. Make a difference.
What is a Study Tour: Our programs are learning experiences, and as such we talk with makers about how and why they create, what is meaningful to them, the ancient history of patterning and design, use of color, tradition and innovation, values and cultural continuity, and the social context within which they work. First and foremost, we are educators. Norma worked in top US universities for over 35 years and Eric founded the education department at Oaxaca’s textile museum. We create connection.
OCN Creates Student Scholarship at Oaxaca Learning Center Giving back is a core value. Read about it here
Meet Makers. Make a Difference
Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC has offered programs in Mexico since 2006. We have over 30 years of university, textile and artisan development experience. See About Us.
Programs can be scheduled to meet your independent travel plans. Send us your available dates.
Arts organizations, museums, designers, retailers, wholesalers, curators, universities and others come to us to develop artisan relationships, customized itineraries, meetings and conferences. It's our pleasure to make arrangements.
Select Clients *Abeja Boutique, Houston *North Carolina Museum of Art *Selvedge Magazine-London, UK *Esprit Travel and Tours *Penland School of Crafts *North Carolina State University *WARP Weave a Real Peace *Methodist University *MINNA-Goods *Smockingbird Kids *University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Tell us how we can put a program together for you! Send an email norma.schafer@icloud.com
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