Travel Sketch Day of the Dead in Roma Norte, Mexico City Xochimilco / Altar Explorations / Mercado Medellin Stay in Roma Norte Tuesday, October 29 - Sunday, November 3, 2019
If you've spent time in Mexico, anywhere in Mexico, you know the Mexican people take their "Dia de los Muertos" holiday quite serious. It's a time to honor, remember and celebrate their family members and dearly departed who've come before them, and the celebrations take place in the cemetery and on the family member's grave site. It's also a somber day, which can often get lost in today's over-commercialization of all of our holidays, which is why we're spending this Day of the Dead in a historic and colorful Mexico City neighborhood, and not in a cemetery.
Join us for this culturally rich deep dive into Roma Norte, the neighborhood of Mexico City for this year's Day of the Dead season. We'll stay in the heart of this hip neighborhood, and we'll discover it's history as we create a travel sketchbook of the tree-lined, café-rich, hipster-dense scene. We'll spend most of our time in the neighborhood, except for two field trips out of the neighborhood to explore the altars, ofrendas and festivities taking place in and around Mexico City. We'll ride the flowery boats in the canals of Xochimilco, stroll the fascinating art at the Dolores Olmedo museum, and head to the Zocolo to experience the altars and festivities created around this November 1st holiday. It'll definitely be a colorful and memorable travel sketching adventure, you'll want to bring all your colors!
Mexico City is a fascinating and diverse city, and I invite you to join me on this 5-night adventure as we explore corners we've yet to sketch. We'll stay in Roma Norte on Alvaro Obregon, well-known for it's trendy cafes, art galleries, street tacos and amazing black and white street scenes (gracias ROMA!). We'll set out to explore and experience amazing art and vibrant street scenes during each day. Each evening we'll gather in a local bookstore for a drink and to review our sketches from the day. In this Roma Norte adventure, you'll have the opportunity to create a unique and dynamic travel sketchbook, which will be provided to you. We'll start each day with sketching exercises and prompts that you'll use throughout the trip to create your travel sketchbook. As we travel along on this this colorful and delicious Mexican adventure, you'll be capturing your sights, scenes, meals in your sketchbook. You will never be without your sketchbook and supplies, so pack wisely. Mexico City is an energetic and chaotic city, visually begging for your attention each time you turn a corner. Our small group of adventure-seeking artists will travel together throughout, and the route is designed for maximum daylight impact, while enjoying the local Roma Norte neighborhood as a native. You'll gain a sense of this bohemian-chic neighborhood, while venturing out with out group to explore some of the newly created Mexico City Day of the dead celebrations.
Bring your sketchbook bag and sense of adventure, we're going to see and sketch Mexico City like never before. Te deseo que tengas un buen viaje. ¡Nos vemos pronto!
Travel Sketching Workshop Cost: $525 USD PLUS HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS, FOOD + DRINK 50% deposit required to hold your space ($250 USD + transaction fee) upon registration Balance is due by Friday, September 6, 2019
PRICE INCLUDES: 6-day, 5-night travel sketching adventures to the Roma Norte neighborhood of Mexico City, Mexico Handmade sketchbook with quality paper to capture your travels Hand-size travel sketchbook for quick sketches and exercises Welcome Comida on Arrival Day Daily sketchbook prompts/objectives/assignments Round-trip private transportation to Xochimilco with English-speaking guide Xochimilco floating boat canal ride Walking Tour of Roma Norte by American writer Lydia Carey Travel Sketching tour management by Meagan Burns
NOT INCLUDED: Transportation costs to Mexico City Hotel Accommodations: Hotel Milan Av. Álvaro Obregón 94, C. U. Benito Juárez, 06700 Ciudad de México, CDMX Phone: 01 55 5584 0222 Room Rates: 1 Person, Simple "Sencillo" Room: Approx $43 USD without breakfast, per night ($820 MXN) Approx $48 USD with breakfast, per night ($890 MXN)
All Food and Beverages, except for Welcome Comida Admission to Dolores Olmedo Museum (use your INAPAM card for 50% discount) Extra-curricular activities (shopping, alcohol, snacks, souvenirs) Transaction fees Tips at your discretion Taxis at your own discretion
SMALL PRINT, PLEASE READ
Minor agenda changes may occur, but the substance of the tour will remain. Sketch tour open to sketchers of all levels, including beginners, but no beginners' instruction is offered. Please bring your sketch tools and sense of adventure, as there will be travel sketching prompts throughout our stay. Group must have at least 6, but is limited to a total of 9 people (Meagan makes 10) During our group meals; we will have one bill per table and you must pay for what you consume plus at least an 18% tip, 20% if service was great. Physical ability to walk unassisted and stand for extended periods is absolutely necessary. When paying via PayPal, an international transaction fee will be added; please contact me directly for specific information. If you require other travel arrangements, please allow me to assist you.
**Cancellation Policy:** 1) All individual cancellations must be made in writing and are effective upon receipt.
2) If you have paid your deposit or trip fee and are unable to attend, there will be no refund of either.
3) At this point, there are two options. If a waiting list of interested participants has formed, we will put you in contact with the first person on the list to whom you can offer your class spot. If the person accepts, then that person will need to pay you for your spot and once that transaction is complete and both parties are satisfied, we will transfer your spot to the other person. If there is no waiting list, you have a second option.
4) The second option is to transfer your fees to another ALA trip within 12 months minus a $100 administration fee.
5) If neither of these options are available to you, there will be no refund. There are no exceptions to this policy. Deposits and arrangements are made in advance of the trip.
6) Participant expenses incurred in preparation for the trip (e.g., non-refundable purchased airline tickets) are not the responsibility of ALA. It is strongly recommended that participants obtain medical/trip cancellation insurance.
7) If an emergency occurs and you must make a change to your participation status, please contact Meagan to discuss.
Meagan Burns, originally from Chicago, first went to San Miguel de Allende in 2001 and has been based in Central Mexico on a full time basis since 2015. She has rallied the sketching community to become a Regional Chapter of Urban Sketchers in 2016, and is a current administrator of the group. She began to travel with her sketchbook, and upon her return home, friends would see her sketchbook and say, "I want to go with you!" Art Leap Adventures was born in 2017, and provides tour organization and management of travel and art workshops within the fascinating country of Mexico. Meagan also teaches travel sketching afternoon experiences on Airbnb in both San Miguel de Allende and San Diego, California.