It’s March. Which means we’re one step closer to something. These glimmers of warmth can send one into a haze of yearning (yearning/longing is really in right now). As you make the commute home from work in the dark and listen to your Enneagram Playlist created by a Spotify AI bot, you’ll begin to conjure memories from your vibrant, youthful years. And your eyes will water and create a twinkle like Glinda’s scepter as she leads the Ozians in a munchkin song.
This world is colorful and nostalgic, and we’re reminded that these fantasies are so important during the workday. Fantasies and walking to get your little coffee. So, let your mind wander even deeper this week and join us as we wistfully envision ourselves in Oaxaca, Mexico. Take Deb’s hands as she guides you through an indigenous city filled with beautiful food, culture, art, and spirit animals.
Oaxaca City, Oaxaca is a city flanked by mountains and ancient ruins dating back to as early as 500 B.C. With colorful and super saturated stucco buildings, marketplaces, and chocolate and mezcal producers, the atmosphere is buzzing with a welcoming and celebratory current. Deb flew three hours straight down from Dallas for a wedding weekend, and the destination did not disappoint. While staying at the Quinta Real Oaxaca, Deb enjoyed tortilla soup, a deep blue pool tucked amidst a terrace with lounge chairs and palms, chilaquiles (fried corn tortillas, eggs, salsa, queso fresco—a healing cure after a night of mezcal drinks). But she didn’t spend too much time relaxing. With less than 48 horas in this city, Deb aimed to do what she does best, walking every inch of a city.
A few of Deb’s favorites while she clocked 20,000 steps included Mercado Benito Juárez, a giant marketplace with crafts, hanging sombreros, beans, beads, and plenty of food. As is common at many establishments in Oaxaca, the market had hundreds of handmade, colorful spirit animals, also known as alebrijes. The hand painted, wooden creatures are believed to act as guardians and spirit guides. They are representations of one's true self and inner essence. We wish Deb had packed a 4 Boys Bag full of them for HQ. There are also larger than life alebrijes made by local artists, acting as protective fixtures around town. Jaguars, snakes, coyotes, and eagles are best known for their representation of courage, vision, and transformation.
And the art didn’t stop at giant armadillos. Deb had to make a pit stop at Centro Fotográfico Manuel Alvarez Bravo, a gallery filled with nostalgic film, black and white photos, and its own library to muse over the hundreds to thousands of images. Ancestry, family, and the afterlife are sacred pillars of this community, and these elements shined through at the main hoorah, the wedding.
The couple's wedding procession was a parade down the street with a brass band, giant paper mache puppets (often made to look like the bride and groom), and mamotas (the large spheres/lanterns). This is called the calenda de bodas and is a celebratory method to move the attendants from the ceremony to the reception. These magical parades rooted in indigenous tradition are inclusive, colorful, and deeply celebratory. Sounds a little like the SCOUT brand guidelines…
And, of course, it wouldn’t be a dreamy weekend away without a SCOUT bag to carry the old and the new. Whether you’re daydreaming at your standing desk, or flying to a fairy-like land, we want to provide you with the vessel you need to celebrate life’s adventures big and small. Check out our latest and greatest travel bags and keep dreaming! Your spirit animal will thank you.
