The final day. I have had a repeating thought all day today of “I can’t believe we’re going home tomorrow”. Before I get into feelings, here’s our day…

We went out to the same coffee shop as yesterday for breakfast. Excellent coffee and once again, excellent food.

We came back to the Airbnb, showered, and got ready for our day. Nick and Millie went to the park while I stayed in and did a work call and wrote our statement to dispute the fraudulent charge from Mexico City (argh).

When I was done I walked to meet everyone at Janet’s store. Our friends Janet & Eric are from a long line of Zapotec rug weavers and have taken over their family’s business. We admired the incredible rugs and caught up with Janet over cold drinks at a cafe next door.

Jeff picked us up in the car and we began the 45 minute drive out to Teotitlan Del Valle. Teotitlan is known for its textiles and is where Eric and Janet are from. It’s also where Nick lived as a teenager after he got in trouble and got sent there to straighten up. Some kids get caught with drugs and are grounded or sent to military school. Nick got sent to live outside of Oaxaca with Eric’s uncle.

When we arrived we all had lunch together. I love love love mole and have never figured out how to cook it. Adding to list of things to try to perfect. Millie wanted to order what Santiago got, and she actually ate it even though it was unfamiliar to her. Peer pressure works.

After lunch we went up to the center of town and walked through the market and the 16th century church, which was built using bricks from nearby archaeological sites. Millie was scared of “dead Jesus”.

From here we went back to their house and studio. Millie and Santi jumped on the trampoline and rode bikes while Elsa and Eric showed us how they dye the wool and weave. Over the years, they have transitioned their family from using synthetic dyes too all-natural dyes.

Elsa showed us how they grind the cochineal bugs, and how different PH levels affect the dye color. She showed us how they use indigo, pomegranate, and pecan leaves to achieve different shades.

Eric showed us how he then weaves that dyed wool into beautiful rugs. He showed us all the different patterns he has done, and why some are harder than others.

We have known Eric and Elsa for years, but this was the first time we had really done a deep dive on their work. It was amazing and I left reflecting on every human’s need to create and make things. What a peaceful life to work with your family, making beautiful things.

We have talked for years about buying a rug from them but either couldn’t afford it or were nervous about having nice things with a toddler in the house. But we decided today was the day. When we saw this one we both fell in love with it and are bringing it home to hang on a wall somewhere in our house.

We both love that it incorporates every natural dye. The pattern reminds me of both a sunset and a hug, two great things.

We drove back to the Airbnb and said a big “haste luego” to Jeff. He is coming to visit us in Austin in just over a month so it wasn’t too hard of a goodbye.

As we were packing up Millie’s clothes (for the last time!!) Nick had the idea to do “super highs and super lows”. Instead of doing our daily highs and lows, what were our highs and lows of this whole year? We recounted our best days. Among them: seeing landmarks we never expected we’d see (the Great Wall, Machu Picchu, etc.), snorkeling in Thailand, seeing the lion hunt in Kenya, finding treasures in the wadis of Oman, exploring new-to-us towns and cities, drinking Chilean wine while watching the sunset in the Atacama, all the times we’ve grilled dinner outside, watching Millie make friends on playgrounds… the list goes on and on. What a year it has been.

I’m not sure what I’ll do with this blog moving forward. I’ll do one more post tomorrow and at least another mega-post. I want to do a “by the numbers” kind of wrap up, and then another more serious write up of what this trip has meant to us and what we’ve learned. I will want to figure out a way to print all of these in a set of keepsake physical books for Millie. Beyond that, I’m not sure. I am so proud of myself for sticking to it. And I’m also very ready to watch TV or read at night, and to never utter the words “let me just finish my post” ever again.