NEW MEXICO PILGRIMAGE ITINERARY

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2 NEW MEXICO PILGRIMAGE ITINERARY DAY DATE SCHEDULE LODGING FRIDAY/6-17 ARRIVE IN ALBUQUERQUE/WELCOME Everyone is expected to arrive at the Best Western Rio Grande hotel by 4pm for a meet and greet and Pilgrimage orientation. The hotel has an airport shuttle bus for your convenience. EVENING IN OLD TOWN ALBUQUERQUE A chance to get your first taste of New Mexican culture in its most authentic Old Town founded in This is where tourists realize that they are going to be immersed in a wonderfully different culture. Your only job will be to choose from among unique New Mexican cuisine and local craft stores that surround the old town plaza. LODGING Our first night at the Best Western Plus Rio Grande is only a ten minute walk from Old Town so you can pace yourself and decide when to turn in SATURDAY/6-18 A PUEBLO CULTURAL EXPERIENCE BREAKFAST BUFFET Breakfasts will be included each day of the Pilgrimage at our hotel. INDIAN PUEBLO CULTURAL CENTER Here is a great way to orient ourselves in the native Pueblo history and culture of the Rio Grande River Valley. In addition to the world class collection of Pueblo art and pottery, the center offers native dancing, local crafts and a taste of traditional Tewa Oven bread. BUS TRIP TO ACOMA PUEBLO We take our first trip east of Albuquerque to the oldest inhabited site in North America Acoma, the Sky City. A Native Pueblo guide will guide us through the remarkable history of the pueblo. It will be important to observe strict pueblo customs regarding sacred sites and photography. LODGING One more night at the Best Western Plus Rio Grande allows everyone to re-visit Old Town to explore on your own

3 SUNDAY/6-19 A SPIRITUAL TREK ACROSS NEW MEXICO RICHARD ROHR S CENTER FOR ACTION & CONTEMPLATION After breakfast our bus will take us to the ethnically diverse south valley of Albuquerque for a visit with Richard Rohr at his home center. Richard has been a New Mexican for much of his life and will share insights and inspiration for the rest of our Pilgrimage. TRIP THROUGH THE RIO GRANDE RIVER VALLEY We will follow the Sandia Mountains and Turquoise Trail towards Santa Fe following the fabled Rio Grande River. Scenic sites will include many of the nineteen Pueblo communities each with their own unique pottery and crafts. ARRIVAL IN OLD TOWN SANTA FE Santa Fe, known as the City Different, is New Mexico s cultural capital and sits in the Sangre de Cristo foothills. It is renowned for its Pueblo-style architecture and a world acclaimed center for the creative arts. Founded as a Spanish colony in 1610, its heart is a traditional Plaza with surrounding historic district s crooked streets that wind past adobe landmarks like the Palace of the Governors, the New Mexico History and Georgia O Keeffe museums. On arrival, our group will have a walking orientation of the historic district. LODGING People the world over make reservations at the historic La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza in the heart of historic Santa Fe. Staying at this property is truly a step into the past and an experience in itself where New Mexican art and culture are blended with five star amenities. Google their website to see what you can look forward to MONDAY/6-20 A DAY IN & AROUND SANTA FE BREAKFAST AT LA FONDA Start your day with special La Fonda breakfast offerings HIGHLIGHTS OF SANTA FE A walking tour of the Old Town will point out the many cultural highlights of Santa Fe. We will visit some locations that have special meaning for our Pilgrimage group like the old historic Cathedral with its Jewish and Moorish influences and the Loretto Chapel with its Miraculous Staircase. You will also be able to note special places to return to that appeal to particular tastes in art, culture and souvenir hunting! FREE AFTERNOON IN SANTA FE A chance to create your own city different experience in one of the world s great art capitals with Native, Hispanic and World Art. LODGING Another amazing night at La Fonda!

4 TUESDAY/6-21 SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO BREAKFAST AT LA FONDA BEFORE OUR BIG ADVENTURE You will want to be well fortified for today s special trip. TRIP TO CHIMAYO A bus trip north of Santa Fe will take us into the fabled Pohoaque Valley, canyon lands and historical village of Chimayo. The Santuario of Chimayo will be a special highlight of our Pilgrimage. Here the history of Old and New worlds meet around an ancient healing site that has had significance for Pueblo, Jewish, Muslim and Christian traditions. Appreciating the ancient Chimayo healing soil has been an essential part of the Sacred Art of Living Center teachings. We will also have time to visit some of the unique chili growing, wool weaving, woodcarving and silver smithing crafts carried on by families here since the 16 th century. FIESTA MEAL AT RANCHO DE CHIMAYO RESTAURANT The unique New Mexican cuisine is featured at this special Restaurant which has received international awards for its culinary diversity. Experience how traditional New Mexican cuisine differs from stereotypical Mexican food. LODGING Yet another night back at the La Fonda in Santa Fe WEDNESDAY/6-22 TRIP TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO After breakfast at La Fonda our bus will depart for the picturesque Sangre de Cristo Mountains and famous community of Taos. TAOS PUEBLO No trip to New Mexico is complete without a guided visit to the 1000 year old Pueblo de Taos, one of the great UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is an ancient pueblo belonging to a Tiwa-speaking Native American tribe. Its multi-storied pueblos are considered to be one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. Our private tour will include an intimate look at the life, culture and living heritage of Taos. When Carl Jung visited Taos in the 1920s he called it Perhaps the single most impressive spiritual community on the planet. FREE EVENING IN SANTA FE Your last evening in Santa Fe is a chance to find your own special meal (from over 500 restaurants) and perhaps make a final gallery visit to take home an unforgettable piece of Santa Fe culture. LODGING Final night at the La Fonda on the Plaza. A good night to savor a meal or drink in the famous glass ceiling restaurant or lounge.

5 THURSDAY/6-23 BANDALIER NATIONAL PARK & RETURN TO ALBUQUERQUE HOTEL CHANGE Following breakfast we will pack bags and eventually be winding our way back to Albuquerque for the night. But not before making a few special stops along the way that highlight the scenery and history of the Rio Grande Valley and its ancient peoples. BANDALIER NATIONAL MONUMENT - WILDERNESS Located against the slopes of the Jemez Mountains, this immense wilderness area preserves some of the largest ruins from the ancient Anasazi (Puebloan) culture with cliff dwellings and kivas dating back to the 10 th and 11 th centuries AD. After having visited other living Pueblo communities, Bandier is the perfect contemplative place for you to explore these ancient ruins first hand. Numerous hikes with varying degrees of ease-challenge will provide everyone with a chance to encounter this prehistoric culture as it is preserved in the national park. Adventurous persons may choose to climb hundreds of feet above a valley floor on kiva ladders to enter ancient ceremonial sites. LODGING We will return to our familiar hotel home base in Albuquerque, the Best Western Plus Rio Grande EVENING FOR SHARING A chance to share stories and insights from the Pilgrimage FRIDAY/6-24 DEPARTURE DAY DEPART Airport shuttle will shuttle persons flying out of New Mexico this morning. We will help you with your connections and travel needs. SOME FACTS ABOUT NEW MEXICO WEATHER AND HOW TO PACK & DRESS The elevation between Albuquerque and Santa Fe is high (though not uncomfortable for most people) ranging between 5000 ft. to 7500 ft. Normally you can expect dry weather in June with temperatures ranging from degrees in the day to 50 degrees at night. The climate is typical of the Western intermountain region-- dry and rarely humid. Even in the summer a light jacket is often desirable in the evening. Everywhere we will visit in New Mexico lends itself to casual dress even most restaurants and hotels. Nicer restaurants will prefer no shorts and appropriate tops for men and women. Sturdy foot wear is a must. No one will be required to participate in long, arduous hiking. Some days there will be options for different levels of walking, and transportation options will always be available for persons needing assistance. Because of the high altitude and bright sun, it is good to bring a hat and sun block.

6 Richard Rohr, OFM BREAKING GREAT NEWS! It has been confirmed that Richard Rohr will personally host our New Mexico Pilgrimage group on Sunday morning, June 19. We will visit his Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque before heading north to Santa Fe. Richard will share the history, mission and inspiration of his work at CAC for the past 25 years. He will bless our Pilgrimage which is a special way to begin our week of travel and discovery together. For those who do not know anything about Richard or the CAC, I have included the attached page from their website. Richard Rohr and Richard Groves have had a supportive relationship through the work and mission of their centers for many years. Richard Rohr has been a guest speaker at Sacred Art of Living Center many times; he has been a faculty member for the Anamcara Project and his recordings are included as an essential part of the Anamcara curriculum.

7 The question for us is always how can we turn information into transformation? How can we use the sacred texts, tradition, and experience to lead people into new places with God, with life, with themselves? Richard Rohr The Center for Action and Contemplation seeks to empower individuals to live out their sacred soul tasks in service to the world through contemplative programs and resources: CONSPIRE Events: A seven-year series of conferences held in New Mexico and webcast worldwide. Online Education: Self-paced, online courses, including audio, video, and discussion. Living School: Two-year program, combining onsite and online learning. Webcasts: Live teachings from Richard streamed online, around the world. CAC Bookstore: A comprehensive selection of Richard s books and recordings. Richard Rohr s Daily Meditations: Free daily or weekly reflections by Fr. Richard. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is the home of the Living School for Action and Contemplation. The CAC s administrative offices and Bookstore have served people internationally for over 25 years, supporting the world-renowned ecumenical ministry of Richard Rohr, OFM. As founder of the CAC and Academic Dean of the Living School, Fr. Richard s teachings form the basis of the organization s vision and on-going work. Visitors are welcome weekdays, 9:00 am 4:00 pm (Mountain Time), to purchase books and recordings and to meditate in the chapel, gardens and labyrinth. Learn more about the CAC Visitor Center. Visitor Center: 1823 Five Points Rd. SW, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

8 NEW MEXICO PICTURE GALLERY: HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR TRIP OLD TOWN ALBUQUERQUE ACOMA MILE HIGH PUEBLO

9 RIO GRANDE RIVER VALLEY RIO GRANDE RIVER VALLEY SANTA FE & LA FONDA ON THE PLAZA HOTEL

10 SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO RANCHO DE CHIMAYO RESTAURANT & HEALTHY NEW MEXICAN CUISINE

11 1000 YEAR OLD TAOS PUEBLO DRAMATIC CANYONLANDS

12 NATIVE PUEBLO CULTURE OLD AND NEW WORLD ARTS

13 BANDALIER NATIONAL HERITAGE WILDERNESS

14 THE PICTURESQUE SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS GEORGIA O KEEFFE LANDSCAPES CELEBRATE NEW MEXICAN LIGHT & COLOR