Afternoon: Check in at the hotel anytime after 3:00 PM. Register with the program's group leader in hotel meeting room between 4:00 and 5:30 PM.

Dinner: Dinner at 6:00 PM in the hotel dining area

Evening: Program orientation and introductions in hotel meeting room from 7:00 PM-8:30 PM

Lodging: MCM Elegante

Meals Included: Dinner

A History of Sephardic Judaism from Spain to New Mexico/Albuquerque City Excursion

Breakfast: Breakfast in hotel dining room from 7:00 to 8:00 AM

Morning: Class in hotel meeting room from 8:30 AM until noon, with appropriate breaks. Instructor will give you background information about Albuquerque and northern New Mexico's rich heritage of Jewish culture, which extends from the time of the Spanish Inquisition. The story is a fascinating one, and is very well documented throughout the area.

Lunch: Lunch in hotel dining room at noon

Afternoon: Leave at 1:15 PM for a driving expedition through Albuquerque, including the Holocaust Memorial, Kimo Theatre, Central Avenue/Route 66, downtown Albuquerque, and the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and Museum.

Dinner: Dinner in the hotel dining room at 6:00 PM

Evening: Lecture from 7:00-8:00 PM in hotel meeting room: "The Columbus Question"

Lodging: MCM Elegante

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in hotel dining room from 7:00 to 8:00 AM

Morning: Class, "Meet a Converso," in the hotel meeting room from 8:30-11:30 AM with frequent breaks.

The instructor has a Converso Jewish background.

There are many exciting areas to explore in New Mexico's rich history, but none is as multi-faceted as that of the Jewish contributions to the culture of the region.

Lunch: Box lunches provided for field trip to Acoma Pueblo leaving at 11:45 AM

Afternoon: Visit Acoma Pueblo, one of the oldest pueblos in the state, at approximately 2:00 PM.

Acoma Pueblo, located approximately 85 miles from Albuquerque, is often called "Sky City." The oldest part of the pueblo was built on top of a 400-foot mesa, to protect it from attack. Much as it was several hundred years ago, the pueblo has no electricity and no running water, but its residents vie for chances to live there for a year at a time. There are other pueblo villages at the base of the mesa, where most of the Acoma Indians dwell. You'll have an opportunity to explore the Visitors' Center, and then you'll be bused to the top of the mesa where you'll explore the old part of the pueblo with a Native American guide. You'll see the adobe dwellings, an old Spanish church and meet some of the inhabitants of this remarkable historic place. Bus returns to hotel by 5:30 PM.

Dinner: Dinner at the hotel from 6:00-7:00 PM

Evening: Video in hotel meeting room: "The Milagro Beanfield War"

Lodging: MCM Elegante

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stories from the Lives of Conversos and Crypto-Jews/"Expulsion and Memory" Video/Free Afternoon/Dinner on Your Own/Free Evening

Breakfast: Breakfast in hotel dining room from 7:00 to 8:00 AM

Morning: Class, "Stories from the Lives of Conversos and Crypto-Jews," followed by "Expulsion and Memory" video in the hotel meeting room from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM, with appropriate breaks.

Lunch: Leave at 1:15 PM for lunch at selected restaurant

Afternoon: From 2:30-3:15 PM, visit the National Hispanic Cultural Center's Art Museum.

Bus will depart at 3:15 PM for Old Town/Albuquerque and a free afternoon.

You can walk around the old village, where the first Spanish families settled in 1706.

In 2006, Albuquerque celebrated its Tricentennial. Old Town represents Albuquerque's history: Spanish, Mexican, and the United States flags are displayed.

Buildings around the plaza and on the side streets are authentic adobes up to 300 years old, many built in the distinctive territorial style.

The church of San Felipe de Neri was used as a parish church for over 200 years.

It's also a shopping center with shops selling goods ranging from fine arts and jewelry to tourist trinkets, and Indians selling their wares on the sidewalk.

You'll enjoy your free afternoon and wish you had lots more time!

Bus returns to hotel at 5:00 PM, or you may choose to stay in the Old Town area for dinner and return to the hotel via taxi.

Dinner: Dinner on your own

Evening: Free evening

Lodging: MCM Elegante

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Village of Chimayo/Rancho de Chimayo Restaurant/Santa Fe Plaza and Palace of the Governors/Sweet Tomatoes

Breakfast: Breakfast in hotel dining room from 7:00 to 8:00 AM

Morning: Bus leaves hotel at 8:30 AM for a full-day field trip to Chimayo and Santa Fe. We will visit the historic Santuario de Chimayo in the morning. Chimayo and the surrounding area are rife with stories about Crypto Jew settlers, and many of the Hispanic families living there now are well aware of their heritage provided by Jewish ancestors. You'll visit El Santuario de Chimayo, a church visited year-round by pilgrims seeking healing from the holy ground found inside a small room at the back of the church. El Santuario is fondly known as "The Lourdes of Northern New Mexico." It also offers primitive religious art work in the form of bultos (carved wooden statues of the saints), a beautiful retablo (altar piece) over the altar and unique stations of the cross.

Lunch: Lunch at historic Rancho de Chimayo from 12:00-1:00 PM. The restaurant, located in a large hacienda, has been owned and operated for many years by a family from Chimayo, and is one of the best-known restaurants in the northern New Mexico area. In the warmer months, sit outside in terraced gardens; in the winter, sit in front of pinon-burning fireplaces and view the lovely art work featured throughout the restaurant. It's a dining experience you'll remember for many years to come!

Afternoon: Bus departs for Santa Fe. You'll have museum passes to visit the Palace of the Governors Museum and the New Mexico Museum of Art, located just off the plaza in Santa Fe. The Palace of the Governors features historic documentation of the settling of the Santa Fe and northern New Mexico area. The New Mexico Museum of Art offers changing exhibits by famous past and present artists of New Mexico and the Southwest. You'll have some free time in downtown Santa Fe. Bus returns to Albuquerque at 5:00 PM.

Dinner: Dinner at Sweet Tomatoes restaurant at 6:00 PM. Sweet Tomatoes offers a wide variety of items on a salad bar, including soups, breads and dessert options. It's a nice change of pace, allowing you to eat as much as you like.

Evening: Bus returns to the hotel about 7:30 PM

Lodging: MCM Elegante

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast in hotel dining room from 7:00 to 8:00 AM and hotel check-out (check-out time is 12:00 noon).

Morning: Morning classes from 8:30 AM until 11:00 AM, with appropriate breaks, will offer more contemporary views of how the Jewish culture has influenced, and continues to influence, northern New Mexico. The lecture entitled "Compromised Jewish Communities Around the World" will be presented by instructor Norma Libman.

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel at 11:30 and closing comments will conclude this program.

Afternoon: Independent departures from the MCM Elegante in Albuquerque. Hotel check-out time is no later than 12:00 PM.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch