New Mexico
New Mexico’s Conversos and Crypto-Jews
Program No. 11007RJ
Learn the history and experience the unique culture of conversos and Crypto-Jews — Spain’s Jewish citizens who were forced to leave their country for not converting to Christianity.
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Participant Reviews
Based on 36 Reviews
SHOWING
This is a must-see exploration of the Crypto-Jewish and Converso history of New Mexico. I already knew a good deal about the subject and still managed to learn more! I really recommend this trip.
— Review left May 19, 2025
The Albuquerque Converso tour was wonderful and I would recommend it to others.
— Review left May 11, 2025
I just completed the The New Mexico Conversos and Crypto Jews program. It was marvelous. It was far more educational than I expected. I did read several of the suggested books before going. Each and every day brought new and interesting information. Perpahs plan to add on a couple of extra days and see additional towns in New Mexico.....I did not find the trip as strenous as described and I walk with a cane. This was myy for RS trip. I plan to take more!
— Review left May 9, 2025
This program delivered on all aspects: education, quality presenters, friendliness of program leader, participants, and hotel staff.
— Review left May 5, 2025
Overall, it was a great trip. The tour guide was 5 star and she kept everyone organized and knowing the schedule. She was knowledgeable about Albuquerque. It was intellectually stimulating. It had information about the conversos from different areas--including music, personal stories, history, genetics. The genetics expert was the best and had data driven answers It would be difficult to get all that information together in one setting, so that is the best reason to go on this tour. I had thought about going for a couple years, until I found a friend who also wanted to go and it lived up to expectations. Very glad I went.
Hotel: fine...ask for a room facing the front. There is no area to purchase snacks, you have to get them from the machines, which is cumbersome. The food in the hotel was okay. The food at the restaurants was really good.
Museums and stores ; I went to the science museum on the day off, and it was worth it. The international folk art museum was the best. I didn't go to the Georgia OKeefe Museum, but that would have been better than wandering around local vendors in Santa Fe. The shopping at Santa Fe was very disappointing..vendors sitting on the sidewalk and I presume the prices are touristy though I bought a bracelet. Could have skipped that. There is a candy store in Albuquerque that you can get your picture taken with a Breaking Bad background.
Not much walking: We went on the level 2 walking tour which skewed older, the level 3 walking tour was from Santa Fe and included Taos and I think that one likely skewed younger though have no data about it.
And, why do people go to more than one RS tour--it is because of the website. The website is very sticky. You can sort every which way and plan for each decade as you grow older and need a tour that skews old. I've been perusing the website since coming home and it is very sticky. It's sort of calming to plan trips. I've also listened to some online lectures, which I recommend doing.
— Review left April 27, 2025
I just returned from this amazing journey! I learned so much about the Conversos and Crypto-Jews. Terri is an amazing tour guide. Her lectures are so informative and you can see that she really cares about the subject and her beautiful state of New Mexico. There were many highlights, the lecture from the Rabbi, the DNA information, and most of all a lecture from Maria who is a Conversos Jew. Her story was heartbreaking and joyful. The food was excellent and the company was wonderful! I highly recommend.
— Review left March 23, 2025
Great program for all to experience! You learn so much about history and its effect on religion.
— Review left November 10, 2024
I liked the program because it was very collegial and academically oriented. My husband and I learned a lot.
(Please know that this evaluation was completed jointly with my husband.)
— Review left June 5, 2024
I highly recommend Roads Scholar. Pay close attention to the activity level guidelines and you will had an amazing experience.
— Review left June 3, 2024
Excellent program that enhanced my knowledge of the subject.
— Review left May 30, 2024
This is a great program because it presents important material that was not well presented in grades 9-12
— Review left May 16, 2024
The New Mexico's Conversos and Crypto-Jews program was a wonderful learning experience, complete with an exceptional, knowledgeable, energetic guide, Terri Ross. In addition to the main topic of the program and wonderful speakers, we were able to visit terrific exhibits at Santa Fe and Albuquerque museums and cultural centers. The group enjoyed being together, as we shared activities. Great program!
— Review left April 23, 2024
Fascinating and little known topic. Well organized, good speakers. Lots to see in the museums in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Excellent group leader!
— Review left April 21, 2024
A terrific trip - Sheryl made everything come together well. I'd been to NM a number of times, but I saw several new sides to this wonderful state on this adventure. I'll be back!
— Review left March 26, 2024
If you have ever thought about trying a Road Scholar trip, please do sign up for one! My recent trip (my first) was everything I had hoped for -- a safe adventure with good learning opportunities, good conversations, good food, and good memories!
— Review left November 20, 2023
An insightful and stimulating program. Generally well-presented.
— Review left October 30, 2023
Alread answered questionnaire. Road Scholar is WONDERFUL, only one Gazillionderfl
— Review left September 18, 2023
A great and important program. I am extremely glad that I didn't miss it.
— Review left September 17, 2023
Outstanding
— Review left June 15, 2023
A fascinating look at both history and present-day experiences of Jews who had to hide or convert in order to survive. Hearing from a Converso about her experiences was especially meaningful. The whole program has a lot of significance for our world today, not only for Jews but others as well.
— Review left May 31, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to New Mexico to learn about the Converso & Crypto Jews. Never having been to the State, I did not know about the mountains & how beautiful it was there. After reading the material Road Scholar sent and books from the listed reading materials, I felt prepared & somewhat knowledgeable about the topic. I also felt prepared for the altitude & keeping Hydrated. The Hotel accommodations were lovely. The staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful!!! The food they provided was also plentiful & good. The presenters, & the museums were very informative as was our tour guide Terrance & our bus driver Will. They were very helpful & attentive to our needs.I also enjoyed the movie, which really gave an excellent overview of New Mexico! I also enjoyed learning about & seeing the Native American people & pueblos. I felt the group size was perfect & it gave me an opportunity to talk to people from all over the country. The restaurants were very good choices. I would definitely recommend Road Scholar Tours. I felt well prepared & taken care of by our guide. Pam
— Review left May 29, 2023
Gaining insight into the Way Jews were exposed through prejudice to circle the earth and keep many of the customs which were remembered and exposed to generations that followed
— Review left May 13, 2023
Amazing program with great information.
— Review left April 22, 2023
Great program
— Review left April 22, 2023
I arrived home early this morning, feeling simultaneously exhilarated and exhausted after the Road Scholar Program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I can't wait to go on another Road Scholar program to broaden my horizons and enrich my spirit. I just hope that other group leaders will be as good as Scott was or if that's not possible, then at least comparable to him.
— Review left April 22, 2023
Excellent program! Top notch presenters who were experts and knew their stuff. The activities contributed to the learning. Group leader Sherry Moon was fantastic!
— Review left March 24, 2023
Do not be deterred if you are not Jewish, or don’t think you are.
— Review left November 18, 2022
The program was unusual and fascinating; Albuquerque is a great location, and the food was fantastic. Highly recommended.
— Review left October 21, 2022
This was a highly informative, well organized trip. Albuquerque has gems not mentioned in the usual guidebooks; the tiny but extraordinary Holocaust and Intolerance Museum is a case in point. But the high points of every day were the lectures, which were engaging, well organized, and thought provoking. It wasn't just learning "facts"-- it was confronting the ideas of "otherness", and "estrangement", and "assimilation" in a whole new way.
Strongly recommend.
— Review left May 12, 2022
The Albuquerque weather in early April was quite breezy but not terribly cold; expect Santa Fe to be about 10 degrees colder. I had worried that the numerous lectures would be boring for this non-sedentary person, but the variety of speakers and topics were all very interesting, though the lengthy talk and visit to B'nai Israel could be dropped. Including Indian and Hispanic cultural field trips brilliantly linked those topics with Judaism. The topics touched on history, art, culture, anthropology and science. And a bit of shopping! I would recommend this short trip to anyone, Jewish or not.
— Review left April 9, 2022
This was an outstanding program. I was raised Jewish and had no idea that these individuals even existed. For anyone interested in this topic, I highly recommend it.
— Review left June 9, 2019
If you are interested in this topic, you will be amazed on how much new information you will gain.
— Review left May 23, 2019
Go for it....and discover another "another" world out there.
— Review left May 19, 2019
Whether Jewish or not, this program opens a previously unknown aspect of the culture of New Mexico. The
communities of Hispanics, Indians, and Anglos have a dimension of richness within that was discovered only recently. That culture is a result of the Spanish Inquisition and the Jews who came, finally, to the northern reaches of New Mexico to escape persecution. That period of history as well as the up to date development of the escapees is sensitively developed in this program with several excellent speakers and field trips. My synagogue group thoroughly enjoyed the knowledge and sense of community we shared.
— Review left May 3, 2019
Fascinating, exotic and Jewish
— Review left April 14, 2019
This program will open one's eyes to social issues that most of us unfamiliar with, and unaware of their significance for our contemporary age.
— Review left March 16, 2019
