Acoma

Bright and early this morning we headed North to the Grants, NM area. Destination - Acoma. Our drive up took us off the interstate to 'go around' Albuquerque on Route 6. As we approached I-40 we saw landscape that must've inspired "CARS", the movie. You know, the mesa's and buttes that look like old car grills, carburetors and old car tail fins. It was absolutely beautiful. We did not see Lighting McQueen cruizin' down the road. But it wasn't because we weren't looking.

Anywho, we went in 'the back way'. The scenic route. And that is was!! Acoma is on top of a mesa. Smack dab in the middle of nowhere. It is the oldest continuously inhabited city in North America. More info on Acoma is here: http://www.skycity.com/

We had a picnic lunch at the Cultural Center, then took our guided tour of the Pueblo. (Guided tours are the only way to go up on the mesa.) We had one fabulous guide!!! Of course he was Acoma. His American name was Gary. And he was very informative, kind, easy going, proud of his people and he was FUNNY! We all learned so much! This was my third time to Acoma and I learned more than ever before!

The kids absolutely loved it, too! They seemed to soak up all they could from Gary and their surroundings. It was really special to visit Acoma through the kids eyes and experiences!