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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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
13 meals (
5B, 4L, 4D
)
5 expert-led lectures
7 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Albuquerque, NM
Meals:
D
Stay:
Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn
Activity Note
Hotel check-in available from 3:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Transportation for program-related activities will be via motorcoach unless specified otherwise. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
In the hotel meeting room.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Converso and Crypto-Jewish History, Old Town Albuquerque
Location:
Albuquerque, NM
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time each way. Walking a few blocks over the course of the day.
Breakfast:
In the hotel meeting room.
Morning:
After breakfast, our Group Leader, who is also a local expert, will lead a discussion in the meeting room about the history of the area that is now New Mexico, from its earliest Ancestral Puebloan inhabitants to the Spanish and American soldiers and settlers who followed. We’ll board the motorcoach for a short drive, then set out on a walking field trip with our Group Leader in the plaza and surrounding area of Albuquerque’s aptly named Old Town, the focal point of community life since 1706. About 10 blocks of historical adobe buildings surround the central plaza, including San Felipe de Neri Church that dates back to 1793. The city’s settlers built their homes, shops, and government offices here; many of these historical structures have been converted into the restaurants, art galleries, and shops that we see today.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After returning to the hotel, we’ll continue learning about crypto-Jewish history with a lecture on Sephardic Judaism from a local Rabbi. Our instructor will introduce the fascinating history of conversos and crypto-Jews, dating back to the time of the Spanish Inquisition that began its “investigations” in 1480. In 1492, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain signed what is known as the Alhambra Decree ordering Jewish residents in Spanish domains to convert or leave on pain of death. Many fled and some reached the New World.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
3
Crypto-Jews in NM, Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Location:
Albuquerque, NM
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 15 miles over the course of the day, approximately 1 hour total riding time. Walking up to 3 miles, standing up to 1 hour at a time.
Breakfast:
In the hotel meeting room.
Morning:
In the hotel meeting room, we will have a presentation on migration, DNA, and genetics. Then, we'll hear from a presenter who will discuss her Converso/Crypto-Jewish heritage and her voyage of discovery into her own personal history. These fascinating presentations will be followed by a Q & A panel with the presenters. We’ll then board our motorcoach and depart for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC). Operated by the nineteen Pueblos of New Mexico, the IPCC is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Pueblo culture, highlighting the accomplishments and evolving history of the Pueblo people. During our self-directed exploration, we will get an overview of New Mexico’s many different Pueblos as we view the Pueblo-curated exhibits on the lower level.
Lunch:
At the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Afternoon:
Following lunch, you will have free time to enjoy the local area.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
We are joined by a multi-instrumentalist and music educator for a celebratory evening performance of Jewish Musical Traditions.
Day
4
History lecture, Hispanic Cultural Center, Holocaust Museum
Location:
Albuquerque, NM
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour. Walking up to 3 miles, standing approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast:
In the hotel meeting room.
Morning:
We’ll begin the day with another expert-led lecture expanding our knowledge of the lives of conversos and crypto-Jews. We’ll then ride to the National Hispanic Cultural Center, where we’ll learn more about the area’s Hispanic history and culture. Dedicated to the preservation, promotion, and advancement of Hispanic culture, arts and humanities, the National Hispanic Cultural Center celebrates Hispanic traditions through a variety of exhibits including a performance center, art museum, and a library. The permanent collection features Frederico Vigil’s “buon fresco” Mundos de Mestizaje depicting thousands of years of Hispanic and pre-Hispanic history, and ¡Aqui Estamos!, a rotating exhibition of art from the Center’s permanent collection.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will visit the Holocaust and Intolerance Museum of New Mexico where we will have an expert-led exploration of this important site. Founded in 2001 by Holocaust survivor Werner Gellert, the Holocaust and Intolerance Museum’s mission is “to combat hate and intolerance through education.” Although many of the museum’s exhibits focus on the European Holocaust and World War II genocides, there are also exhibits documenting the Armenian, Greek, and Native American genocides. Then we’ll ride along the historic Route 66, now replete with community art and murals dedicated to local justice workers, to Albuquerque’s Civic Plaza, the local gathering place for communal education and civic protests for decades. Here we’ll see the Holocaust Memorial, designed by renowned artist Jake Lovato, which serves as a permanent reminder of the grim realities of the Holocaust and a commemoration of its victims. This plaza has other large works of art to appreciate which celebrate community, as well.
Dinner:
In the hotel meeting room.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
All-Day Field Trip to Santa Fe
Location:
Albuquerque, NM
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 135 miles, approximately 2.5 hours riding time over the course of the day; walking and standing at the museums; extent and duration of independent exploration according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
In the hotel meeting room.
Morning:
We’ll board our motorcoach and travel to Santa Fe where we'll stop first at Museum Hill where we’ll explore the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art. The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture features pottery, jewelry, sculpture, baskets, and other objects made by Native Americans from the earliest times to modern day, scrupulously documented and beautifully displayed. The Museum of International Folk Art focuses on indigenous populations from around the world through their art – ranging from ceremonial dress and masks to furniture. The museum hosts the largest collection of international folk art in the world, including wings featuring some of the 106,000 pieces donated by collectors Alexander and Susan Girard and Lloyd Cotsen's Neutrogena collection.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We'll then board the motorcoach for a short ride to Santa Fe's Plaza area, the historic heart of the city. We'll visit the impressive Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, the Palace of the Governors, and other sites as time permits. Then, we'll have some free time for independent exploration. We will return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Dinner:
Our group will enjoy a final dinner together in our hotel meeting room. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll gather for a wrap-up session to review the program and what we’ve experienced together. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Albuquerque, NM
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 12:00 Noon.
Breakfast:
In the hotel meeting room. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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