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Schedule Day 1-Monday, September 28th. San Antonio to Carlsbad, NM. Depart San
Antonio, TX at Airport Security Parking at 7:30 AM. Lunch on your own at the Circle Bar Truck Corral Restaurant near
Ozona, TX. Continue travel to Carlsbad. Stretch breaks enroute. Fellowship, fun, and refreshments/snacks provided
on the way. Arrive in Carlsbad, check into the Best Western Stevens Inn (575-887-2851), Carlsbad, NM. Welcome
dinner provided at the hotel. (D) Day 2-Tuesday, September 29th. Carlsbad Caverns to Santa Fe.
After Breakfast provided at the hotel, depart for Carlsbad Caverns and enjoy a self guided tour of the spectacular Big Room
using the Elevator; bring walking shoes and a light jacket, the temperature is 56 degrees in the Big Room. Depart for
Santa Fe to begin our New Mexico adventure. Stretch break enroute. Fellowship, fun, and refreshments/snacks provided
on the way. Lunch on your own enroute. Santa Fe is the oldest and highest state capital in the country. As we arrive in Santa
Fe, notice the adobe architecture throughout since city ordinance decrees all buildings must be built in this style. Santa
Fe is known for its' art, history, great shopping, and excellent museums. Check into Garrett's Desert
Inn (505-982-1851) located in the historic downtown area. Dinner provided at the Hotel Restaurant. (B,
D) Day 3-Wednesday, September 30th. Santa Fe. After Breakfast provided at the hotel, meet our
local guide for riding tour of the Plaza and Historic District which will include admission to Loretto Chapel with its'
miraculous staircase. See the most interesting historical sites and share the history of the oldest capital city in the United
States with your local guide. This riding tour is known as Santa Fe's oldest and finest most interesting tour offered.
After the City Tour, Depart hotel for the New Mexico Museums. A museum pass will be provided so you can visit the following
museums at your leisure. Museum Plaza: The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture houses contemporary and traditional
American Indian arts and crafts of the Southwest; The Museum of International Folk Art, one of few museums in the
world dedicated to global folk art, features the Girard and Neutrogena collections. The motorcoach will pick up at designated
times at the Museum Plaza and take you downtown. Lunch on your own at a snack shop in the museums or at a local restaurant
downtown. Downtown Museums: Georgia O'Keeffe Museum, the first museum in the United States devoted specifically
to the work of a woman artist of international stature, features vibrant high-desert landscapes, bone and skull paintings
sensuous floral canvases, and nature-based abstractions. Museum of Fine Arts, built in 1917, includes in it's permanent
collection art of the Southwest, both historic and contemporary, and American art from other regions. The Palace of the
Governors is a museum and state monument and has been in continuous use since 1610. It is the oldest public building
in the European tradition in the United States. Native American vendors and artists gather under the portal facing the Plaza
daily to sell their art and crafts. Free time for you to explore the Plaza and historic district at your leisure; go back
and visit St. Francis Cathedral, made famous by Willa Cather's book, "Death Comes for the Archbishop". Lunch
on your own. Some of you may want to take a stroll on Canyon Road which contains more than 100 galleries, shops, and
restaurants that line the narrow winding street. Dinner provided at the Cowgirl Bar-B-Que and Western Grill. (B,
D) Day 4-Thursday, October 1st. Santa Fe to Taos. After Breakfast provided at the hotel,
depart for Taos. Arrive in the legendary village of Chimayo known for its weavers and wood carvers. Visit the Santuario
de Chimayo, called the "Lourdes of the Southwest" revered by pilgrims who believe in the healing power of dirt
scooped from its chapel. Free time to enjoy the unique shops in Chimayo. Early lunch provided at the Restaurante Rancho
de Chimayo, housed in a century old adobe home, one of New Mexico's more popular places to dine. Continue travel on the
"High Road" to Taos. Drive through scenic Carson National Forest through quaint Spanish villages. See beautiful
views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range. Arrive in beautiful Taos, founded in 1617, the birthplace of Southwestern
fine arts movement and home of Kit Carson. Visit San Francisco de Asis Church. The church, with its massive adobe buttresses
and high ceilings, is Taos most photographed and painted church. See a short video of the history of the church. View
the mystery painting, "The Shadow of the Cross", by artist Henri Ault. Check into The Quality Inn (575-758-2200).
Dinner provided at the hotel. (B, L, D) Day 5-Friday, October 2nd. Taos to Albuquerque. After Breakfast
provided at the hotel, load luggage and depart hotel to visit the Taos Pueblo, home of the Taos Pueblo Indians. The site of
one of the oldest continually inhabited communities in the United States and a World Heritage Site. Visit Kit Carson
Home and Museum with exhibits on Kit Carson and the mountain man period of Taos history, guns, textiles, Indian and archeological
artifacts. Free time for exploring the numerous shops and galleries located around the Taos Plaza as well as the Hotel
La Fonda with its' collection of D.H. Lawrence paintings. Lunch on your own enroute. Continue travel to Albuquerque,
visit the Coronado State Monument. In 1540, the Spanish explorer Coronado stopped here on his quest for the Cities of Gold.
The ruins of the pueblo of Kuaua feature a museum, and gallery with Kiva paintings. A self guided trail of approximately
400 yards meanders through the ruins, which include a fully reconstructed kiva. Continue travel to Albuquerque, check into
the MCM Elegante Hotel (505-884-2511). Rest and relax before dinner. Free time to explore the hotel. Dinner
provided at the Cooperage Restaurant. (B, D) Day 6-Saturday, October 3rd. Albuquerque.
Depart early for the Balloon Fiesta Area to observe the participants preparing their balloons for a "Mass Ascension"
where more than 850 balloons lift off in unison-a truly spectacular sight. What could be more glorious and exciting than the
mass ascension of all those beautiful balloons and watch the blue sky as it becomes a riot of brilliant colors on a crisp
autumn morning. We have passes to the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau Group Tour Hospitality Tent where
you will receive hot cocoa or coffee and danish; someone will be available to answer your questions. Return to the hotel
to rest a while. Breakfast provided at the hotel after we get back from the Fiesta grounds. Free time to explore the
historic "Old Town". Lunch on your own. Take a walk through history around Albuquerque's Old
Town Plaza, the serene village which has been the focal point of community life since 1706. Enjoy the Original San
Felipe de Neri Chapel, shopping in 100 unique shops and boutiques, courtyards, cobblestones, galleries, history,
and New Mexico tradition. Only a block away is the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, home to the nation's largest
collection of Spanish Colonial Artifacts, free admission. Nearby is the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science,
admission charged. Depart for dinner at The County Line of Albuquerque: Enjoy nationally acclaimed southwestern barbecue
with a spectacular city lights view! (B, D) Day 7-Sunday, October 4th. Albuquerque.
After Breakfast provided at the hotel, depart the hotel to visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center to get a better understanding
of America's first inhabitants in the Southwest; enjoy the displays depicting their history The center is cooperatively
owned by the 19 Indian Pueblos of New Mexico. Enjoy traditional Indian dance performances. Shopping on your own in the unique
shops at the center. Return to the hotel. Free time to explore the historic "Old Town" again. Lunch on
your own. Depart for early dinner provided at EI Pinto, authentic New Mexican Restaurant. After dinner, load motorcoach
and depart to attend the Balloon Fiesta "Balloon Glow" Event and Fireworks Display. The events transforms the
desert night into a dreamy glowing spectacular. We have passes again to the Albuquerque Convention & Visitors Bureau
Group Tour Hospitality Tent where you will receive cold drinks and a snack; someone will be available to answer your
questions. (B, D) Day 8-Monday, October 5th. Albuquerque to "Sky City" to EI Paso.
TX. After Breakfast provided at the hotel, depart for Pueblo of Acoma "Sky City", the oldest continuously
inhabited city in the United States. Situated 360 feet high on a mesa, witness how the Acoma people lived centuries ago. Narrated
walking tour of "Sky City" to include the San Esteban Del Rey Mission. Walking shoes are needed for the walking
tour of "Sky City". Drive by Enchanted Mesa enroute to "Sky City". Depart "Sky City" and continue
travel to EI Paso, TX. Stretch breaks enroute. Fellowship, fun, and refreshments, snacks provided on the way. Lunch on
your own enroute. Check into the Holiday Inn Airport (915-778-6411) EI Paso, TX. Farewell dinner provided
at the hotel. (B, D) Day 9-Tuesday, October 6th. EI Paso to San Antonio. After Breakfast
provided at the hotel, depart for San Antonio, fellowship, fun, refreshments/snacks, and stretch break provided on the
way. Homeward bound after breakfast provided at the hotel. Lunch on your own enroute. Take time to recall the many memories
and other great experiences we have enjoyed and shared with our friends (old and new) on the tour. Arrive back at Airport
Security Parking Lot in San Antonio, TX around 5:30 PM. (B)
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