Indians: Casino vs. Sky City Versions

Sunday, 11/07

Leaving Albuquerque on a bright Sunday morning, we head west, stopping for fuel at the Casino 66 Casino and Truck Stop.  Refueling the ponies, we decide to investigate the casino, the first of our trip.  Unlike previous trips, Doris declared that she was done with gambling ... but not quite, especially since I was ready to duplicate our last time here and win a few hundred dollars, then dine on the best casino buffet. 

The Casino 66 arrow points to the results of our Sunday gambling.

Back in the saddle after our casino adventure, we exit toward the Acoma Pueblo, AKA Sky City.  15 miles of narrow 2-lane road through beautiful, non-inhabited New Mexico led us to the base of  a mesa. 

On the road to Sky City.

At the top of the mesa is Sky City, aptly named because of the panoramic view of much of New Mexico from most every place on the mesa.  Occupied by the Acomans, an Indian tribe since about 1150 A.D., this is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in this country.  Of course, the Spanish explorers found them and nearly wiped out the Acomans ... but not quite.  Today, about a dozen families live in Sky City, while others have homes there, as well as in other towns nearby.  It is a very spiritual place, but guided tourists are welcome.  So, we paid the fee (plus $10 for using our camera) and enjoyed learning of and meeting these fine people. 

Our Acoman guide standing beside the community oven, with the valley floor as a backdrop.  No other kitchen has such a panoramic view.

Sky City Main Street.  One & two story adobe buildings.  No water, no electricity.

We would have had to walk up to & from the mesa through a very narrow slit in the side of the mesa, but western movies were made in this area in the 40's & 50s, and Hollywood had to build a road to get to the top.  Until then the Indians had to carry water, food and building materials by hand and back via the aforementioned path.  We  took the path on the way down and I still hurt from the experience!

The church, built by the Acomans under order of the Spanish.  Services are still held here.  No pews, all must stand for the duration.

All in all, Acoma, or Sky City, was a very special, somewhat spiritual experience on a warm, Sunday afternoon, and recommended to all of you.

Some people claimed they actually enjoyed the walk down the mesa.

To the right of us is Mt. Taylor.  The Acomans cut timber there and carry the logs for 12 miles, up the steps and use them to build their homes and church.

Further along I-40 was Gallup, where we've spent time and money, enjoying a somewhat prosperous city that acts as a trading post for the Indians selling their pottery, jewelery, blankets and rugs.  We've certainly helped them in the past to move their wares to California, but this time it was a familiar Walmart parking lot that was our overnight destination.  Essential shopping, home cooked dinner and a movie concluded this day ... except for the trains!  We'd forgotten that a major east/west track was only a few hundred feet from our site.  That would be OK except for the fact that trains blow their horn when approaching crossings.  All night,  1 1/2 mile long trains rolled past,  signalling their oncoming presence to the several crossings within earshot of us.  The many big rigs passing within feet of our bedroom were far more acceptable than the trains a few hundred feet away.  We always enjoy watching them parallel I-40, but we lost some affection for them this night.

Regardless of the nighttime Union Pacific Railroad Nighttime Serenade, it was a great day.