Thursday, June 21, 2007

Hot Time in Acoma Pueblo - New Mexico

* This is indeed Acoma Pueblo, also called Sky City, just west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. And it indeed was very, very hot. I think I had almost melted by the time this picture was taken. The views, however, are beautiful!
The Pueblo was a remarkable mix of old and new – brand new, shiny pickup trucks stood next to dingy, wooden outhouses (there is no running water.) Only 10 to 15 families live there year round, but most of the 3,500 tribal members stay there on occasion. The houses are adobe, with some dating back to the 1400’s! Something very different from what we are accustomed to is that a house is never sold. It is passed down from family members or else abandoned. They are a matrilineal people, but only men serve on their council so they seem to have a balance that works for them. I was told that if a couple splits up, tradition holds that the woman puts the man’s clothes and the man’s saddle outside the door, and that is all he gets!

Hmmm ... wonder where I've been?

Here are some hints:
I spent a very hot but very illuminating afternoon here, where I learned about a Native American tribe. These pictures are from their settlement, which is the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America. It is perched on a 70-acre sandstone mesa rising 367 feet above the valley floor.

The pottery is just a small portion of the beautiful pieces crafted by tribal members.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Acoma Pueblo. Looks nice, as do you.

El Jefe Maximo said...

Looks very cool. Hope you loaded up on bottled water, sunscreen and comfy shoes !

Candidly Caroline said...

Ack! Did I give too many hints?

Yes, lots and lots of bottled water and still needing more!