This morning I ran a few errands after sleeping in for a while. I picked up a few things, and then got a bit of gear together, and hopped the highway to Acoma Pueblo to visit Sky City. The Acoma tribe have opened their pueblo to tours, despite it being an occupied and working place for them. The drive out was beautiful, and I had lunch when I got there.

After eating I went on an afternoon tour. The tours are set up so that they are guided, and you need to stick with your guide. Also the general rule is no photos of the church interior or graveyard, and ask permission before taking pictures of someone or what they are doing or selling.

The pueblo is recognized as the longest continuously inhabited settlement in North America, with carbon dating supporting evidence back to at least 1100AD, but the possibility of longer occupation exists. (The original buildings were flattened by the Spanish in retaliation for a humiliating defeat and subsequent embarrassment of their local military forces.)

The views are beautiful. It is easy to understand why their ancestors settled here.

The pueblo has no running water or electricity in the homes, but they have recently added composting toilet systems to the mesa, which helps with sanitation. The Acoma society is matriarchal, with the eldest woman in a family owning the property. The members of the tribe are free to come and go as they please to the homes here.

I found myself feeling overwhelmed by the fact that the Acoma have been here for so long, suffered so much, and yet here they are and here they intend to continue to be.

After the tour, I headed back to Albuquerque for some street tacos and to go through photos from the last several days. I felt like this was one of the better places I have ever visited out here, as it was Acoma voices telling the Acoma story. I wish I had visited years ago.