CHEAP DAY TRIPS – EVERYWHERE – CONTINUING EDUCATION!

If you are travelling and want an interesting way to experience your destination, consider “Continuing Education.” In most towns with a university there is a continuing education program. All you have to do is search “continuing education” and the town or university that you are interested in.

Since I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, I use UNM. (ce.unm.edu) This link takes you to the Story of New Mexico. Here you can find lectures and trips around New Mexico. The nice thing about these trips is that they include transportation, a guide, lodgings in interesting places, and some meals.

I have selected, but not yet registered for (the catalog just came today), the following fall trips:

1. Visit Georgia O’Keefe Home and Studio – $95 on Oct. 7 or Nov. 14. – This tour is usually wait-listed.

2. Hopiland – Two days – Aug. 20-21 and Nov. 5-6 – $260.

3. Acoma Pueblo San Estevan Feast Day and Harvest Dance -Sep. 2 – $70.

4. The San Ildefonso Corn Harvest Dance – Sept. 8 – $70

5. Meeting the Spirituality of Northern New Mexico – Oct. 30-31 – $300.

6. The Confederate Invasion of New Mexico; Glorieta Pass – Nov. 7 – $92.

And a lot more. This is just New Mexico. You have to get on your computer and see what is available where you are going and when. I have done it in New Mexico, Arizona and Florida.

If you are old like me, you may not be comfortable driving in strange places, or after dark. You might also like to have arrangements made for you.

One of the best tours that I have taken was to the Crownpoint Rug Auction. It was great to have someone else drive me to Crownpoint; but, it was even better to have someone drive me back to Albuquerque at 1:00 in the morning after the auction was over. You can buy Navajo rugs from the weavers who wove them; and, at good prices.

A word of  advice. Don’t eat the furnished “box lunch.” Go for the  fry  bread and the Indian Tacos that they serve at the auction. This trip was run by the senior centers in Albuquerque a few years ago. I have been watching for it to pop up again. An excellent source of trips is the senior center bulletin board; the centers are also good for free books, cheap coffee and cheap lunches. You can also find wi-fi. Next new town you are in, stop by a senior center and see what they have.