Each fall, pilots, crews and spectators from all over the world come to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, the worlds largest hot air ballooning event. For nine days during the first week of October, hundreds of colorful balloons float above the city each morning as dawn breaks over the Sandia Mountains. This visual feast is said to be the world's most photographed event. I took so many pictures and am sad as I can only fit a few here.
Mass ascensions, when more than 600 balloons lift off, are held on all four weekend mornings and one day mid-week. They begin at dawn, after the "dawn patrol" examine the morning's weather conditions. Unfortunately this year was a bad year as the weather was windy and overcast. Even so, it was exciting and so beautiful.
I am somewhat disappointed as a lot of the events were cancelled, one such event may be the Balloon "Glowdeos" where the balloons ascend while it is still dark so you see their glow and also the "Special Shape Rodeos" where all the balloons have great shapes (I have posted pictures of a few we saw). It was pretty exciting as we got to walk among the balloons as they were inflated. Kevin did the walking and saw close up views while I stayed back and clicked away.
Each year it is estimated that about 750,000 people come to view this event and believe me there were people on top of people and yet it didn't bother anyone. There was so much going on: food booths, chainsaw wood carvers, car show (pictures in next blog), bands, Ehecatl-Aztec dancers and so much more. I hope to see the "Special Shape Rodeos" and the "Glowdeos" this year but if I don't it's okay, I will be back next year.....Hope you enjoy the pictures.
The monster balloon would not turn....sorry
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