It's that time of year again: Welcome Balloonists!!!
The event that started in a shopping mall parking lot in 1972 has grown into the largest gathering of hot air balloons and the most photographed event in the world.
The day starts out EARLY. The first bus from the park and ride leaves at 4:30 am.
Ugh.
Once you get there though you will find hundreds if not thousands of people already there all enjoying delicious green chili burritos...mmm.
The balloons begin to rise about 7am.
No picture I could post would ever convey the feeling of actually being at the balloon fiesta.
I have been to the event three years in a row now.
It is STILL simply amazing.
...to be continued.
I'm out.
4 comments:
Is this upcoming this year or were those from last year? Either way it was impressive. Hope you have a great time tonight and tomorrow.
Dale
These are from the current balloon fiesta going on right now. This Sunday is the last day. Nine day event.
There was a balloon rally every August in the small Virginia town in which I once lived. Not as many as at your place, but always an incredible sight to behold.
This is my third balloon fiesta in a year. This time I had to drag myself out of bed. I was tired, I was cranky, I kept telling myself I should get back on the bus and go home and that I should be under the covers, warm and comfy.
But then something happens. You hear the whoooooosh of the hot air filling the balloons. They start to inflate all around you. People start running from balloon to balloon. Everyone is smiling, everyone is taking pictures. the balloons continue to inflate. Whoooosh. More smiles, more pictures. You feel like a kid again with all these beautiful giants around you and you forget you ever had to wake up at 3am in the cold.
I feel young.
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