RETURN OF THE SITH!!

The Special Shapes Rodeo is a two day event where hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes take off. It's a fun time for child and adult alike. It's pretty cool seeing these things floating in air above the city.





The Special Shapes Rodeo lasts two days. The highlight being the 'key grab' where keys to a new car are attached to a pole and the balloonist must get real close and grab the key.






The weather was great and the food was good...but soon a tall dark menacing figure would cast his shadow on the event......



...and he was from Belgium no less!!
Lord Darth Vadar himself!!!













But have no fear for the republic is not in danger as the Darth Vadar balloon caught fire the next evening at the balloon glow and once again the Empire was defeated.

I'm out.

SPECIAL SHAPES, LOTS OF CHARACTERS!!

If memory serves....the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta started back in the 20th century sometime in the 1970s. The first balloon fiesta had a handful of balloons and they lifted off from the parking lot of a mall.

How times change. Now they take off from Balloon Fiesta Park. This year had over 800 balloon entries and well over 800,000 people attended. The current figures have not been released but the attendance for this year should surpass that!!!


Park and ride is the best way to go. Traffic was horrible this year and some folks even got turned away at the night time events. The park and ride is free and advance tickets are only $10.50 or $15 at the door.



Next up: RETURN OF THE SITH!!!!

I'm out.

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

The really cool thing about this event is that you can actually get right up to the balloons and the balloonists. Most spectator sports you are in bleachers and a good distance from the event. Here it is in your face. Granted you must respect the balloons. When a balloon handler tells you to move back YOU MOVE BACK!! And for gawd's sake don't step on their balloons while they are waiting to be inflated.


The experience of seeing these balloons up close is too great an experience for me to put in words. The colors, the sounds of the hot air rushing into the balloons all at once [it sounds like a whale spouting water] the ooohs and awwwes turning adults into children again. It was magnificant.





I see that smile on your face. You should have been there too!



Next up: The adventure continues with flying witches and even Darth Vadar makes a special appearance!!! Coooool!


I'm out.