Balloon Fiesta 2011

At the beginning of the month we went to the Balloon Fiesta.

Last year we watch from a random field.

This year we went to Balloon Fiesta Park.

Sean and I woke up at 4:30 and we all left the house at 5:15.

We were worried about traffic.

But it turned out that we didn't need to worry at all.

Since Sean audits out at Honeywell (which is next to the park) we got to go down streets that were closed to the public with a special pass.

So it took us 15 minutes to drive to Honeywell and 15 more to walk to the park.

So we got there when it was dark.

But that mean we got to watch the dawn patrol.

Lexi was so excited.

She begged us to let her ride in a balloon and bawled when we said no.

A new world record was set for the most balloons to go up in one hour.

I can't remember the exact number but it was over 350.

It was awesome.

Balloons were literally going up everywhere. All around us.

2011

2010

Lexi watching a Flounder balloon.

We left around 8:30. The girls were exhausted and we were too.

We could have stayed and seen hundreds of more balloons.

Maybe next year.

Our First Balloon Fiesta Experience

Saturday was the official start of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. We didn't get up at 5 am so that we could make it to the park at 7 am. We just got up at 7 am and went to a field a few miles from Balloon Fiesta Park. It was still a great show. We watched from the back of our van as 500 hot air balloons slowly filled the sky. An amazing site!

Lexi LOVES seeing hot air balloons in the sky all the time (one of the best parts about living in ABQ) but seeing hundreds all at once was so exciting for her. Avery even seem to like watching.

Her is a balloon with a Zia on it. I took a picture of it for my brother-in-law Brandon.

This balloon landed right in front of our van!

Lexi even got to touch it!

A Pepsi balloon. Friday (I think) is special shapes day, where all the crazy, fun, nontraditional balloons go up.

A flying pig.

Another one landed right by our van. It's in the process of being deflated.

This fish one landed across the street from our van. Balloons really were just landing EVERYWHERE!

Two bumble bee balloons.

The fesivities have just begun! There will be hundreds of balloons in the sky all week! Looks amazing right? Well anyone is welcome to come on down and see it next year. (Hint. Hint.) We would love visitors!