Vacay Day 3 - Balloon Glow

Sunday we attempted to go to another Mass Ascension. We got up and 3:45 AM, met our school bus shuttle, got to the field and….waited…..and waited….and waited….turns out the upper winds were too strong for the balloons to blow up and take off. Luckily I had an awesome green chili breakfast burrito and multiple hot chocolate so I wasn’t too disappointed. J After another nap at the hotel we decided to try the Evening Session hoping that the weather would improve so we could attend the Balloon Glow.  We stopped for an early dinner at Two Fools Tavern, where Chris had the best fish and chips of his life! Then we caught out shuttle to Balloon Fiesta Park where luck was on our side because the weather was perfect!

Balloon Glow – “the events now known as balloon glows were invented in Albuquerque in 1979, when local pilots inflated balloons on Christmas Eve night as a thank you to local residents. The sight of balloons lit from within at night like giant holiday ornaments is breathtaking, and glow events are now held all over the world. Balloon Fiesta launched its Balloon Glow the world's biggest in 1987. Fiesta Glow all burns when all the balloons fire their burners and light up at the same time are perhaps the most spectacular single moment in all of Balloon Fiesta. The Balloon Glows followed by New Mexico's most spectacular fireworks displays - are now among Balloon Fiesta's most popular events.”

And that caps off our vacation. The Balloon Fiesta really is a once in a lifetime experience. Three tips if I was attending the fiesta again:

 Bring camping chairs into the park. This allowed us to sit wherever we wanted and there is some waiting, especially if the weather causes problems.

It is super cold in the mornings so come prepared. We had gloves, hats, a blanket and Hot Chocolate.

Be Flexible. Hot Air Balloons are very temperamental. The slightest wind and they might cancel the whole session.  We were lucky to see everything we wanted to, but I would plan multiple days to make sure the weather doesn’t run your plans!

  

Vacations are the BEST! I’m so glad I was able to share it with Chris!

Vacay Day 2 - Mass Ascension

The rest of our vacation was spent at the 2014 Spirit of the Winds Albuquerque International Balloon Festa. This should be on everyone’s bucket list. It was so incredible.

Saturday we attended the Morning Session which consisted of:

5:45 AM – Dawn Patrol Show

6:30 AM – Opening Ceremonies

6:45 AM – Mass Ascension

7:00 AM - AIBF Chainsaw Carving Invitational

We were up at 3:45 to catch our school bus to the Balloon Fiesta Park but it was so worth it! WE were going to attend the Evening session, but after we got back to our hotel and woke up from our nap (!) we didn’t feel like going.  I personally felt like I had been hit by a truck. So we decided to just chillin the hot Tub and go out to dinner at Pappadeaux! This turned out to be a great decision, because the weather was too crazy for the balloons to blow up that evening.

Dawn Patrol  -  “The Dawn Patrol began at Balloon Fiesta in 1978, when two California balloonists developed position lighting systems that allowed them to fly at night. Dawn Patrol pilots take off in the dark and fly until it is light enough to see landing sites. Fellow balloonists appreciate the Dawn Patrol because they can watch the balloons and get an early idea of wind speeds and directions at different altitudes. On mass ascension days, about a dozen Dawn Patrol balloons perform the Dawn Patrol Show, a choreographed inflation and launch set to music that has been part of the Balloon Fiesta since 1996.”

4am is EARLY!

Ride on the Magic School Bus!

Mass Ascension – “Mass Ascensions, a launch of all the participating balloons have been a feature of Balloon Fiesta since its earliest days and is the most spectacular display of sound and color in all of aviation. During mass ascensions, balloons launch in two waves. Launch directors, also known as zebras because of their black-and-white-striped outfits, serve as traffic cops, coordinating the launch so balloons leave the field in a safe and coordinated manner. Weather permitting, balloons begin to launch at about 7:00 AM on mass ascension days, led by a balloon flying the American flag to the strains of The Star Spangled Banner.”