ABQ Balloon Fiesta 2008

Saturday morning we got up at 3:30 a.m. and headed for the bus to take us to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2008.

http://www.itsatrip.org/albuquerque/ballooning-capital/balloon-fiesta/default.aspx


It was an amazing experience. There were supposed to be over 6oo hot air balloons launched at this mornings "Mass Ascension." As we got on the bus, with all 6 kids, we realized that there weren't any other kids on the whole bus. We were seated in the very back of the bus. It was dark outside and after the bus pulled forward to begin our ride...Matt starts singing "The Wheels on the Bus" and his voice is never a whisper. We all laughed and some other people thought it was funny. There were a lot of old people on the bus, and I am not sure they found it as humorous. Oh well. It was a great pick-me up, or wake-me up for the morning. :)

Once we got to the field where the balloons take off, we found a spot to sit down in the dark and eat our breakfast burritos that Matt made for us. There were vendors everwhere...I guess there had to be because I think there were over a million people there. I have never seen that many people in one place--ever. There were probably more people at Disneyland, but you don't see them all at once. It was a little overwhelming, but it helped me realize what a neat event we were attending. The ABQ Balloon Festival is known as the "International Balloon Fiesta because it is the world's largest hot air ballooning event. It is also said that it is the world's most photographed event. So, that being said...I went ahead and made this blog post a slideshow because we literally have hundreds of photos. It is hard to pick and choose which ones to talk about, so just sit back, and let the pictures excite you to want to come another year for a visit.

At one moment during the festival, I was happy to think that in a hurting economy, there were still thousands of people getting out to enjoy a breath taking experience. The vendors were not chanting "peanuts, popcorn," they were instead chanting "cameras, batteries." It was lots of fun. Hope to make this a tradition every year. Most of all, we hope that we don't have to experience this alone every year...we want family and friends to take an opportunity to come and share it with us. So, who's turn is it next year? We are booking our calendars early! :) Love to all! Thanks Mike and Kristi for sharing in this great experience!