Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

This is spectacular! When we arrive we follow the signs we saw that said “RV Parking” and found a bunch of RVs and a registration area. I handed the attendant the confirmation e:mail I had received, and she looked confused. She called another guy over and gave him our confirmation. He went over and messed around with the computer. When he came back, he said “Well, I guess you are special! You were supposed to enter on the east end of the field, but just follow me and I will get you there.”

We followed his golf cart and weaved up and down barricaded streets. We finally came to a fairly small area that could maybe hold 50 RVs. As he handed us off to the attendant there, I yelled a “Thank you!” out Colectiva’s driver’s window, and he yelled back “Hope you have a great time at the Fiesta, Mr. Special!” I soon learned what he had meant.

Colectiva is parked on about a 100 foot tall bluff directly overlooking the center of the Balloon Fiesta Park! If we ever wanted to, we could sit in our captain’s chairs and watch all the activities going on down on the field through Colectiva’s windshield. Instead, we have placed two comfy folding chairs along with our little beverage table about 50 feet in front of Colectiva – right on the edge of the bluff! From here we have the best view of everything that goes on at the Balloon Fiesta. Only the east edge of the Park has this 100 foot tall bluff overlooking it. North, south and west sides are all pretty much level with the main Park grounds. After having been down on the grounds I can tell you that from the 100 foot overlook you can see everything happening – from the Park field itself, you can only see what is happening right around you.

And we have a private pedestrian walkway that gradually takes us down a couple of switchbacks and deposits us right outside the main Fiesta gate on the east side. How cool is that! We can sit up here and take it all in, and anytime we want we can just head down to the field, the vendor areas, the music stage or anywhere else we want. I guess I really am Mr. Special!

Our first morning here was what they call the Special Shapes Rodeo. In addition to a few very colorful traditional balloons, all the unusual shapes head up on this day. Maybe the biggest of all the balloons we saw this morning was Airabella, the Creamland cow.

But the Wells Fargo Stagecoach was pretty immense as well.

And then there was Beagle Maximus.

Of course my personal favorites are actually tied for first. Master Yoda appears all knowing and wise as he hovers high in the sky. You could tell that the Force was strong with him as he ascended.

But you can’t forget about the dark side of the Force. And it appeared that the dark side was every bit as strong with this one. I couldn’t actually hear Darth Vader gasping for breath, although the blast of the propane burner did sound a bit familiar.

There are just over 100 special shape balloons registered. We can’t wait for the mass ascension on Saturday when well over 500 balloons will be launching!

Talk to you soon!