{"id":7666,"date":"2014-04-18T14:33:24","date_gmt":"2014-04-18T21:33:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/?p=7666"},"modified":"2014-04-18T14:33:24","modified_gmt":"2014-04-18T21:33:24","slug":"the-balloon-fiesta-in-albuquerque-new-mexico-on-the-field","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/2014\/04\/18\/the-balloon-fiesta-in-albuquerque-new-mexico-on-the-field\/","title":{"rendered":"The Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, New Mexico: On the field."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Rather than trying to squeeze in all the shots of balloons and our experience on the balloon field into the last post, we decided to write a separate one to show you what it was like. Like a lot of amazing experiences in your life, pictures rarely do them justice.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2074 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427597134\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3778\/11427597134_473d3f37bd.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2074\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is one of the last ones of this size that allows attendants to be down in the field right next to the balloons. You can literally walk right up to them. If you are not careful, one might just knock you over as it is being inflated. I really hope it stays this way for a long time to come.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2128 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427678166\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm3.staticflickr.com\/2863\/11427678166_d07270e866.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2128\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>To experience the morning flights in its entirety, you really have to be there before dawn. October mornings in Albuquerque can still be very cold so if you plan to come, bring lots of layers.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2113 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427636545\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3733\/11427636545_1559618d35.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2113\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Enough jabbering, let me shut up for a minute and let you enjoy these photos.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2153 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427845523\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7339\/11427845523_eb5459e703.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2153\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2160 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427725344\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3799\/11427725344_ee635757d2.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2160\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2165 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427866663\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3750\/11427866663_dcd4753d83.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2165\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2172 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427745804\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm3.staticflickr.com\/2828\/11427745804_c73909efcc.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2172\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of the crowd favorites in the the Darth Vader balloon.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2190 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427745875\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7406\/11427745875_f65cfdd57e.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2190\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It flew really low right over us on the second day.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2209 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427795744\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5548\/11427795744_197443626e.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2209\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It landed to the field just over the fence from our rally field.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2246 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11427980973\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7308\/11427980973_4ee2cba6f1.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2246\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Anna was not shy about getting up high for a better perspective.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2284 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11428050043\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5475\/11428050043_06285b86d3.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2284\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Most of the evenings, balloonists will also come to the field to participate in Twilight Twinkle Glow.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2308 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430007165\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7293\/11430007165_854e0f6e88.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2308\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here is one of the balloons just as it raises overhead.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2326 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430078036\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3676\/11430078036_8398eb10f1.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2326\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Milo is doing his best Luke Skywalker impression.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2331 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430085386\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5520\/11430085386_fbe784895a.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2331\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0The announcer over the loud speaker counts down and lets all of the balloonists know to burn at the same time.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2345 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430226913\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3829\/11430226913_4d8c1b1f92.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2345\" width=\"333\" height=\"500\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2364 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430123874\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7423\/11430123874_36aa276564.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2364\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Fireworks at night caps off the day.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2382 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430128845\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7353\/11430128845_ea32024c62.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2382\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2392 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430186816\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3748\/11430186816_afb4bd5255.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2392\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On the second morning, we went back to the field once again to see them take off.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2417 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430338473\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3675\/11430338473_bb79a260ee.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2417\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2419 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430223946\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5513\/11430223946_9641000d01.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2419\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is Kyle&#8217;s first time at the Balloon Fiesta. He can&#8217;t wipe off that grin.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2432 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430248176\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7303\/11430248176_f77d38882e.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2432\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s Luka&#8217;s first time too. He doesn&#8217;t quite know what to make of it.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2460 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430255275\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3666\/11430255275_735516cc35.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2460\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Are you wondering what Milo is so excited about?<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2504 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430476223\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5519\/11430476223_cb6fb62cb9.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2504\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s the Darth Vader balloon! This is actually one of the only balloons that you could not walk near. A whole cast of Star Wars characters help protect it like the death star.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2528 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430514413\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5520\/11430514413_9341e3b7f2.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2528\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The girls would have preferred a picture with Princess Leia but this bounty hunter will do.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2550 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430408374\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7324\/11430408374_1788a3f91c.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2550\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2574 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430428825\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5500\/11430428825_6809595b30.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2574\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Elvis has left the field.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2662 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430611036\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm8.staticflickr.com\/7321\/11430611036_d6ca516633.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2662\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>On the third night, a group of chemical gas balloons lift off just before dusk on a race. Since the balloons don&#8217;t need propane, they can stay aloft for days and fly long distances. This is an annual race at this event and many of the previous winners have landed in Canada or just shy of the Atlantic ocean.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2684 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430642596\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm3.staticflickr.com\/2826\/11430642596_cf3717904d.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2684\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Each balloon is piloted by two balloonists. They have to carry all of the food and water they will need for the multi-day ride. And yes, they can not stop for bathroom breaks.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2747 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430709905\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm6.staticflickr.com\/5509\/11430709905_e01b5f005e.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2747\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2786 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430814215\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3669\/11430814215_b2c7a111d1.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2786\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Spiderman Pig balloon and the trio of bumble bees are some of the kids favorites. One of the bees landed right by Ava when we were here 2 years ago that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=crRvPAPFpjk\" target=\"_blank\">sent her running for her life<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"IMG_2791 by Dan Lin, on Flickr\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/danlin\/11430844674\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/farm4.staticflickr.com\/3812\/11430844674_92ee1b3ba3.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_2791\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This is certainly not going to be our last time here. We will be back again very soon.<\/p>\n<p>over and out,<br \/> dan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Rather than trying to squeeze in all the shots of balloons and our experience on the balloon field into the last post, we decided to write a separate one to show you what it was like. Like a lot of amazing experiences in your life, pictures rarely do them justice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1,183],"tags":[112],"class_list":["post-7666","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-daily","category-southwest-trip-of-fall-2013","tag-new-mexico"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pkBzA-1ZE","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7666","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7666"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7666\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7666"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7666"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/malimish.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7666"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}