Balloon Fiesta Kick-Off

Yesterday was the first day of the annual Balloon Fiesta, the largest collection of hot air balloons in the world. For years I have been told by locals, if you want to go to the balloon festival, you have to book your hotel in Albuquerque a year in advance. I fooled them all and moved to Santa Fe a year ago. With friends Dennis and Camille visiting from Virginia, we set out yesterday at 3:45 am on the 50 mile drive from Santa Fe to the Fiesta grounds. This is what the fiesta looks like at 4:45 am with an almost full moon shining over it.