She is originally from Bulgaria, one of the countries that I hope to visit.
Monday, October 26, 2009
It Takes a Village...
Travelling for any amount of time takes home support. Teddie from AAA was a great help in arranging the world trip.
She is originally from Bulgaria, one of the countries that I hope to visit.
She is originally from Bulgaria, one of the countries that I hope to visit.
5am Surprise
I woke up this morning to a blanket of snow covering the neighborhood. Ski season isn't far away.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Trip Change
The only thing predictable about traveling is that unexpected things will happen - and - the longer and more complicated the trip - the more things will happen. The trip around the world has been delayed a month and plans now are to leave Santa Fe on Dec 5 for the flight to Bangkok. From that point the trip will go as originally planned, except that now, another country can be added on to the end. One rule for using frequent flyer miles for their round the world trip is that you have to keep going in one direction. No backtracking is allowed. Also, you get to stop and be picked up in 6 different locations. Now that I have one extra stop, I can add it to the end of the trip
. This means that I can pick a country somewhere between Santa Fe and Prague for the last leg of the trip. Cuba??Greenland??? There are some interesting possibilities, so stay tuned.
On another note, I received some feedback that having photos in an album would be helpful. If you would like to see the photos from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in a slideshow format, go to
http://picasaweb.google.com/ramblinme
Click on the picture of a balloon and then click on the slideshow button.
Enjoy!
. This means that I can pick a country somewhere between Santa Fe and Prague for the last leg of the trip. Cuba??Greenland??? There are some interesting possibilities, so stay tuned.On another note, I received some feedback that having photos in an album would be helpful. If you would like to see the photos from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta in a slideshow format, go to
http://picasaweb.google.com/ramblinme
Click on the picture of a balloon and then click on the slideshow button.
Enjoy!
Sunday, October 04, 2009
The Gas Balloon Launch
The Gas Balloons are all white (except for the one rebel yellow balloon) and they compete against each other by traveling the longest distance. Dennis remembers reading that one year a balloon went as far as Maine.
Unfortunately, the balloonist's worst fear happened - the winds picked up and it was too windy to take off.
We waited around until fairly late in the day, but the winds continued to blow and we finally called it a day around 8 pm.
This morning there was a 3 hour recap of the Balloon Fiesta on TV and I learned that the evening's activities had been cancelled, but this morning the balloons did take off. Also, this evening (Sunday evening), is usually the second most poular part of the fiesta so it will be interesting to see if the winds die down in time.
If I could sum up my first time experience at the fiesta I would describe it as enchanting. As we watched the balloons emerge from the darkness and into the air, we were all like little kids looking on in wonderment. How many times in your life do you have the chance to recapture that sense of awe you experienced as a little kid looking at all the unwrapped presents under the tree? That's what it felt like watching the balloons slowly come to life and rise into the air. It was like being with two football fields full of excited little kids on Christmas morning and you are one of them.
I highly recommend it.
Unfortunately, the balloonist's worst fear happened - the winds picked up and it was too windy to take off.
We waited around until fairly late in the day, but the winds continued to blow and we finally called it a day around 8 pm.
This morning there was a 3 hour recap of the Balloon Fiesta on TV and I learned that the evening's activities had been cancelled, but this morning the balloons did take off. Also, this evening (Sunday evening), is usually the second most poular part of the fiesta so it will be interesting to see if the winds die down in time.
If I could sum up my first time experience at the fiesta I would describe it as enchanting. As we watched the balloons emerge from the darkness and into the air, we were all like little kids looking on in wonderment. How many times in your life do you have the chance to recapture that sense of awe you experienced as a little kid looking at all the unwrapped presents under the tree? That's what it felt like watching the balloons slowly come to life and rise into the air. It was like being with two football fields full of excited little kids on Christmas morning and you are one of them.
I highly recommend it.
Chainsaw Carving Competition
When I first read that a chainsaw carving competition wou
ld be held at the Balloon Fiesta, I could only imagine a group of lumberjacks competing to see how fast they could cut up a pile of logs. Also, I couldn't imagine why it would be held at the balloon fiesta.
It turns out that the competition is about ctreating works of art out of wood and the finished products are lovely.
I still can't figure out the connection to ballooning, but it was entertaining.
ld be held at the Balloon Fiesta, I could only imagine a group of lumberjacks competing to see how fast they could cut up a pile of logs. Also, I couldn't imagine why it would be held at the balloon fiesta.It turns out that the competition is about ctreating works of art out of wood and the finished products are lovely.
I still can't figure out the connection to ballooning, but it was entertaining.
Midday Lull
The middle of the day brought a lull and lots of warm sunshine. After all the excitement of the launches, it was a good time to stroll almost a half mile of tents with food and every kind of balloon related item. As to the food - you can't imagine how many types of food can be served on a stick. A popular item was turkey legs
, perhaps because you can eat and point with the same hand.
, perhaps because you can eat and point with the same hand.
The Bees From Brazil
These two bee balloons rose holding hands - and they did come from Brazil. Entries were from all voer the world, but were heavily represented by entries from the Southwest - where there is a lot of empty space to land a balloon.
From Directly Underneath
Shot from directly underneath the balloons, they look like Christmas ornaments.
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