Up Up and Away!

[CrazyCatWom]

Back in what feels like prehistoric times. I would've awakened to almost freezing temps. With the distinctive whoooooosh of a pilot igniting the propane burner to acheive some lift. I would've grabed a cup of coffee, found my shoes, a jacket, and like my neighbors , run outside in n my pajamas. It would have been the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta begining with the Mass Ascention where up to 800 hot air balloons fill the sky over the city. The fiesta would run for a week.

But with the COVID apocalypse, there will be a small collection of balloons launching from public parks around the city BUT . . . no human will be allowed to go out to see them launch or land.

[Kenu]

Seems like that could have gone on? There’s a lot of distancing. We have same thing every year at Teton Idaho about 90 miles away. Use to go up every year and camp at a friends property and they would fly right over. Way cool! Also have night lighting and craft fair for 4 days. You could pay and ride also which we did a couple times ☺️. Hope next year it will be back to so called new normal. Have a great weekend 👍🙏🤗 Ken 🐾🐾🐾🐾🇺🇸

[CrazyCatWom in reply to Kenu]

Yes! There would also always be the Rio Grand Arts and Crfafts Festival and there would be the Baloon Glows at night or the Glowdeos (yeah, wierd term). But we residents have been grounded since March and if we don't adhear to Momma Governor's punishments, we'll get paddled again. So stay home. Watch the balloons from your windows or on TV.

[greaterexp]

This thing has robbed us of so much. We all hope we can get these great things back and soon!

[2littletime]

What a beautiful sight! No matter if one or one thousand, still an amazing thing to see.😯

[CrazyCatWom in reply to 2littletime]

Doesn't matter your age. Unless you're driving, you become a child during balloon fiesta! If you are driving, though, you are praying the other drivers are looking at the road, and not at the sky.

[jimeka]

Beautiful photo, thank you 😊

[rjoneslaw]

people could've stood on their porches

[Ali_B62]

Oh dear, yet another thing this terrible illness has overshadowed! I suppose the important thing is that we all stay healthy and emerge to carry on at the other side. It hurts to think about what's lost but we have to keep our eyes on what's important.🥰

[pamgarner]

to me it is the sadness of how covid has affected our lives,there will be a new normal,but i hate to see the old normal fade away.it is like having ms.,it just chips away at life alittle bit at a time.we didn't realize how life altering it would be when we heard of the first person that got this virus...............time goes on

[Humbrd]

It's sad the festival was cancelled. I have wanted to go to it. I have gone up in the balloons two different times in Taos. It was magical. Breath taking beautiful. I love visiting New Mexico.

[mrsmike9]

I have always wanted a ride in one! They are so fun to watch!

[bxrmom]

We have those every year, here in Jackson, MI. But like everything else, Covid caused it to be cancelled A few years ago, I went to see them with my now ex and some family. It was a fun day!

[CrazyCatWom in reply to bxrmom]

It has been really sad that such a joyful event was cancelled. But I also understand what is the most long-lasting effect of the cancellation: NM is a desperately poor (if notTHE poorest) state in the US. Our biggest industry is tourism. Balloon Fiesta is a HUGE part of that. All the businesses, especially in the Albuquerque area, depend on Balloon Fiesta, will be staying closed this week. And many . . . never to open again.

[bxrmom in reply to CrazyCatWom]

It is very sad that so many businesses may never open because of this virus

[twooldcrows]

so pretty ...would like to see them go up and be able watch they go across the sky ...thank you for the beautiful picture....love and happiness..

[hairbrain4]

The balloons are awesome. I saw a small launch around Napa, CA several years ago. I will be glad when they get that vaccine made so we can get on with our lives. Here in the US the virus has been used for political gains and the medical entities have used it for financial gain by distorting the amount of deaths attributed to the virus.