Hot Air Balloons

One of my bucket list items is witnessing a Hot Air Balloon Festival. I found one.  Not the one I envisioned in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but in Loughrea Ireland – and a million less people I might add.  The directions were clear, the launch was to take place in the fields behind the Loughrea Hotel. We were about 30 minutes from launch time and as we approached the hotel we noticed cars were beginning to park, line the highway, so I pulled over and parked too.  Cars continued to pull up and park everywhere they could.  So, we started walking the highway with everyone else.  Turns out we were a good ½ mile from the hotel, down the next street and onto the field.  We knew we were in the right place since there was a large hand painted sign that read ‘spectators’ (my bad, I forgot to get a picture).  Tom and I stood in this field for a good 30 minutes (wishing we’d brought our folding chairs). Everyone, and their children, who were having a grand time of it, running, playing chase, falling, getting really dirty, or just picking flowers.

Dogs barking at them and other dogs.  But no Hot Air Balloons.  Seems everyone else was wondering the same things, a few folks started to leave and others re-positioned themselves for a better view (?) of what we were not sure.  We struck up a conversation with some folks standing along the fence and asked them too – well, what’s up?  They’d never been before either and were wondering where is the communication, no one there to tell anyone what’s going on. 

After an hour we decided to move back up to the opening at the fence and considered leaving, avoiding the rush of crowd (California mentality) when the first truck arrived, then another, then another. So, eventually, a total of 15 in all.  Far below, between two fences, they began to unload their equipment and spread out the flat balloons across the ground.  Fire plumes were being tested and baskets constructed.   It was exciting to watch as the balloons slowly came to life as they begin to fill and rise.  Then one by one they lifted off.  We watched for the next hour as each balloon took flight.  It was really exciting and well worth the wait to see them all in the sky, floating wherever the winds took them.

One balloon did not have a basket at all, but a single man just sitting there just floating along.  I could only think how very cold he was going to get. 

Now we really want to witness the Hot Air Balloon Albuquerque.













PHOTO ALBUM