International Balloon Fiesta 2012 Albuquerque

October in Albuquerque brings the Balloon Fiesta - the much loved and largest Hot Air Balloon festival in the world, and the most photographed event on the planet.  The Balloon Fiesta started in 1972 with 13 balloons as a radio promotion held in the parking lot of Coronado Mall.  Today, it is held at the Balloon Fiesta Park which is 360 acres of land includes the launch field which is 78 acres - about the size of 56 football fields put together.  It usually comprises over 500 balloons, 1000 volunteers, 2000 chase crew volunteers and in 2012, will include balloonists from 19 different countries and draw over 800,000 visitors.  In 2011 it received the Guiness Book of World Record for the Greatest Mass Hot Air Balloon Ascent - for the most hot air balloons launched within the shortest period of time.

The Fiesta comprises several different types of events including the annual Challenge race, various balloon competitions, etc.  The most popular events with the public are the following:

Mass Ascension: The morning launch of all the balloons in waves within 2 hours starting at 7 AM.

Glowdeo (Glow): The evening program where balloons are inflated on the field and lit up with the burners once it turns dark.

So, here's the challenge with viewing the balloon fiesta.... It's dependent on the wind and weather conditions.  So you could get up at 3:30 AM (as I did), make it to the Park & Ride bus area by 5 AM, wait in line for an hour to catch the bus to the park, which takes 25 minutes.  Only to get there and find out that the morning Ascension has been cancelled due to wind.  Your choices are to go back on the bus to your car; or to wander around the vendors (food, arts, crafts, souvenirs, etc) and visit the museum (which is what we did).  We actually went back that afternoon after a few hours of rest to see the Glow.  And it was beautiful up until it started to get dark and then they called it off short because of the wind.  I was so tired that I opted to not try again the next morning - particularly as the winds had picked way up and howled all night.  Unfortunately for me, and true to the form of Albuquerque weather, the next morning was clear and gorgeous and the Ascension went off without a hitch.

I had been told that balloons just fill the sky during Fiesta.  The only thing I've noticed is that more cars are filling the highways.  There may be a few more balloons in the sky than normal in the mornings on the way to work, but nothing like I was led to believe.  Apparently you have to be right at the balloon park itself to see anything.  I managed a few pictures during my visit.  And lest you think it was a total wash, I had an absolute blast!  The partial Glow that I saw was breathtaking.  So many balloons!  And Albuquerque is the only Balloon Fiesta left where you can actually walk the field among the balloons - because of their excellent safety record!  Most other Balloon festivals now rope off the field and require the spectators to sit in stands to watch.  I much prefer wandering amid the balloons.  You just have to pay attention and not walk on or jump over any of the balloons/tarps; not get in the way of the balloonists.

Another good thing:  When an event you had tickets for is cancelled, they honor that ticket for another event.  So I'm going back again this coming weekend to hopefully see an Ascension.  Meanwhile, here's a few photos to tide you over.

Sleepless in Albuquerque,
Jules

Sandia Peak Tramway

Last Friday night was the birthday of one of my new friends.  In honor of her birthday, and on her suggestion, we decided to ride the Sandia Peak Tramway up the mountain and have dinner at the restaurant at the top after work.   The Sandia Peak Tramway is billed as the world's longest tramway - 2.7 miles up the side of the Sandia Mountains from 5,000 ft above sea level to 10,000 ft atop Sandia Peak in the Cibola National Forest.  The top point is not actually a "peak",  and is, in fact, 1.5 miles from Sandia Crest - the highest point in the range.  Additionally, it is the third world's longest single span (from the second tower to the top at 7720 ft long).  It was built in 1966 by Bell Engineering of Lucerne, Switzerland.  It is known as a reversible jigback system - meaning one car ascends as the other descends.  In fact, the conductor did tell us we couldn't open the doors to our car until the other car had safely docked at the bottom.  The Tramway is used year round by tourists and in the winter for skiing.

So here's the ironic part of the trip.  It's almost always sunny in Albuquerque - something like 300 days a year of sunshine.  The rare rainstorms are few and brief.  There's almost never an entire day of cloudy conditions.  So the one evening we pick to ride the tram and view the sunset, it clouds up all afternoon and starts raining by 5:30 pm.  Fortunately it was clear enough to get a little bit of color from the sunset in the sky....this was the best pic I could manage with my little camera.  I really have to get a better camera.

Normally the fee for a "flight" or tram ride is $20 per adult.  But when you make reservations at the restaurant up top, you get a $5 discount.  So we purchased our tickets and waited for our flight time.  As we waited in line, we noticed several other passengers with coats and boots.  We looked at each other - none of us had thought to bring coats.  We'd forgotten it is much colder at the peak.  Then we noticed the electronic sign on the wall that noted the current temperature at the peak - 37 degrees.  Uh-oh.  Well, nothing to do at this point but push on ahead.  We decided that most likely we wouldn't even have to go outside as the restaurant was probably attached to the same building on the top.

A large group of us entered the car and arranged ourselves, cameras in hand, around the edges at the windows.  The car operator or conductor (not really sure what to call him) announced our departure and talked about the difference in altitudes.  It was raining harder - spattering against the glass sun roof and the front window of the car as we started out.  Then the conductor announced that we would pass two towers on the way up - and we could expect a small amount of swinging as we passed each one.  Swinging?  At 7,000+ feet and rising?  Swinging?!  I admit to being a little nervous about that.  Despite having recently read an article about the safety of the cars, and the safety procedures and inspections done regularly on the cables.  We looked out the windows at the back as the car rose and everyone exclaimed over the beautiful view of the city lights as the sky darkened.

When we reached the first tower and the slight swing, it was a little disconcerting - but not too bad - just a gentle sway really.  I think maybe my recent history of loopy rides at the fair had me just a little nervous about the swinging - combined with the dark and rain.  By the time we reached the top, the crowd had gotten a little quieter - and when we docked we realized we'd be walking outside to the tramway building.  It was raining, and hailing and 33 degrees.  Lovely.  September.  In Albuquerque. Where we recently had a week of 90 degree temps.  Okaaayyyy, this was unreal - like landing in a foreign country.  Carefully we made our way across the hail strewn deck, wind and rain and sleet  buffeting us and whipping our hair around.  After a short walk inside, we then made our way back out again down a few short stairs and over the to the restaurant, High Finance.  High Finance is a very nice restaurant (averaging $25/entree) with very good food.  After a lovely meal there, looking out at the lights of the city, we decided that we needed to try and make another trip up during the day so we could see the views better.  I have to admit it was my lateness added to the rain that had us missing the sunset.  But we did get some nice views of the city lights below us from the deck of the restaurant once it stopped raining.  After all, it is Albuquerque, the rain didn't last that long.

On the ride down, it was much less crowded - including an older couple of whom the wife had needed oxygen at the top.  The altitude got to her.  Although it was very dark at that point, we did pass a neon lit sign just below the peak asked the question, "Will you Marry Me?".  The conductor stated that a young woman had ridden up by herself - passing the sign, and was met at the top by the young man who proceeded to propose!!  How wonderfully romantic and creative!!!  Not much could top that!  All in all it was a wonderful evening and I can't wait to go back to ride again in the daylight.
Postscript: In fact, I did go back today to snap a few pictures of the view from the base of the tramway station.  I didn't have time to ride the tram again just now, but couldn't resist more pics of the Sandias.  I do love mountains.  So enjoy....

Durango, Colorado Part 1

According to Wikipedia: Durango, Colorado was organized in 1881 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad to serve the Yao Ming mining district.  It was named after the town of Durango, Mexico, which was named after Durango, Spain.  Durango originated from the Basque word, Urango, meaning dry town.  It is located in the Animas River Valley with an elevation of 6500 feet; and is best known for the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Recently, two friends and I decided to head to Durango for a quick weekend.  I'd never been to Colorado before so I was very excited.  We headed out after work on Friday and drove through the dark.  Durango is about 3-4 hours northwest of Albuquerque.  The sunset as we drove was incredibly beautiful and we enjoyed watching the colors change in the sky.  We had a great mediterranean dinner at Pars Restaurant just before leaving Albuquerque, and then sped on our way.  As night fell on the high desert, we were well outside of any city - past the Jemez Pueblo (where I went to see the  Luminaria celebration on my first trip to Albuquerque last December).  The stars were amazingly beautiful and bright.  I wished that we had time to just lay under them and watch.

We arrived in Durango in the dark - so had to wait for the next morning to get my first look at Southwest Colorado.  Durango lies in the Animas River Valley.  The Animas River flows through the town itself.  Durango has lots of outdoor activities to choose from: Kayaking, Rafting, Jeep tours, bicycling, hiking, archaeology tours, horseback trail rides, etc.  In August 2012, a world class bike race was held there - the USA Pro Cycling Challenge.  Of course, there are also many surrounding mining towns and Anasazi ruins to visit.  Photographic vistas are abundant.  The town is surrounded by mountains covered in spruce, fir and Aspen trees.

We spent most of Saturday shopping in downtown Durango.  We happened to be there on the weekend of Oktoberfest.  For those of you scratching your heads....yes, it was September 15th.  Part of Main Street in downtown Durango was closed off for the celebration, which apparently was only during the afternoons - as we were back in town around 6:30 pm and it was cleared away.  There were beer tents and food tents galore, even a lederhosen wearing polka band playing.  Several times they made announcements about contests and happenings in town.  The whole thing had me laughing up a storm.  It was just incredibly close to the Oktoberfest in the Steve Martin/Darryl Hannah movie, Roxanne!  I loved it!!

While we didn't have time to ride the train, I did take the time to visit the train depot and museum.  It was amazing to see the inside of this historical building and to see the old engines and cars in the museum.   Testament to another era and Durango's past.

Later in the day, we managed to drive around the surrounding countryside out to Vallecito Lake.  Near Vallecito is the site of the Missionary Ridge fire - which occurred in 2002 and burned over 76,000 acres.  2012 was apparently one of the worst years for fires in Colorado.  And during our jaunt round the lake, we passed many, many hillsides of nothing but blackened stumps on one side and on the other side of the road, still standing trees with blackened trunks and green tops.  Those latter trees gave me a hopeful feeling.  I felt that they symbolized survival, strength, rebirth and hope - like someone who has known much pain and suffering in their life, but is still standing, still growing, still surviving.

At the end of the day, we headed back to town and ate at Mutu's Italian Kitchen.  I had a wonderful cocktail and Chicken Napoli.  We sat outside on the patio and watched people strolling by; listened to the sounds of downtown, and feeling the cool breeze.  After dinner we did a bit more shopping and had some great frozen yogurt.  A nice ending to a wonderful day in Durango.  We didn't have much time the next morning to do anything - so after breakfast we headed back to Albuquerque.  I have labeled this Part 1 Durango, as I hope to return and explore more of the surrounding area.