Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta: Where New Mexico’s Sky Comes Alive
There are some travel experiences you plan carefully, and there are others that remind you that the best moments sometimes come from simply being there. For me, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta was one of those experiences. Last year, I had the opportunity to attend the Fiesta as media, arriving with the excitement of seeing one of the world’s most spectacular ballooning events firsthand. I was hoping to watch the famous Mass Ascension — hundreds of colorful hot-air balloons rising together over the New Mexico landscape. But the weather had other plans. The Mass Ascension was unable to take place because of weather conditions, and instead, we experienced something completely different: a Balloon Glow. As the morning began to settle over Balloon Fiesta Park, the balloons remained on the field rather than taking flight. Then the burners began to roar. One by one, the balloons illuminated from within, transforming the field into an incredible display of colo...