Balloon Fiesta: Beautiful southwestern blue skies were present every day during this year’s Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Slightly breezy winds prevented the larger special shaped balloons from flying on some days but it did not prevent them from inflating and remaining on the ground for visitors to enjoy. The standard sized balloons flew every day of the nine day fiesta. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Special Shapes Glow: A special shapes glow was held on Thursday and Friday evening during the 52nd annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. The glow allows visitors to walk among these magical creations during inflation and during the glow when pilots were cued to fire the balloon burners at the same time allowing the shapes to come to life with color. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
By GARY WARREN
Photographer
Formerly of Los Alamos
Earlier this year we were asked if we would like to attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Following a quick yes answer, our friends let us know that after attempting to get RV reservations at the fiesta for the last three years they were both able to get reservations this year.
We quickly paid them for one of the RV passes and we all began planning for a trip to the balloon fiesta. For us, it was a chance to enjoy the balloon fiesta for the first time in more than two decades and a chance to share many of our favorite places, foods, and activities that we treasured during the 30 years that we lived in New Mexico.
We thoroughly enjoyed our three days at Balloon Fiesta Park attending a morning dawn patrol inflation and lift off, three morning mass ascensions, an evening special shapes balloon glow, and multiple drone light shows. Our friends were in awe and impressed with the entire fiesta.
In addition to daily fiesta activities, visiting the Anderson-Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum, which is also located at the Balloon Fiesta Park, and meeting other RVer’s who were parked near us, we managed to visit some local restaurants for some great New Mexican food.
Following our three day stay at the fiesta, it was time to spend a couple of days in Santa Fe and a couple of days at Bandelier National Monument. In Santa Fe we enjoyed strolling the streets in downtown, visiting a museum, and, of course, enjoying some more great New Mexican food!
It was a joy for us to act as “tour guides” while introducing our friends to the sites of the City Different, Bandelier National Monument, and a drive to the Jemez Mountains including stops at the Valles Caldera National Preserve to view the sites and spot two herds of elk.
It was a busy week in Northern New Mexico and one which we will always cherish. After living in this beautiful state for 30 years, we never get tired of revisiting the same sites that we have seen multiple times. At times it is best to step back and enjoy this beautiful region of the state through the eyes of friends who are new to the area. This was truly a great trip for all and a great time of reminiscing for us.
Editor’s note: Longtime Los Alamos photographer Gary Warren and his wife Marilyn are traveling around the country, and he shares his photographs, which appear in the “Posts from the Road” series published in the Sunday edition of the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Walls and Windows: We were able to spend time in Santa Fe with friends who made the this trip with us in their RV. We enjoyed being “tour guides” and showing them the sites around the City Different. While walking the downtown streets in Santa Fe, I always enjoy looking for unique angles and lighting on the adobe structures. Shown are walls and windows on an exterior wall of the La Fonda Hotel. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Vigas: Another downtown Santa Fe building is seen as I looked up along the side of a wall and focused in on the numerous vigas. The beautiful weather during our stay made for a great time as we toured the area with friends. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Valles: A trip through the Jemez Mountains was a great time for all especially as we stopped and spotted two large herd of elk in the Valle Grande. The late afternoon sun and shadows moved across the landscape giving it different views as we watched the elk and marveled at the landscape. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Jemez Landscape: One usually thinks of the Valles Caldera and East Fork of the Jemez River when visualizing the Jemez Mountains. However, the red rock area around Jemez Pueblo and Jemez Springs is a beautiful contrast showing the wide range of landscapes as you travel through the Jemez Mountains from San Isidro to Los Alamos. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Bandelier: We spent time in Bandelier National Monument camping, hiking and enjoying the Ancestral Pueblo ruins in the park. Shown are a portion of the Tyuonyi ruins and the cottonwood trees in Frijoles Canyon as they began to display fall colors. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com
Visitors: We happened to be visiting during the Fall Fiesta at Bandelier National Monument, which always attracts a lot of visitors. The beautiful weather this year brought more visitors and filled the campground to capacity. Shown are visitors as they walk the Loop Trail in Frijoles Canyon. The cottonwood trees added to the festive atmosphere showing the beginning of the fall colors. Photo by Gary Warren/ladailypost.com