Egidio is looking back to Amy’s Challenge #31 from February 2, 2019: Landscape. I enjoy landscape photography and have many landscape photos in my archives. Usually I would post landscape photos of things like beaches, sunrises and sunsets but for this challenge I decided to focus on one subject that I have returned to more than once.
New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, is on my mind this week. I recently returned from a weekend in Albuquerque to attend my nephew’s wedding and spend time with my family. I also got to enjoy magnificent views of the Sandia Mountains. The featured image is of the Sandia Mountains just before sunset the night before the wedding.
This was not our first visit to Albuquerque. During our RV travels we passed through there a couple of times and in 2023 I attended the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Here are a few views of these mountains from some of our earlier visits.
View of Sandia Mountains from Coronado State MonumentHot air balloon rising over Sandia Mountains at dawn
On one of our visits we took a scenic drive to the top of Sandia Crest to take in the gorgeous views.
View from Sandia Crest
Last week Tina’s challenge was Ephereral. Thank you to everyone who participated in the challenge. Your responses were great and I loved all the creative images of things that last a very short time.
The special shapes balloons are so much fun to see that they deserve their own post. Many of them were flying during the first two days I was at the fiesta.
My 3rd Day at the Fiesta Field
The Special Shapes Rodeo was scheduled for Thursday, October 12. Sadly, the balloons couldn’t fly because of high winds. Luckily for everyone it was safe for the balloons to inflate on the field and set up for a static display. There were many spectators walking through the field getting up close to these creative balloons.
Kelli and I had a great time walking through the field of balloons. We stopped to watch Kermie the Frog inflate. There were families and children looking up in awe at the the giant Frog. While I was capturing the activity of the crew setting up the balloon Kelli was busy handing out Evil Twin balloon trading cards to the kids.
Kelli also did some pin trading with some of the balloon teams while I was busy taking pictures.
After we had seen most of the balloons we headed for the vendors area to grab a bite to eat. I enjoyed my first ever Green Chile Hamburger – Yum! We wandered through the Artisan’s tent and then stopped to watch the chainsaw carvers at work. A dazzle of Zebra’s caught up with us for a final photo.
Attending the 51st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta is an event I will never forget. The balloons were spectacular and everyone I met was friendly, helpful, smiling, and having fun. I also enjoyed spending time with my brother Joe and his wife Kelli when we weren’t at the fiesta. We caught up on family stuff and enjoyed some amazing New Mexico cuisine meals together. Thanks Joe and Kelli!
I recently returned from the 51st Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The theme this year was “A View from Above”. This was my first time at the fiesta and the theme for me was “A View from Below” because I chose to stay on the ground and look at the balloons above me and all around me.
More than 550 hot air balloon pilots and their crews gathered in Albuquerque, New Mexico from October 7 – 15, 2023 for this year’s event. For nine days balloon crews, volunteers and spectators got up in the middle of the night to be at the Fiesta Park before 6:00 a.m. I was one of the many spectators there to take part in this magical event.
My brother Joe and his wife Kelli were wonderful hosts while I was there. They live in the Albuquerque area and have been involved with the Fiesta since the 1990’s. Joe volunteers as a Launch Director each year and his wife is a balloon pilot. They are part owners of the Evil Twin Balloon with their friends Don and Connie. I chose a photo of their balloon as my header photo.
My first Day at the Balloon Fiesta
We woke up each day about 3:40 a.m. and left the house around 4:15. Joe had early morning Launch Director meetings and Kelli had pilot briefings.
Tuesday, October 10 was my first day attending the Fiesta. While Joe and Kelli were at their meetings I started the day by meeting the Evil Twin Balloon crew and being wowed by the glow of the Dawn Patrol balloons. What at great way to start the day!
Once the balloon crews started preparing their balloons for flight the field was filled with activity. As I walked around in search of my brother Joe there was so much going on I didn’t know where to look. Balloons were being inflated on the ground as others were launching into the sky. It was sensory overload as the clear blue sky filled with colorful balloons of many shapes and sizes.
Trying to keep up with a Launch Director
The launch directors are called Zebras because of their black and white striped shirts. Their job is to make sure the balloons take off safely. Once I found my brother Joe I had a hard time keeping up with him as he ran around the field giving the pilots the go ahead to launch their balloon.
I turned around to capture my brother Joe at work but when I saw him standing with his hand over his heart I knew they were playing the National Anthem even though I couldn’t hear it.
I was exhausted and my feet hurt at the end of the day but WOW! This day ranked right up there near the top of my list of memorable events in my life.
My second day: Working as a member of a chase crew
Wednesday morning we were up early and ready for another beautiful day of ballooning. I spent the morning working as part of the chase crew for the Evil Twin Balloon. Many thanks to Kelli, Don, Connie, Kelly and the rest of the crew for showing me what to do and allowing me to be part of the team.
Kelli and Don, the two pilots of the Evil Twin
Don was piloting the balloon that day. I started out by helping take the balloon out of it’s storage bag while Don and some of the others prepared the basket to be connected to the balloon. I watched as they inflated the balloon by blowing air from a powerful fan into the balloon. I captured a couple of shots of the inside of the balloon as it was being inflated. Don had two passengers that day.
When everything was ready and the launch director gave Don the ok to launch the Evil Twin was up in the air. The chase crew piled into the van to follow the balloon to wherever it landed. Kelli was driving the van and was in radio contact with Don. We were soon at their landing site. We helped get the balloon back into it’s bag, loaded everything into the trailer and were soon back at the Fiesta Park for a celebration and a group photo.
It was another WOW day at the Fiesta! I had a great time being part of the Evil Twin chase crew!
Coming soon! More fun and adventures at the Albuquerque International. Balloon Fiesta.
Welcome to the next post in my series highlighting states we have visited throughout the years. I hope you will enjoy coming along for the ride!
I will be featuring the states alphabetically. The next state is
New Mexico
New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6, 1912. The capital is Santa Fe.
We have traveled through New Mexico several times in our travels. The first time was in 1985 in a mini van on our way to the Grand Canyon to tent camp with our two kids. Each time we were in the state we made sure to eat some of the delicious New Mexico food. From blue corn tacos to green chile stew it’s all delicious. One year we visited my brother and his wife near Albuquerque and they took us to some of their favorite restaurants. Nothing better than eating where the locals eat!
In New Mexico many restaurants give you a choice of red salsa or green salsa. If you want both, when the server asks you what salsa you would like, the answer is “Christmas”. And where else would you have green chile stew and nachos for breakfast?
Green Chile stew and nachos for breakfast at the Frontier Restaurant in Alburque
When we left home on our first RV trip in 2006, one of our must see stops was Roswell, New Mexico to visit the UFO Museum.
Street Lamp in Roswell, NM
UFO Museum and Research Center
UFO Museum in Roswell
New Mexico is one of the states that meets at the Four Corners.
Four Corners – States of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada
Our campsite at Santa Fe Skies was a perfect home base to explore Santa Fe and the surrounding area. We enjoyed wandering around Santa Fe, shopping at the Palace of the Governors and visiting the Georgia O’Keefe Museum.
St. Francis Cathedral Santa Fe
Camel Rock near Santa Fe
Palace of the Governors in Santa Fe
When we asked one of the staff at the RV park the best way to get to Taos, he told us we could take the high road or the low road. Of course given two options we decided to travel to Taos on the scenic high road through high desert, mountains and small towns and return to Santa Fe on the low road through the valleys beside the Rio Grande River.
The scenery changed along the high road as we drove from Sante Fe to Taos.
High Dessert on the High Road to Taos
On the high road to Taos
We visited the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge outside of Taos before exploring Kit Carson’s home and enjoying tacos from a vendor at a Fiesta in Taos.
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Kit Carson’s home in Taos
As we drove back to Santa Fe on the low road there were great views of the Rio Grande.
Rio Grande River on the Low Road between Taos and Santa Fe
Santa Rosa is one of the places to see some of the neon signs along historic Route 66. The Blue Hole was also worth a visit.
Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa
Blue Hole in Santa Rosa
Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa
Mater from the movie “Cars” in Santa Rosa
There is so much to see in and around Albuquerque. Although we had visited before, my brother and his wife were great tour guides and knew the best places to go. After attending a Navajo Rug sale with them we all took a hike through Petroglyphs National Monument.
Petroglyphs National Monument
Petroglyphs National Monument
Petroglyphs National Monument
On our most recent trip to New Mexico we wandered around Old Town Albuquerque and visited the Coronado State Monument.
Historic church in Albuquerque
Coronado State Monument
The highlight of our stay in Albuquerque was the drive on the Sandia Crest Scenic Byway. The views along the way and at the peak were amazing.
Wandering Dawgs 