Oct 7

Oct 7/2012
Up at 6: 00 AM (48F) and caught the shuttle bus to the grounds for the mass ascension. Quite a spectacle. 550 balloons this year plus 150 special shapes,which inflated but did not lift off. Back to the bus for bacon & eggs before catching the bus at 11:00 to the Indian Cultural Center Tour. Beautiful arts, crafts, dancing, music and history. Pizza & beer get together at 5:00 then early to bed.

Oct 8/2012
Got up at 8:00 to hundreds of balloons over the bus. Went for coffee at the events tent before catching bus at 11:00 for Old Town. So many art galleries, jewellery shops, tourist junk in old houses from the late 1700s. We had an All Nations Taco on Indian fry bread at the Red feather Cafe along with iced tea and prickly pear juice. Both very interesting, good. We joined Dave & Verna Fulton from Birdle, Manitoba, very nice couple. Happy hour and dinner back in the events tent consisting of roast chicken, ribs, roast beef, mashed potatoes, beans & corn and dessert. All very good.

Oct 9/2012
Up at 8:00 in time to see yet another full sky of balloons.3 took off from our RV park. We caught the 10:00 bus to to the Acoma Pueblo Sky City Tour complete with box lunch on the bus. We toured the museum, gallery & video presentation then took the shuttle up to the village up on the mesa, where there is no power or water. There are dozens of port-o-cans along the rim of the mesa. We visited the cemetery which now has 4 layers of bodies buried. There are no coffins or cremations as they believe in leaving this life the way they came in-in a blanket. All future burials are now down at the base of the mesa. We were able to go into the mission which was built in 1629, still with a dirt floor, then we walked through the village with guide Brandon. Lots of local arts & crafts, fresh fry bread & fruit pies. After getting back we attended a margarita party with piles of nachos. We sat with Steve &  on their balloons.Gilbert from Parker, AZ -he is retired Air Force and she is an artist. Another great day.

Oct 10/2012
We got up at 5:00 at 56F. Got coffee from the event tent then caught the shuttle to the grounds to see the dawn patrol, which goes up before daylight to check conditions of the wind, etc. Then there was the morning glow, where they flare the propane into the balloons which lights them up without lifting off. At 7:00 there was the Ascension of the Flight of Nations competition where each of 19 countries had there flags flying. At 10:00 we caught the bus to Santa Fe with Ray as our driver and K.K. our guide. We did a walking tour past the New Mexico Museum or Art, through the Historic Plaza, St Francis of Assissi Cathedral (now Basilica), the Loretto Chapel with the famous spiral staircase. We went for a great New Mexican buffet lunch at the Fiesta Lounge in La Fonda on the Plaza. Excellent meal !! We meandered around many of the streets and the street vendors at the plaza before boarding the bus home at 3:00. 82F. We had our Farewell Dinner with our leaders in the tent with a fantastic New Mexican dinner - ooops 2 mex meals in one day !! The entertainment was an Indian duo who played flamenco-type music on a harp, guitar, drums and violin - really enjoyable.