Category Archives: Night Photography

BALLOON FIESTA, NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque—if you can spell it, then more power to you! This might be one of the few times that I’ve traveled for something other than food, but the Balloon Fiesta was a visual delight! Over 500 balloons and 650 pilots gathered on Balloon Fiesta Parkway for this annual display. According to some locals, the Balloon Fiesta is the official start of the fall and holiday season—and after 48 years, it’s still the city’s pride and joy. Upon viewing these massive bulbs of rain-jacket-like material, I couldn’t help but marvel in their simplicity and ingenuity. Think about the first person who was like, “If i tie this basket to this balloon and blow fire into it, maybe it will go up?” AND THEN THEY DID IT. Maybe they’re still up in the sky flying around wondering how the hell to get down. Here’s the low down!

Park and Ride shuttles begin transporting passengers to the Balloon Fiesta at 4 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. I feel like these are strategically placed at times where you’re starving for breakfast and freezing, and right before dinner and you’re hot and uncomfortable and there’s no shade in sight because you’re in a huge open field. All of that sounds like $$ to me! You can buy these tickets ahead of time online, and they are a great way to get to and from the site!

The 4 a.m. slot will get you to the Balloon Fiesta in time to view the “Dawn Patrol.” This is your first chance to see balloons inflate, light up and take off at the expense of sitting on dew-saturated grass and being very sleepy, cranky and cold. This is also a great time to get your hands on limited edition merch—pins and patches are a huge seller and stores open up for the early crowd!

There’s a set of balloons they call, “Special Shapes.” If the thought of seeing a big colorfully-patterned balloon launch in the sky makes you smile, imagine that it’s Darth Vader. Well, actually, you don’t have to imagine it because it happened. It’s real. Yes.

In the evening, the Balloons perform “Twinkle and Glow.” These are coordinated flames among all of the balloons on the ground as they twinkle like Christmas lights across the field. Against a dark navy blue sky: amaze.

Even more impressive was the firepower behind the balloons. Serious flame-throwing devices are used to project fire up into the canopies. A great heat source on a cold morning or night. Probably a great way to stay warm up there!

Although the weather conditions were not optimal for the morning’s mass ascension and a gust of wind blew down about 80% of the balloons during twinkle and glow, the Balloon Fiesta was such a fun experience that I can simply refer to as magical.

In Louvre with Paris

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My trip to Paris wasn’t filled with black turtle necks, mimes, and people saying “oui oui, haw haw.” Sad, right? You almost want to stop reading here. I suppose this is the American perception of the most romantic city in the world. If this is what you’re looking for, perhaps any other season besides winter may be a better time to visit. Despite not seeing the postcard version of the city of light, I was able to soak in the sights and sounds of Paris at its off season. Businesspeople passing by on the way to work, moms and dads walking their kids to school, a lone woman eating a baguette and butter with coffee inside a cafe — all bundled up in their winter coats and weather-proof boots. Everyday Parisians sitting amongst an endless sea of tourists from around the world. Actually, mostly Asians from what I could tell. Despite frigid temps, stinging rain, light snowfall, and not seeing people carrying baguettes around like it’s a thing, Paris — if not romantic — is truly unforgettable.

Much like Italy, breakfast seemed to be a less popular thing among folks. It was rare to find a cafe open before 9a.m., and for the most part people were in and out of cafes via quick counter-service coffee and croissant. Sipping on that Earl Grey tea on our first cold morning was a little bit of heaven.

Did you know: The croissant actually has origins in Austria rather than France! We had an amazing almond croissant at a small cafe/bakery. Baked goods are what I’ll miss the most about French cuisine. One of my favorite memories is going to the bakery across the street from our hotel and buying a baguette and eating it in our room with a stick of butter. I warmed that butter with my own body heat! Don’t ask. Also, steak pomme frites: never again.

Paris is a huge city and it’d take a special breed to call this place a walkable city. However, I will say it’s great to get off at a stop and walk a couple of miles in any direction. Though we made the most of our metro tickets to get to far-out landmarks, we broke in our boots real good. Watch out for that slippery ice, though!

Did you know: You should hold onto your validated metro ticket, and also be sure that you’re paying for the correct amount of zones if traveling far distances. There is no signage for this anywhere, and is an unwritten rule that if disobeyed leads to hefty fines! Lesson learned.

Did you know: Just days before our trip, the Eiffel tower had been closed due to snow, and the river Seine was nearly overflowing from heavy rain fall. From what I heard, it hadn’t snowed in Paris in four years!

Did you know: At the top of every hour in the evening, the Eiffel tower puts on a light show! Also, if you’d like a great view of the tower, don’t go to the tower itself. Instead, get off at Trocadéro where you’ll have an elevated, onobstructed view of the tower and the city beneath.

Macaroons, macaroons, macaroons. Ladurée has shops here in California, but of course we had to get it from Paris. Lots of interesting flavors—our favorite being the caramel—and other types of pastries as well. If you’ve not tried these, you must!

Did you know: There is no hunchback in Notre Dame ringing the bells. Another childhood dream ruined.

Angelina boasts a world-famous hot chocolate. They also had french onion soup. Both were amazing. End of statement.

Inside the Louvre, your art history books come alive—you know, the ones you never opened because you slept through that class all semester? So many renowned sculptures, paintings, and art from around the world. Check out this room that holds some royal artifacts from France. Talk about family jewels.

Sorry, you just have to. Also, beware, the room holding the Mona Lisa has so much body heat that it smells and gets very hot real quick. Uncomfortable really.

Did you know: The Arc de Triomphe holds the tomb of the unknown soldier, similar to D.C. Stuff at night just always seems prettier, don’t you agree?

Last but certainly not least, a trip to Disneyland Paris of course. So used to having fake bubble snow be sprinkled down from overhead machines that I couldn’t tell if this was another Disney effect or if it was really happening. It was real, it was magical, and it also had us running for the train station.