We’d like to trade our usual Monday morning experience in for this one, please. Welcome to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in New Mexico. The festival continues through October 14, with plenty of on-the-ground entertainment beyond those balloon rides that might take you east of the city, to the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, seen in this photo. Many hot air balloon rides offer a champagne toast as part of the experience. The champagne tradition may have sprung from early balloon pilots having to land in farm fields on private property. Aeronauts began carrying champagne or other drinks with them to offer to the confused and sometimes angry landowners. You’re welcome to land in our backyard anytime, balloonists!
Float on
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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World Teachers Day
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A path into history
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A peak in the clouds
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World Art Day
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Al-Khazneh in Petra, Jordan
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Hello, harbinger of spring
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New Zealand s loneliest mountain
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Frankenstein Friday
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International Day of the Tropics
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We re gonna need a bigger birdhouse
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World Elephant Day
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Stompin’ with the Big Chief
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National Rivers Month
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Yabba-Dabba-Doo!
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Pearl of the Adriatic
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Bluespotted ribbontail ray
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National Blueberry Day
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Pollinators: not to be sneezed at
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Batten down the hatches
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Chapel on the rock
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Why does this panda cub look so happy?
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Explorer of the sea
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Jan van Eyckplein in Bruges, Belgium
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Cenote near Puerto Aventuras, Mexico
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Illuminated Uluru
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New Year s Day
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Where is this wintry road?
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Montreux, Switzerland, and all that jazz
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Squirrel Appreciation Day
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Salmon return to the Copper River