So unbelievably bummed to be missing this annual event during my first couple months living in Albuquerque. However, been loving the pictures from this Instagram account. Next time!!! #Repost @travelnewmexico (@get_repost) ・・・ This is @klwalter13 on day one of my two day takeover. In 1783 the first balloon gathering took place in France when the Montgolfier brothers entertained the King and Queen of Versailles and the crowd of 40,000 people. They believed that smoke had mystical powers and could lift a balloon into the air when filled. The downfall was they feared that anything that went up in the balloon would not survive so the first passengers to ever ride were a rooster, a duck, and a lamb. Today I had the honor of going up in my first balloon and joined a brotherhood that started with simple farm animals over 200 years ago. #TravelNM #travelnewmexico #visitabq #trueabq #balloonfiesta #getsidetracked #balloonfiesta2017 #newmexicotrue #instagramersnm (at Texas State Line)