Bristol balloons

It's balloon festival weekend in Bristol, so I decided that rather than write a lengthy blog on my Japanese adventures (that blog will follow), I'd put up a short and mostly photographic post on the balloon fiesta. It's billed as an international balloon festival (not exactly sure what that means) that apparently started in 1979, and has now become an icon for Bristol (and, according to the web site, attracts half a million visitors!). 

The festival started on Thursday evening with a "Nightglow" event, which I didn't attend - apparently all of the balloons are lit up, for show. I did watch the accompanying fireworks, which were spectacular and visible from my spare bedroom... And then I got up early yesterday morning for the "mass balloon launch", which was definitely worth it! I arrived at around 5:45am, when the first balloons were being inflated. It was fun to arrive in the half-light of the early morning... people milling around and balloons starting to the roar of generators and gas flames (it still just doesn't seem to me to be a good idea to propel nylon balloons with flames, but they seem to have worked it out!). 

As the sun came up, the balloons started to launch and drift slowly to the west. It was perfect balloon weather, very calm and warm, just a hint of a breeze. It really was spectacular to see the skies crowed with balloons. I carefully positioned myself to the west of the launch site, so that most of the balloons passed directly overhead. Photography heaven! Which is why I'll let the photos speak for themselves.