Regatta de Globos 2011: This was the coolest thing ever.

So, yesterday we attended the Regatta de Globos in Ajijic, Mexico and it was AWESOME!  Different groups get together over the year and begin to make and assemble these amazing balloons.  They are constructed entirely from tissue paper, glue and tape.   

Then layered for thickness , but only 2 layers at most (Did I mention it’s only tissue paper).  Then they assemble the pieces into all different types of shapes, sizes and characters.  Once they have the balloon finished, every year at this time they set out to launch the “Globos” from the village futbol field.  It is so much fun to be in the middle of it all.  We set up our blankets and chairs, brought food, drink and snacks.  We met up with about a dozen friends and all of our kids.  The first launch was around 3:00pm and the Globos were really cool, but soon to find out rather small.  As the day progressed on, the Globos got bigger and bigger with a few small and medium ones set off in-between the big ones.  Now the way they launch these things is by starting with a chimenea.

Once they have it 90% filled, they take a towel and roll it tight in a circle, then soak it in petroleum.  Then they light the ring of fire which is wrapped around the bottom of the Globo on a metal ring.  The hot air forces the Globos up up and away into the sky.  If the wind is calm, they just keep going up and up, but if the wind causes them to tip side to side, the paper catches on fire and you have an inferno of paper falling along with the blazing hot metal ring and towel.  I gotta tell you that there is NO way you would ever see anything like this in the US or Canada.  OSHA would have a heart attack if they were here.  It is so freaking cool though, the Globos went up and burning ash and metal fall from the sky.  

 Not a single person got hurt, burned or singed, except for their pride when the Globos would just go up in flames before the even launched.  Here is a short video from the day.  Once again, living here feels so free and easy at times.  Everyone out enjoying the incredible weather, family, friends and a really cool spectacle of balloons, ahhh a true slice of heaven.