20th Anniversary Dream Trip Contest

Great Travel Moment

When sitting around with friends reminiscing over travel, it's hard to resist the urge to carry on about adventures at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. It left its mark in many ways. Specially shaped balloons were great fun to watch. This giant turtle, sneakers untied, was one of our favorites. While it was inflating, my wife and I stood nearby taking photographs. Distracted by conversation and looking at other balloons, I was suddenly and abruptly brought back to conciousness when a dangling shoelace brushed over me as the envelope filled and erected itself. Moments later the turtle lifted skyward, and I captured this image of it sharing the sky with a cactus and the moon.