We did go to the paper balloon flying exhibition on Saturday. We went shortly after 2 p.m. because that was the time it said in the Lake Chapala Review, a free monthly here. However, there were few people there and most of them were Gringos; they had read the same info as we did. We did have our choice of cement seats (no backs) in the covered stand. In the newspaper it said about 3 p.m. and if fact, nothing got under way until well after 3. However, there was a small band (about a dozen or so) boys and young fellows to provide music. It did go on for a long time. We finally left about 5:30; we heard today that there were still balloons going up at 7:30. Large numbers of Mexicans did not begin to arrive until after 4.
There were many balloons of different sizes, shapes and often bright colours. Some were about 3 feet tall, but others were 12 - 15 feet high. It is a tricky business getting the paper balloons inflated with hot air without setting them on fire. One or two fellows climb up ladders to hold them during the inflating process. However, one team (there were 6 or 7) had a guy on stilts to help with that job. Then, they have kerosene soaked cotton swabs which are lighted and fixed in the mouth of the balloons to give lift. The first couple of hundred feet seem to be the most critical. If the balloon swings from side to side too much, the balloon catches on fire, the firebrand plunges to the ground (kids were all over the field and would go running to put out the firebrands) and the paper balloon burns up. Some catch fire before they even leave the ground.. However, once they are a couple of hundred feet in the air, they are usually ok. It is amazing how high and how far some of them go. Some go over and disappear behind the mountain. Some seem to keep going for miles until they disappear in the distance. Getting the right size, balance and correct size hole must require quite a sophisticated set of calibrations. The firebrand from one flameout came down on a rooftop across the field from us. There didn’t seem to be anyone there and no one went rushing to put it out. It was a tile roof so there might have been little danger, but that firebrand continued to burn for at least 20 minutes on the roof.
Today we went to another concert of Viva la Música! Today it was a couple of young fellows doing piano/cello duets. The organization also presented awards to 4 young musicians, all in middle to late teens, who are this years scholarship awardees; this is what they do with the money they raise. This evening, we went to the Plaza for more celebrations; I’ll say more in the next post.
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