ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

The hot-air balloon connection between Albuquerque and Mexico was celebrated Saturday morning at Balloon Fiesta Park.

The directors of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and the Festival Internacional del Globo de Leon were among the guests of honor who had gathered to witness the launch of the "FIG Leon Mexico" balloon and sign an official partnership of their two events .

Escandra Salin, director of the Leon festival, said she was lookin forward to seeing people from the Albuquerque fiesta at theirs in November,

Although high upper-level winds kept all the inflated balloons on the ground on the fiesta's opening day, all speakers spoke proudly of the long-standing spirit of admiration and cooperation between New Mexico and Mexico.

A high point came from

See Full Page