Hot Air Balloon Festival?

          This weekend was interesting to say the least.  Cassie, Jordan, “The Morgans” and I decided to jet off to Hamilton, New Zealand for a Hot Air Balloon festival.  We rented a car and learned first-hand what driving in a different country is like! I can now say, I successfully drove half of the way to Hamilton! It was weird to not only be on the opposite side of the car, but to drive on the opposite side of the road!!! We giggled the whole way because the turn signal is also on the right and not the left! Every time I hit the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal!   Somehow we made it safely into Hamilton! To preface, according to Jordan's host family Hamilton is the SDT capital of New Zealand. We knew this place was not known for its beauty...just food for thought as you read!

            We got all settled in our hostel which was extremely nice! I am still amazed that I can sleep somewhere for $27! Sweet (or as they say here “sweet as”).  After dropping off our packs, we headed to explore the town! We had lunch at a little pub.  I had the most delicious BLT and of course some incredible beer! We kept wondering through pubs throughout the afternoon.  Around 3:30 we decided to walk to the college where this festival was.  An hour later, after following some high schoolers who took us through some short cuts, we made it to the grounds! Rides and fair food everywhere, but no balloons…curious.  We decided not to stick around and left for another pub to wait until the night where there would be a “glow” festival of the balloons lit up.

            We grabbed the tiniest margarita’s I have ever seen at a local and very expensive Mexican restaurant, and then had dinner and drinks at yet another pub!  Finally it was 8:30 and the festival should be back on, so we caught a cab back to the festival!  We were adventurous and even wondered into a house party! It was just like a frat live out at home and made us laugh a little to be back in the college atmosphere.  Finally making it to the festival……..WE MISSED THE WHOLE THING!!!! We made it barely in time to see a really crappy firework show.  I don’t think I’ve laughed more at myself than I did this weekend!  I mean really?! We drove 2 hours for a festival we didn’t even see?! I didn’t even see ONE BALLOON!!! Still laughing as I write this!

            Having missed the fun, we started heading back with the thousands of people walking in the streets.  We weren’t going to walk all the way back again because it would just add insult to injury to have to walk after seeing NOTHING so we stopped at a pool bar and played some pool and had some drinks to let the traffic clear. 

            Finally we made it back to the city center to hit the town! We had some drink vouchers and ended up doing Hamilton BIG! We laughed and danced and pretended we were just college kids again!  It was such a blast! Our disappointment changed to hilarity and we have chalked this whole weekend up to a “good story for our blogs”.  No we didn’t get to see balloons, yes we did drive 2 hours to go to pubs that we could do at home, BUT we had fun and if the only thing I remember from this weekend is the god-awful breakfast we all had this morning, it was still worth it because I got to see another part of New Zealand!  What a weekend! Now I’m sure you have all laughed at my disappointing blog but I hope it made you smile! Lots of love to you all from New Zealand!