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Europe's largest hot air balloon festival

By Edecio Martinez

/ CBS News

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Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England. The early morning flight of over twenty balloons over the city was organized as a curtain raiser for the four-day Bristol International Balloon Fiesta which starts on Aug. 9. Now in its 34th year, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is Europe's largest annual hot air balloon event in the city that is seen by many balloonists as the home of modern ballooning.

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Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A balloonist prepares a balloon for flying as hot air balloons prepare to take to the skies over Bristol city center to launch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

008-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

003-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

002-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

004-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

012-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A balloonist prepares a balloon for flying as hot air balloons prepare to take to the skies over Bristol city center to launch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

001-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

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Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A balloonist fires his burners as hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

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Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

010-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A balloonist brings a balloon into land as hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center to launch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

006-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

007-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

015-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A balloonist prepares a balloon for flying as hot air balloons prepare to take to the skies over Bristol city center to launch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

018-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

013-BalloonistsBristol_1.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A balloonist brings a balloon into land as hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center to launch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

017-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

020-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

021-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

014-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

022-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

019-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

016-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

023-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

024-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center to launch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

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Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A general view of Bristol is seen as hot air balloons take to the skies over the city center to launch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

026-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
A balloonist brings a balloon into land as hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center to launch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

027-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

030-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.

028-BalloonistsBristol.jpg
Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Hot air balloons take to the skies over Bristol city center on Aug. 6, 2012, in Bristol, England.
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