13 delightful images of balloon sellers from around the world

You know it's true: Balloons brighten up any landscape

An Afghan man wanders through Kabul trying to sell his balloons, on Oct. 17, 2011.
(Image credit: REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail)

These striking images of balloons weren't taken at your kid's 5th birthday party in a cushy cul-de-sac somewhere in middle America. These photos were shot passing by the Ravi river in Lahore, or on a dirt road in Kabul. In many parts of the world, balloon sellers roam the streets, struggling to make a living as they sell wonderfully colorful tokens to passersby. But while doing so, they manage to bring a sense of fun and playfulness to what otherwise might be a rather grim landscape. Take a look at these delightful photos from around the globe:

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Lauren Hansen

Lauren Hansen produces The Week’s podcasts and videos and edits the photo blog, Captured. She also manages the production of the magazine's iPad app. A graduate of Kenyon College and Northwestern University, she previously worked at the BBC and Frontline. She knows a thing or two about pretty pictures and cute puppies, both of which she tweets about @mylaurenhansen.