I am not a morning person.
Some of you have even noticed that there is a strange lack of sunrise pictures on this blog. There is a reason. I just don’t do mornings – and even then don’t talk to me until after my cup of coffee. Somehow when it came to the opportunity to fly in a hot air balloon with Globus Emporda, I was up and early and chipper as the best of them.
I was a little concerned. I have had issues with my vertigo this past year when it came to high places but if I could go puenting in Ecuador, I could hang out in a basket only floating by hot air. We hopped into the basket with Laurence and Vera of Finding the Universe.
It was phenomenal.
Super smooth, with little wind, it was probably the calmest ride I have ever been on. No adrenaline inducing moments – until the end that was.
There is something they don’t tell you about your ballooning experience until you’re already in the basket and doing drills. Sure, the take off is magical and easy but if you haven’t noticed, baskets aren’t equipped with landing gear. You just have to kinda crash land it.
The first attempt at landing the wind decided to pick up right as we hit the grassy expanse almost blowing the balloon completely over. We dragged across the ground a wee bit and immediately took off.
The second attempt at landing as a bit more interesting. The wind was picking up even more, we were starting to head out to sea (soon), and there were some electrical lines. As we slammed into the ground and started to drag we realized we weren’t stopping. We were heading right toward being BBQed Shaun and Erica al globo (balloon) style. The balloon picked up off the ground again and as we held our breath and crossed our fingers, we made it over the lines.
The third attempt we noticed our guide was panicking without panicking. He kept talking into his walkie talkie and scanning desperately for land as the ocean got closer.
And there is was – probably the roughest patch of farmland ever – half chopped down, dried corn stalks.
“Everyone grab on to the sides of the basket!” the captain yelled.
As we came slamming into the ground, Vera came flying across the basket into Laurence. It was like a slow motion accident. Everything was a bit surreal. Each stalk could be felt hitting and scraping against the basket. It just wasn’t ending. We just kept dragging across the hard stalks of corn until… we stopped.
As we started to scramble out of the balloon it started to rise again and I started to panic a bit. I wasn’t about to see my husband float out into oblivion and out to see on MY watch. So Shaun had to stay in the basket (GREAT) as the weight (LOL?).
We picked up the basket with the balloon into a trailer in the back of a trailer with Shaun in it and I swear I’ve never seen a goofier grin on Shaun’s face as he was part of the “magic”.
He volunteered his help as they quickly rolled up the balloon and put it away.
I’ve never seen him so enamored with our lifestyle until that moment.
As we sat around eating the biggest breakfast (including wine and cava) I have ever had the pleasure of stuffing into my stomach, we were handed out our flight diplomas.
Nice touch guys.
And Shaun? Well, let’s just say he made a mad dash for the internet at our first chance at wifi:
Facebook: “Today I learned how to pack up a hot air balloon after a lovely flight and make garlic aioli. And it’s only lunch time.”
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Disclosure: We were invited as guests with Costa Brava, however all opinions are our own.
My camera still carries the dent from the landing 😀
As a person who have fear in heights, I want to try riding a hot air balloon. How does it feel to be up above the sky?
Woo Hoo! I’ve always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon. I think I might rethink it now! Should have made you wear helmets if you inadvertently get tossed into each other. Photos were beautiful and the article well written. Good job!
Love the story! Makes me want to jump into a hot air balloon myself (minus the potential death by powerline or drowning in the sea!) 🙂
What an awesome day! Also, these pictures are stunning! Just curious…what camera do you use? I love the colors and how clear everything is.
OK, this looks like something I would love to do! Lovely pictures!
I have to say I have always wanted to ride in a hot air balloon but I am also terrified of heights.
That must have been tense! That balloon is gorgeous.
OK, for as much as I am not scared of heights, I am terrified of tight spaces, and even though you’re in the open air, I think the “trapped” sensation of being in this little basket with a lot of people hundreds of feet in the air might freak me the eff out.
But I LOVE that first photo of the balloon shadow. Great use of the Rule of Thirds.
That looks like so much fun. Amazing photos as always Erica.
This is something we haven’t had the chance of doing yet but……I am sure it is on the horizon Hahaha
You got such amazing shots! I recently went hot-air ballooning for the first time… but I did in Laos. I wasn’t afraid of hot air ballooning so much as I was of the whole “safety seventh!” principle that rules Southeast Asia.
That does sound scary! I’m glad Shaun didn’t float away, and it sounds like other than the ending, it was a pretty special flight.
I’m sure! We hit it pretty hard.
It doesn’t carry that vertigo feeling or the drop that happens in your stomach when you move suddenly up or down. It is quite nice. I rather enjoyed it!
HA! Then we would have looked really silly with helmets on in a hot air balloon.
Thank you for your kind words. I love sharing our photos and our joy!
HAHAHAHAHHA!
It was amazing and I would do it again in a heartbeat!
I have a Nikon D300S – I wish I had a better lens! 😀
DO IT! It makes me so happy to know that we got this opportunity. I had been dreaming about it since I was a little girl.
It is much easier than I thought it was going to be – granted, we are adrenaline junkies (but I am afraid of heights).
It was. I was starting to get a little worried but as a true blogger I immediately thought, “This is going to make a great post!”
HAHA! I guess I didn’t think about that. I’m also a bit claustrophobic but this didn’t bother me one bit. Although, I wasn’t over thinking it. *cough*
And thank you! I try.
Thank you! Make sure to poke me when it happens. I love hearing people’s thoughts!
Thanks Alex.
Latin America has the safety seventh as well. I felt a little more comfortable in Spain but at the same time – I would rather have a “hot air balloon death” on my tombstone than “got old”.
It was. And I think Shaun would have jumped out if it got out of hand.
…I hope.
Ahhhhh, the spirit of adventure in a world of routines and conventions. How refreshing to continue to stumble across likeminded people. There are more of us than is usually apparent at first glance. Once you get out there, wandering and adventuring, these people start to show their faces. I have been traveling and living abroad for about 7 years now. Although I have never done a hot air balloon, I have taken off from the shortest landing strip in the world, the isle of Saba. I have taken care of a 57-foot boat and lived on an estate 1700-ft cliffside. I have given up cars and all of my stuff and taken a different route through life. Viva the free spirits of the age!
Thank you so much for your awesome comment Teresa. It is so incredibly refreshing to find like minded people. I think it is why I hold them so close to my heart.