Floating In The Wind

Barcelona Day 2

The Flight

Today is one of my favorite things. I get to watch someone live a "moment".

Today is is Ballooning Day. My Lovely and I will love it. There is no doubt. But this is a bucket list item for Patty - and we get to watch.

It is not a the top of Gary's list, but making your true love happy always ranks. We get to watch that too.

The sun still sleeps. We ride into the mountains. My Lovely comments about the Spanish guitar music on the radio. The sounds are soothing, wonderful and varied, but distinctively Spanish. We discovered later that our driver/balloon crew extraordinaire, Domi, is also a DJ!

The city slips into the past. The silhouetted moutain range out our right window. We will fly from the mountain valley.

Barcelona is a coastal city, surrounded by mountain ranges. After 30 minutes of driving, we have left the city. We have mountains on all sides now.

A stop for coffee and a danish.

Now it is time to fly. Our captain, Santiago, aka Santi, has 23 years of experience.

Prepping and inflating, anticipation builds.

The balloon stands tall; the basket finally upright... The time is here.

Our first instruction, the "Landing" (some might call it the crash) Position.

The Pyrenees Mountians. Ranges in all directions. Farm lands, small towns, a castle, horses in their corrals. So much to see. But we just breathe. Take it all in.

Only a moment or 2 of trepidation. Mostly the surprise bursts of gas. No fear of heights. "Nervous going up, but not scared." Enjoyed every minute of it. Peaceful, quiet, still. Not floating with the wind but floating in the wind.

"I did more than survive. I LOVED it". Patty said.

After we all "survived our flight" captain Santi) awarded us each with a Certificado de Vuelo en Globo and we all celebrated with champagne and a biscuit. Santi noted that it was tradition because the first balloon flight was in France....good thing it wasn't In Russia...it's too early for vodka!Read more