Ever since I watched Up, I have dreamed of tying balloons to a little house and going aloft with all of my domestic goodies. Since that would only happen in Pixarland, my fantasy has morphed into a fascination with taking a hot air balloon ride. This dream is only ever so slightly hindered by the fact that I am really scared of heights. I'm talking knees-knocking-in-the-nosebleed-seats scared of heights.When I first made it to the top of the Eiffel Tower, I kept my back to the inner most wall and never looked over the edge. When I climbed up a steep trail to Yosemite falls, I never even peaked over the precipice at the waterfall below me.
So, why, given my extreme acrophobia, have I developed this sudden fascination with lifting off in a glorified Longaberger basket suspended by a giant quilt?
Hot air balloons seem to provide the ultimate bird's eye view of the land. I imagine drifting over fields or hills or rivers and looking down below at a patchwork of nature. Other than the intermittent roar of the burner, imagine that rare combination of altitude and silence.
Have you ever been up, up and away in a beautiful balloon? Images borrowed from HightonRidley, AbqBalloonRides, Knoxville, BaileyBalloons, & DelmarvaBalloonRides.
Pinkfrenchie,
ReplyDeleteWouldn't you know there's a French connection? I saw an exhibit of 19th century prints of hot air balloons floating above formal gardens designed by Le Notre. The first hot air balloon flight was in 1783 in France -- the Montgolfier brothers. In France, a hot air balloon is called a montgolfier in their honor. So with hot air balloons, les Parisiens could float above admiring the beauty and symmetry of the great gardens. So could the landscape artists who designed them. The hot air balloon gave the world a new perspective, a practical and artistic contribution.
Your blog is a FLIGHT OF FANCY, Pink Frenchie.
ReplyDelete