How to ride in a hot air balloon
How I did it:
morning just after dawn. I was driven out into the desert of New
Mexico. I got to watch the balloon get blown up and come to life before
entering the balloon and taking a ride. It was fantastic. It was so
calm and peaceful and wonderful. Watching the balloon being blown up
was such an experience, I’m so glad I got to see it.We took
flight and came up over a few mountains, waiting until the very last
second until we cleared the cliffs. We saw jack rabbits, dried up
rivers, and sun bleached cattle bones. The highest we climbed was 1000
feet, it didn’t feel very high though. You hardly knew that you weren’t
on the ground it was so calm.The pilot was fantastic. He was
sharp, funny, and knew what he was doing the entire time. He explained
everything he was doing and even let the passengers squeeze the burners
to let more gas into the balloon. He was wonderful, and full of good
jokes and amazing stories.After we descended, we had a champagne
reception and a special toast. There were snacks and water as well. We
heard a few more stories and were then rewarded with certificates
confirming that we took a balloon ride. He also told us the history
behind ballooning and the traditions associated with it.I highly
recommend hot air ballooning to anyone interested, even those with a
fear of heights. It’s an otherwordly feeling, like nothing else I’ve
even experienced!Here’s the company I flew with:www.santafeballoons.com
Lessons & tips: Do your research! Hot air balloon rides are typically expensive, so I originally planned to go with the cheapest carrier I could find. However, I ended up with a pricier one and learned that the more expensive ones provide more services and are better. Cheaper ones have typically 12-15 people in the basket, while more expensive one have up to 6.
The carrier I was with also let us see the balloon get blown up and taken down. We were also provided with free transportation to and from the launch site and a champagne reception.
All in all, the experience was worth the extra money.
Resources: www.santafeballoons.com
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