bonjour celine header

13.10.09

from above

air ballooning!





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from above

from above


7 people floated into the air in a cozy wicker basket. We were 1500 ft above ground, and I wasn't as scared as I thought I would be. I didn't feel that funny tickle in my stomach, the one you get when you go really high up on a rollercoaster.

Jin and I finally went air ballooning! We were planning to do it for our anniversary, but the weather was not cooperating then. We were lucky we only had to wait a month later to take flight. I think it was better that we waited, we got to see some autumn colours.

We took flight at dawn, so it was very peaceful. We floated above farms, and some dogs were barking at us from below, but they looked like tiny tiny ants from where we were.

After we landed, we all had a toast of champagne! It is a ballooning tradition, dating back to the first balloon flight from Paris in 1783. Farmers thought that the hot air balloon that landed in their field were demons falling from the sky, and they came after it with pitchforks. The pilots offered the farmers champagne, to prevent them from destroying their balloon!

We had a more friendly greeting when we landed, farmer's children in their pyjamas happily running towards us instead!

41 comments:

  1. oh! excellent photos friend.

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  2. wow you guys finally went! the views from up top are stunning!
    toronto looks sooooo cold already.

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  3. oh! Wonderful pictures!!!

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  4. so sweet! It looks amazing....

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  5. Such beautiful pictures! It looks like such a great season to do it in with the leaves just starting to turn. I have though that perhaps I would be too scared to try it but you have made me reconsider...

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  6. these pictures make me want to go hot air ballooning (is there such a word? haha) too! :( I'm so jealous. Thanks for sharing the beautiful adventure though!

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  7. WOW these are amazing pictures!!! i don't think i'd be able to do it - just the thought of it makes me so nervous! but when i get married i want to be like you guys. :) i haven't even really met you both but you guys are awesome.

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  8. Amazing! I have always dreamed of doing this. You pictures are inspirational. One day we will go.

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  9. oh, I'd love to go ballooning some day!
    beautiful pictures, but I think the second one is my favourite of them all, it's simply breathtaking!
    xx!

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  10. Wonderful pictures! I'd like to go ballooning too! It's probably a great adventure ;)

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  11. what a great time of year to go...i guess it can't be very cold standing next to a giant flame right? and i never really thought about the landing! you just randomly land in some field??? haha...sounds like fun!

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  12. oh, wow, great pictures!!!! good also you survived the pitchfork attacks :-)
    love the colours!

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  13. CELINE! it looks beautiful, it almost felt like i was floating up there with u guys...not really but close enough!

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  14. oh my!
    photo 3 is so stunning, nothing like america in the fall.
    hi from a misty north east england morning :)

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  15. nikole - thanks for the link! ;)

    May - toronto is cold and windy like you couldn't imagine, especially being over in the good weather Rome must be providing!

    nicki and ilaria - thank you so much!

    alice! Please do reconsider! I thought I would be super scared as well! But it was surprisingly peaceful!

    Farhana - you got the term exactly right!

    Melissa! I love your comments! I hope we can meet one day super soon! When you get married, you are going to be such a cool married couple!

    Maggie - Let me know when you go!

    Christine! I like that photo too!

    Bruna! It was a great adventure!! You should try it if you get the chance!

    Eldon! Only my face was warm, standing under that huge flame of fire! I could not feel my feet! I under estimated the coldness of morning! And yes! We literally randomly landed in a farmer's field, and children came running out of the corn!

    Renilde! I'd be so scared if they had pitchforks!!! Hopefully they like champagne!

    E, Roz and Tig - Thank you so much!!!!!!!!! ♥

    Lorna ! hello! It is so nice to meet you!

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  16. Wonderful wonderful! I'm very happy for you and Jin and what better time of year than Autumn!

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  17. thank you CĂ©line, for your sweet words :-)

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  18. How exciting that must have been! Great pictures you took! :)

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  19. This is on my wish list Celine!
    What a glorious ride & view!!
    Have a lovely Season~
    xo*

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  20. Amazing! I've wanted to hot air balloon for the longest time and your pictures make me want to do it on a crisp Fall morning now! So stunning.

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  21. oh my gosh....you went in a hot air balloon?!
    what a wonderful experience!!!
    i cant even imagine how peaceful and beautiful that would be
    i much rather do this than skydiving or something. haha
    good for you guys! thats awesome!

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  22. WOW!!! champagne Ă  la fin? parfait !

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  23. these photos are really beautiful! quite amazing to think that they are real, wow the colours..... so awesome!

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  24. how did i miss this amazing post? what an amazing experience, i feel like i was up there too, looking at those photos. wow!

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  25. Hot air balloon and Hasselblad...I just love that combo so much. Lucky you! Love the pictures.

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  26. If only I could be so brave!

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  27. Oh amazing shots Celine!

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  28. i could never ever have done that!

    it must have been amazing!
    your photos are!

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  29. so incredible! oh my goodness, breathtaking!

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  30. Wow! This is one of my dreams to do one day.. it seems thrilling yet peaceful. What a lovely way to do it.

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  31. Just found your blog via You Are My Fave and your photos are gorgeous!
    (And I see you're in Toronto -- we're close, Peterborough!)

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  32. I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love - can I re-post about your pics on my blog and link to you? I'm going to convince my boyfriend to take me on a balloon ride using your photos! Wish me luck :)

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  33. These photos remind me of a most wonderful experience in my life when I was able to ride in a hot air balloon with my best friend. It was quite possibly one of the best moments of my life: floating in the sky, watching the sun rise, spending time with someone I love — there isn't much more I can ask for in my life.

    Here's a photoset from the trip:
    http://is.gd/4Lo45

    Thank you so much for posting these and sharing your beautiful moments — and for making me remember such a fantastic memory.

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  34. What a cool experience, and the photos are excellent. I've enjoyed reading through your outstanding blog.

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  35. Such a nice story, and magic views!

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  36. It's amazing.Thanks for sharing..!

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  37. How did I miss this?
    So magical!
    Wishing you a VERY belated happy anniversary.

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