Ever since seeing Around the World in 80 Days as a child, I’ve wanted to go up in a hot air balloon. As I turn the corner into my 71st year, it’s getting to the now or never stage on that one. So when I read about hot air ballooning in San Miguel de Allende, it seemed like a great opportunity. Max and Linda were game so I booked it with #GloboSanMiguel Some folks might be concerned about falling o er the side or the balloon crashing, but I realized the most realistic worry for me was how I was going to get in and out of the basket. With a bad knee and stiff joints generally, it could be dicey. Also the website says you have to stand for the hour that you’re up which could have been a deal-breaker for me, but I finally cajoled them into letting me bring a small camp stool to sit on periodically. All systems go!
We met our guide and the transport van at a nearby hotel at 5:30AM so we could see the sunrise from the ballloon. A chilly morning, but very clear with just enough clouds for a little drama. The process of setting up the balloon or”globo” in Spanish, was fascinating. They inflate it first by blowing air into the balloon and then use the fire jets to fill it with hot air so it will rise.
Max, who’d been in a balloon before, led the way and climbed in smoothly, using the ladder steps cut into the basket. Let’s just say my entry was significantly less dignified, but with determination and a push from Linda, I climbed up and dumped myself onto the floor of the basket. Not pretty, but now it was up to the balloon folks to get me out (the guide later told us that sometimes they have to deflate the ballon enough to tip the basket on its side so the folks inside can crawl out). Linda”s height allowed her to slide in gracefully once she was up on the rim. And we were off!
I expected to be buffeted around a bit, but it was much smoother than a plane take-off. The balloon just rises straight up and then the currents take you wherever. The pilot explained that he was using the jets to raise and lower us to catch different air currents.
Some shots as the sun was rising
Our guide, Bibi and pilot Ulysses (seriously) were ready to answer any questions and made us feel secure during the flight.
Since you’re at the mercy of the air currents, there’s no way to know in advance where the balloon will land (in fact one part of the waiver you sign says you acknowledge that you might be arrested for tresspassing!). The van has to follow from the ground, taking cues from the pilot’s walkie-talkie.
Landing was complicated - first we had to meet up with the van and the fellows who would pull us down, next the pilot has to maneuver over scrub (but not into trees) to land in a field. We brushed across some bushes and landed in a burr-filled field, but it was over all a success (the less said about my mode of exit, the better). We took a couple of celebratory pics, and watched them deflate the balloon and were on our way. A major bucket-list item completed.
To finish off the morning, we were taken back to the (super luxe) hotel for breakfast
Then back to our hotel for a nap before our next adventure