My Personal Adventure Of Hot Air Ballooning In Paris France

Paris, I have finally arrived. Still tired and jet lagged, I found myself drawn to its streets with hunger to devour every site and thirsty to drink in its splendid aromas. I wanted to know Paris so I walked its boulevards, in and out of alleyways, through gardens and parks, up and down ancient steps, and around mysterious corners.

After days of relentless walking I finally allowed myself some rest but stumbled unexpectedly upon a colorful brochure. “A Birds-Eye View of Paris” its heading read above a colorful hot-air balloon.

Following the directions from within the brochure I found myself in a small crowded office early next morning. I took my place in line and impatiently awaited my turn all the while looking about me. My eyes were drawn to a large notice that listed disclaimers and warning: children must be accompanied by adults, heart-patients and acrophobics are excluded, nothing flammable is allowed aboard …

There were a few other preclusions listed but I had already lost interest and was reviewing another posted notice that was addressing the elements, and was declaring that scheduled flights will be cancelled due to bad weather such precipitation, winds above a certain speed which I cannot recall at the moment, and heavy clouds or fog. So, I began to pray for the perfect weather, please!

I finally reached the clerk who was pointing at the two notices that I had already committed to memory and I nodded. He then took my name and my money (more than I could afford), scheduled me for the following morning, and gave directions to the field from which the balloons take flight.

Not surprisingly, sleep eluded me that night and I arrive at the field at 4:00 am, a full hour before my scheduled time and got busy watching the crew preparing the balloons. I then turned my attention to the star studded black sky and watched it slowly lighten to make way for the morning sun. And once again I took to praying for the perfect weather.

At five I approached my designated station, gave them my name, they, in turn, gave me a printed list of “do not”s, and we started boarding. In all, there were seven adults in our basket—six passengers and one pilot. The flame was already blazing to fully inflate the multi-stripped balloon that was slightly quivering in the morning’s gentle breeze. One by one we stepped into the basket and took our positions around its inner rim. The pilot remained at its center and began adjusting the tank above his head. Suddenly, the anchors were loosened and we began rocking at first and then moving up, up and away. Or was it the ground that more moving away from us? I could not tell.

We were still floating higher and higher as I looked all about in wonderment and awe at the dozens of other dazzling balloons that took to the skies at the same time we did. We were like a flock of wingless birds purposefully and in unison gliding with the air currents.

Feeling lighter than air I watched a few inquisitive birds approaching for an inspection and then going on with their own business. Then I looked down and caught my breath. Paris was stretched out below me—a bejeweled tapestry with the Eiffel Tower, like a single upward-pointing finger poking through its fibers. The rich magnificence, the elegance, the brilliant colors and contrasting textures were overwhelming from this birds-eye view and I was moved to tears of joy and appreciation. And through moistened eyes I began slowly and silently to identify sites that I got to know so intimately from the ground and was finally confident that I got to know Paris from every angle.

The hot-air balloon ride over Paris was quite literally the highlight of my Parisian vacation. A birds-eye view indeed

Posted in France Vacation Guide