Hot-air balloons are favored the world over as stealthy and fast get-away vehicles for toothbrush thieves and cowardly blind-daters. Of course they are also a hit for a romantic first date or reality-dating-show finales. Luckily I choose none of the above. As my FINAL "new" experience of this 365: Challenge, I embarked on my first ever hot air balloon ride this morning with my best friend Emily. I couldn't have chosen a better way to say goodbye to 2010, and hello to 2011. The ballooneers at Orlando Balloon Rides do an amazing job at a very early hour of the day. The sunrise ride begins around 6 a.m. (depending on the time of year and the weather conditions); we met at the Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort and Convention Center in Kissimmee before traveling to a quiet launching field to properly wake up (this took a while) and observe the folded balloon fill up with air. Once the bulbous vessel was appropriately aired, we began to ascend in the comfortable, padded-basket balloon over the treetops of Orlando. What a breathtaking panoramic view. You drift over everything from orange groves and swamps to theme parks, local wormholes, and area forests. We even spotted a fox, dead cow (yes people – the cow was dead poor thing) and a pig running around. Then came the landing… after fair warning, we touched down with several minor bumps and began to dissemble everything. Next came the champagne toast where I’m fairly certain I unintentionally embarrassed Emily (they asked if anyone was celebrating an engagement or wedding… and I asked if a divorce counted – LOL). Last… we journeyed back to the hotel for the ceremonial presentation of commemorative flight certificates and a resort style all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet throwdown. The entire experience lasted four hours, with an ample hour and a half of flight time. Check out the photos… Simply stunning!
About the Author
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, cotur acing elit. Ut euis eget dolor sit amet congue. Ut vira codo matis. Sed lacia luctus magna ut sodales lorem.
_picnik.jpg)
0 comments