Hot air balloon flight in Helsinki 1/2

Helsinki, 18 degrees


I'm building a hot air balloon out of my love for you.

On a Wednesday evening, I headed with my boyfriend to Helsinki's smaller Malmi airport to after seven months take advantage of his present for his 30th birthday that was celebrated in January. As I sat in the car, I started for the first time to think about what we were about to experience together. Even though I've flown over Helsinki with large airplanes, small airplanes, and helicopters, this would be something else. A long time dream would come true - I would finally see Helsinki from a hot air balloon!

Keskiviikko-iltana lähdimme poikaystäväni kanssa Malmin lentoasemalle, koska seitsemän kuukauden jälkeen ajattelimme vihdoinkin hyödyntää poikaystäväni 30-vuotislahjan. Autossa istuessani, aloin miettimään meidän yhteistä tulevaa koitosta. Vaikka olen lentänyt Helsingin yllä lentokoneissa, pienlentokoneissa ja helikopterissa, tämä olisi jotain aivan muuta. Pitkäaikainen haave toteutuisi - näkisin Helsingin ensimmäistä kertaa kuumailmapallon kyydistä!

At Malmi airport, we heard that the weather was so fine that we wouldn't actually start from there, but from Helsinki's largest downtown park - Kaivopuisto Park! If I could have chosen freely where to start, this would have been my number one choice so it was perfect! We headed down to Helsinki's seaside in a minivan for 14 people. As we reached the park, it was full of people enjoying the sweet late August weather by having picnics, letting children play or just sunbathing. We stopped on a lawn and heard that this was where the magic would happen.

Malmin lentoasemalla meille selvisi, että hyvän sään takia emme lähtisikään lentoasemalta, vaan Kaivopuistosta! Sehän oli ykköstoiveeni, joten muutos oli täydellinen! 14:n hengen minibussilla ajoimme Kaivopuistoon, joka kauniina aurinkoisena iltana oli ihmisiä täynnä. Pysähdyimme nurmikentälle ja kuulimme, että tästä lentomme piakkoin alkaisi.

Nobody had told me how big a hot air balloon actually is! We had a curious crowd around us as we started to fill the balloon with air, and the owner of the flight company ran inside the balloon to make sure it was filled with air in the right way. I had never before seen anyone inside a hot air balloon when it's on the ground! As the balloon was filled, it started to rise, and that was when we jumped into the basket that fit all 13 of us (one of the organizers was left on the ground as she followed us with the car and met up with us when the flight was over). It was time to wave to the people on the ground and enjoy the ride, as we felt how the balloon took us up in the air!

Kukaan ei ollut aikaisemmin kertonut minulle miten iso kuumailmapallo oikeasti on! Ympärillemme kerääntyi utelias yleisö, ja kun täytimme pallon ilmalla, pallon omistaja kävi itse pallon sisällä laittamassa sen kuntoon ja tarkistamassa että pallo täyttyi oikealla tavalla. En tiennytkään, että pallon sisällä voi kävellä kun se on täyttymässä! Kun pallo oli täynnä ilmaa, se alkoi nousemaan, ja saimme kuulla, että oikea hetki koriin astumiseen oli käsillä. Mahduimme kaikki 13 koriin (toinen omistajista jäi maahan koska hän tuli autolla meitä vastaan myöhemmin kun laskeuduimme). Kun tunsimme, että pallo nosti meidät ilmaan, oli aika vilkuttaa yleisöllemme ja nauttia lennosta!


Have you ever experienced a hot air balloon flight? How do you feel about them?

Oletko koskaan kokeillut kuumailmapallolentoa? Mitä mieltä olet niistä?


What's your opinion?

  1. What for an amazing experience! I never had it, and I always wanted to, but somehow never flew on a hot air balloon - maybe one day! I think seeing Helsinki from it was amazing! So good that the weather was fine!
    DenisesPlanet.com

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    1. It truly was, I will remember it for the rest of my life!

      xxx
      E

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  2. nope, haven't experienced it and I wouldn't do it BUT it was so cool to read about it anyway! I already saw your part 2 post in my Bloglovin' list and am excited to read it as soon as possible! I enjoyed your descriptions a lot! oh and thank you for visiting my blog even though I've been the worst blogger lately. I hope things will change from September because actually I have so much to share with my readers!

    Maiken - Part of me

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    Replies
    1. I'm happy that you enjoyed the post :) Can't wait to read your new blog posts!

      xxx
      E

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  3. nice post, kisses! :)

    http://www.itsmetijana.blogspot.com/

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@elisabeth.rundlof