WOW. JUST DO IT! Hot Air Balloon over Teotihuacan
By Dorothy Bell
photography by Bill and Dorothy Bell
Bill and I have always admired the hot air balloons as they gracefully floated above the ancient ceremonial centre of Teotihuacan just outside of Mexico City. We have watched them grace the skies, a few dozen or so, early in the morning before the pyramids were ready to open the doors to the awaiting crowds of tourists and hawkers.
But before the throngs arrive, the hot air balloons skirt the sky. They rise and then fall in a delicate dance below the clouds and well above the tallest buildings and pyramids on the ground. “What a view we thought.”
For this current trip to Teotihuacan we tentatively planned for Bill, the photographer in the family, to spend the extra money and record the site’s magic from above. Surely it would be expensive. And to be perfectly honest, there was a bit of trepidation from this girl. I have height issues and feel uncomfortable on a ladder never mind a tall building or looking over a mountain ledge.
We arrived at the town of Teotihuacan the day before and settled into a small hotel about a kilometre from the pyramid site. As Bill checked in, he asked the proprietor “Where can I book a flight for the hot air balloons?” Here she relied. “Globos tickets.”
“For two” I said. “I’m going too.”
_
________________________________________________________________________________
The driver arrived at 6.30 am. We piled into his car in the darkness and he whisked us away over topes and through back streets for a 15 minute drive to the “Globopuerto” – a field with deflated balloons and large wicker baskets and a long 2 story building to one end. Bill and I followed the driver to the building where we were sprayed, temperatures taken and tickets examined. We were given our boarding passes and then directed to a table with waters and coffee and small biscuits.
As the sun rose we could see workers hustle from one deflated balloon to another. Slowly they were being inflated, some more than others. Softly like an air mattress they expanded.
We sat around tables drinking coffee watching the sun rise lighting up the colourful giants. Suddenly one would pop up from the ground. The waiting room grew animated – excited – about this trip of a lifetime.
An announcement would come over the PA system and a worker would lead out a group of people to the field of balloons one group at a time.
We were called and then with about eight others were led to our balloon. Our balloon was being steadied as the gas fire heated the air required to make the balloon rise. Everyone was excited and we took pictures of each other and waited for the hot air to pop our ride vertically from the ground. Eight workers or so steadied the structure with thick wire ropes and pulled it ground ward as each of the passenger climbed aboard over the basket. The captain then arrived and began testing the gas lines and air gaskets. Yes they were good. He pulled a leaver and with a loud deep sound the fires ignited even more.
The workers continue to hold the wire lines but gradually, without a word of goodbye or see you later, the balloon rose slowly from the ground. Magic. The captain turned on the music and we floated magically in a place between reality and the imagination; between consciousness and dreams. Floating with music all around us.
At first she rose slowly about 4 to 8 feet and then ever so gradually she drifted westward going higher and higher.
How many of us? There were maybe 30 or 40 balloons that morning sailing off to the ancient city named Teotihuacan or “place where gods were born”. Each with different colours and designs dancing slowly in the sky to the tunes our captain had recorded for the flight.
We bobbed gracefully and gradually made it to the pyramids where the captain would linger over the top of the pyramid of the moon, then pyramid of the sun; turning the magnificent structure around so everyone onboard had a turn looking directly down to the top of the pyramids with incredible views of the main walkway “the Avenue of the Dead” leading from one end of the site to the other.
Bill and I were smitten, enjoying each moment, each turn. When we collected ourselves we called our kids and Shanti our 6 year old granddaughter. We wanted to share this incredible moment with everyone we love.
Notes
We would highly recommend this experience for everyone. Even height-challenged Dorothy was unafraid and enchanted with the experience. Would we do it again? In a heart-beat.
Time in the sky – 45 minutes to an hour.
Cost – Tour prices vary depending on what you want included. You can, for example, purchase a package direct from Mexico City with or without admission to the Archaeological site after the balloon experience.
We paid approximately $150 each which included hotel pickup, morning coffee/beverages, the flight, certificate, wine toast, breakfast and return taxi.
$2400 Mex pesos (approx. $150 Can, $120 USD) for a lifetime experience. Well worth every penny.
