Chateau d'Oex Balloon Festival

On Balloon Sunday R and I awoke to gray overcast skies with plenty of fog. Not a good sign for the 9th and last day of the 33rd annual Chateau d'Oex hot air balloon festival. Despite the real chance that balloon flights would be canceled due to clouds and wind, we took our chances and hoped the weather would improve in a few hours.

To prepare for unfriendly bitter cold, I laced up my trusty Hi-Tec boots and piled on the layers under my down jacket. And I topped my outfit with a hot pink hat and a wool teal/purple scarf. And just for good measure, another down vest! Into R's backpack I packed some sandwiches, fruit, and veggies for a picnic later; a thermos full of coffee for the drive; and a thermos of tea to thaw us out later.

En route to Chateau d'Oex, thick clouds hung over Geneva and Lausanne. I started feeling a pit in my stomach. I have always wanted to see hot air balloons up close and personal. R had heard of this festival but had never gone before. So needless to say, we were both looking forward to going.
Same dark clouds around Vevey and Montreux. Blah.

But onward we continued. Near Gruyere, a shimmer of light and hope. As we descended into the next valley to Aigle close to Chateau d'Oex, the sun suddenly shone through. At last, big blue sky and in the distance, one huge blue balloon peeking around the corner of the mountain and trees. As we round the corner, a beautiful sight to behold..about 20 hot air balloons overhead in the distance. Gorgeous color.

In addition to 20 or so hot air balloons, we also took in acrobatic air shows, hang gliding acrobatics, and helicopter flying. Snow capped mountains, Obelisk balloon, sunshine with my love, hot tea, a picnic, the nicest Swiss church lady who let me charge my camera in the church while she was working there, chugging up Jungfrau Pass (1500 m) in our car, with amazing views of the Alps, knitting my curly whirly scarf on the drive there and home. A beautiful day I will always remember. Hope you had a wonderful Sunday!

Shutters opened in a Swiss chalet.

Parapentier coming down after doing some acrobatic stunts.

In 1999 this Breitling Orbiter became the first hot air balloon to go around the world. It was not a very spacious ride!

Let me give you a hand, or two hands.

Checking out the view.

B for Bravo, or Boston!