Canberra is 103 years old in March 2016 ….a young city just finding its place in the world.
There are many birthday celebrations through the month of March, and one of the biggest events is ”Balloons Afloat”
Here we are at dawn waiting for the giant balloons to fill with air and be fired up into the sky..
Some balloons are taking off without any trouble, but there is not much wind this morning…
….and some of the cuter ones are having trouble floating off.
and some stayed up just long enough to give the kids a thrill…
Looking at all the families around enjoying this early morning start to Canberra day I can’t help thinking of all the turmoil in the world at the moment, and yet, how much ordinary people all over the world really just want to be able to live peacefully with their families and communities.
The dawn on the lake is very gentle this morning, as the poet Mary Oliver says ” softest of mornings, hello.”
We are off to our favourite little café in the city for breakfast. This café has a healthy herb garden and even a pumpkin vine heading out and over to the road. You can’t trust a pumpkin to behave well in a garden bed, never mind a city bed!
I think the Chicago planners, Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony would have been happy to see a garden in the city, that was part of their dream.
What great good fortune to live in a peaceful city.
Happy birthday Canberra!
That’s a lovely post Gerrie.
Thanks Lyn, Canberra is lovely during the month of March and how lucky we are!
The balloons are such a beautiful sight. Happy birthday Canberra.
Yes, the balloons appeal to everyone! Thank you for birthday wishes for Canberra.
What a wonderful day of celebration especially those great hot air balloons, andI think any gardener would smile at that pumpkin plant. You certainly do know how to send great birthday wishes.
Thanks Judy, I was surprised at how enormous the hot air balloons were, especially has they were rising.
Simply breathtaking! Thank you! Great way to begin my garden day! Diane
Thanks Diane, and best wishes with your lovely garden projects, your May markets look grand too.
Such a beautiful post, Gerrie. Happy birthday to your gorgeous and peaceful city. I’m sure you’re so right about most people just wanting to live their lives in peace. Is it really so much to ask, and just what gives the very small minority the right to shatter that peace and wreak havoc and destruction? I’m so heart-sore for those people who live in war-torn places and I’m especially thinking of the dreadful Brussels attacks today.
Yes, I could not agree more Sylvia, and all the children who are in these regions must be so traumatised, surely for life. Thanks for the comment.
That looks like a fun celebration. Yes, I also think often of how lucky we are not to be fleeing for our lives or living under the threat of war.
Thanks Jason, yes I agree, just by the sheer luck of where we were born we have avoided it. I can’t imagine the trauma of having no home and no community.
Just loved the hot air balloons! The lake is so lovely too. I’m always fascinated by how capital cities become capitals, Canberra has a particularly rich story. Happy birthday, long may it live in peace.xxx
Thanks Dina, and yes, Canberra owes much to the original architects from Chicago, who planned a garden city….. now is called the bush capital!
Happy BIrthday, Canberra! What a lovely city and the balloons are a perfect way to celebrate.
Thanks Carol, yes it was worth getting up early to see those wonderful balloons…
I didn’t realise it was such a young city. We are both very lucky to live where we do. Happy Birthday Canberra.
Thanks Jessica, yes we are lucky…just wish we could channel some of your rain our way!
Beautiful images. I always wanted to photograph balloons, but never had the chance. So colorful, especially your first image.
Thanks Donna, yes the balloons were most impressive!
That’s a lovely way to celebrate Canberra’s birthday. it must have been amazing watching the balloons take off. Sarah x
Thanks Sarah, yes, it was much more exciting than I was expecting, the balloons are so huge!
I love the balloon that looks like many small balloons 🙂
Watching big hot air balloons take off is really quite spectacular. What a wonderful birthday celebration 🙂
Thanks Joanne, yes it was a happy day…
What a great way for Canberra to celebrate. What a colourful scene. I was interested to see the 2 paddle boarders setting off across Lake Burley Griffin. I enlarged that photo and yes there are 2 children with them. Hope they can swim if they fall off!!!
You are the only person to notice that there are two tiny children on the paddleboards…I think they have safety jackets, but pretty amazing.. they seem quite steady, but not something I would have done!