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There are very few reasons I would willingly get out of bed at 4 AM, but a hot air balloon flight over the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacan was definitely one of them. Leaving our Airbnb in Mexico City’s Centro Histórico while the streets were still dark and quiet, we made our way to the meeting point before continuing by bus toward the Valley of Mexico. By the time we arrived, the first light of dawn was beginning to appear, and the excitement was impossible to hide. The balloon was prepared as we waited for the weather to cooperate, because flying is always at the mercy of the wind. Thankfully, this morning everything was perfect. We climbed into the basket, the burners roared above us and, almost before I had time to think about it, we were rising gently into the sky.

As the balloon climbed, Teotihuacan slowly revealed itself below us. Seeing the ancient city from the ground is extraordinary, but seeing it from above was something else entirely. The enormous Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon stood prominently along the ancient Avenue of the Dead, surrounded by the vast landscape of the Valley of Mexico. The rising sun painted the sky in soft shades of orange and pink, while the balloon drifted almost silently above the ruins. Now and then, the peaceful silence was broken by the sudden burst of the burner keeping us airborne, but otherwise it felt as though we were floating through a dream. Teotihuacan was already an extraordinary archaeological site, but from this perspective I could finally appreciate its immense scale and the remarkable planning behind the ancient city. Built centuries before the rise of the Aztec Empire and not by the Maya, Teotihuacan remains one of the great mysteries of ancient Mesoamerica, including the unanswered question of exactly why such a powerful city eventually declined and was abandoned.

After roughly an hour in the air, we began our descent and landed smoothly, where the crew quickly packed away the balloon. A breakfast was waiting for us afterward, which tasted even better after such an early start, and then we continued by minibus for a closer look at the pyramids themselves. That part of the adventure deserves a story of its own, but the balloon flight remains one of my favourite memories of Mexico. There was something incredibly peaceful about drifting above a place built more than two thousand years ago while watching a new day begin over the mountains. It was more than sightseeing—it felt like a moment where the present and the distant past briefly occupied the same space. Teotihuacan is famous for its enormous pyramids, but from the air I also began to appreciate the city beyond those monumental structures: its plazas, residential areas, smaller temples and carefully planned avenues. Looking back, I’m particularly glad I made the effort to wake up before dawn. Some travel experiences demand an early start, and this was certainly one of them. Thanks for joining me on this unforgettable morning above Teotihuacan. As always, the photographs from my journey are my own, watermarked and copyrighted, so please respect the images. Until next adventure…

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The Vibrant Gateway: Bringing the Colours of Girona Into Your Home

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I had admired photographs of this remote mountain village in Gifu Prefecture for years, especially the famous gassho-zukuri farmhouses buried beneath heavy winter snow, so when I finally had the opportunity to visit, I took the bus from Kanazawa and headed into the mountains. As the landscape outside the window became increasingly wintry, my anticipation grew. When I finally arrived, the scene was almost impossibly beautiful. The temperature was below freezing, but the winter sun was shining brightly over the village, illuminating the thick snow covering the traditional rooftops. It looked exactly like the photographs I had seen, except that now I was standing in the middle of it, breathing the cold mountain air and watching the smoke rise from the village.

The gassho-zukuri houses are what make Shirakawa-go so remarkable. Their enormous, steeply pitched thatched roofs were designed to withstand the region’s exceptionally heavy snowfall, while their shape resembles hands pressed together in prayer, which explains the name “gassho-zukuri.” I spent the morning wandering along the snowy paths, stopping to look inside some of the traditional houses preserved as museums. The interiors revealed another side of the village, with enormous wooden beams, traditional living spaces and evidence of the self-sufficient way of life that once defined these mountain communities. The architecture wasn’t simply beautiful—it was practical, carefully designed around the climate and the needs of the people who lived there. Walking through the snow between these centuries-old buildings gave me the feeling that I had stepped into another era. Eventually, the smell of food began to compete with the winter scenery, and I followed it toward a local restaurant, where a bowl of hot soba noodles was exactly what I needed. Local specialities such as Hida beef and river fish made the meal even more memorable, providing the perfect antidote to the cold outside.

By the time I boarded the bus back toward Kanazawa, I felt as though I had experienced something much more meaningful than a beautiful winter day trip. Shirakawa-go had given me a glimpse into a traditional side of Japan where architecture, culture and the natural environment are inseparable. The village’s remote location and extraordinary buildings have helped preserve a way of life that feels increasingly rare, while the heavy winter snow transforms it into something almost magical. I understand why Shirakawa-go has become such an iconic destination. Still, for me, the real pleasure was simply walking through the village slowly, looking at the houses, eating something warm and allowing the landscape to sink in. If you visit Japan during winter, I highly recommend making the journey into the mountains to experience it for yourself. Just remember that this is a real living community, not simply a postcard, so take your time and treat the village and its residents with respect. As I left, I couldn’t help thinking that some places really do live up to the photographs. Shirakawa-go was one of them—and perhaps even more beautiful in person. Thanks for joining me on this snowy journey through one of Japan’s most enchanting villages. Until the next adventure.

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