Go Jump Off A Cliff

For all my relatives who wished I would just go jump off a cliff, today's your happy day.  I did just that.  With a guy named Tommy, of all things.  Sometimes life is just ironic that way. 


But, oh wait.  I came back.  That might not have been the actual wish.  Oh, darn, sometimes life is just ironic that way.

We've been in Lima, Peru for a couple of days, now, wandering about, seeing the sights and enjoying the ocean walkways.

There's a point off Mira Flores Parkway that, 

because of how the incredibly steep cliffs rise up from the ocean, 

produces excellent paragliding conditions.

We watched in wonder as these guys puffed up their sails 

(reminds me of the Red-Breasted Frigate birds on the Galapagos); 

then charged off the cliff to catch the updraft and sail on the wind. 

From the first moment I saw them, 
I haven't been able to stop  thinking about it.

So today's the day!   We decide to do it!  

I'm all-in, we're going paragliding  !!! 

I go first, so Mr. C can take pictures (and hold valuables!); 

Then it's his turn.   I'm so excited I'm just giddy!  

I'm sort of looking at this blob on the ground and thinking, 

"That's it?  That's what's going to hold us up??"

The first thing I ask my pilot is how long he's been doing this.  

20 years is his answer.  

That's the right answer, by the way, and I tell him so.

Getting suited up is a trip.  

First a life jacket (in case of a water landing?!?) 

Then the sling / seat / whatever.  

I'm getting a big kick out of all this, as you can tell.

And finally, I don a safety helmet. 

I feel like a turtle as I waddle into position.

Meanwhile, Tommy is getting the parasail ready.   

There's  lots & lots of strings, none of which should be tangled in order for this mission to succeed.  I tell him to take his time.

Then he clips us together somehow.....

Tommy tells me we're going to take a few steps forward, then a few steps back (he's whipping up the sail behind us -- I would like to have it fully inflated, if you please);  then we will simply walk forward and jump off the cliff.

I will admit, I thought I'd have a rush of nervousness at that point, but, as you can tell by the pictures.................no.  

It's simply marvelous.  
It's quiet and liberating and completely wonderful up here.

The city of Lima is spread out behind us.  We are very high.

Tommy is explaining the layout of the city to me.  We zoom over to the Marriott building, from which he can get a bit more updraft.  

This is my only moment of nervousness, I'm not crazy about the idea of crashing into a glass building that many stories high.  

Why I think that crashing into the ocean would be better, 
I really can't tell you.

Yup, that's me & Tommy.

Mr. C is next.  He's owned his own plane for years, 
so this flying thing is no big deal for him.  

But he looks like he had a good time, that's what counts.



So next time you're in Lima.........
I high recommend the paragliding @ Mira Flores Parkway.