# @kirstenalana on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/BZdxeeCFZSF
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/2430204-kirstenalana-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/050bae2d12.jpg
- **Posted:** 2017-09-25T13:11:24.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Kirsten Alana (@KirstenAlana) — https://gondola.cc/KirstenAlana

## Caption

13/16 #CaliforniaWild #sponsored post • I can’t think of a better way to be introduced to the #InlandEmpire than via hot air balloon, soaring over the vineyards of the Temecula Valley, staring at the diverse landscape from an altitude of 3,000 feet. From that height it’s clear how important agriculture is to the region and it is easy to see how much there is to do in this region that’s not far from Los Angeles or San Diego, yet that often gets overlooked by visitors to both. Riding in a hot air balloon happens to be one of my very favorite things to do, perhaps my actual favorite. It’s one of the few ways that I can come close to the feeling of what it must be like to be a bird, drifting on the winds, soaring above the earth below and all its heartache. As I looked down, I felt such sadness for all the people who are hurting right now, so much bittersweetness as I felt grateful for my experience yet despaired of how few might get to have the same, who are desperate for just their basic needs to be met right now. This month has “flown by” in a whirlwind of objectives, schedules and planned adventures - meanwhile there are real problems in the world. From the ground it’s easy to see only my own situation but from above, I couldn’t help but feel deeply the need to be part of a solution. So it was ironic that after hot air ballooning, we met Chef Leah di Bernardi at @eatmarketplace who is doing amazing things in Temecula. She teaches, she mentors, she helps, she changes how people think of food and she cooks real food that’s REALLY good for you but also tastes GREAT. She embodies the idea of #InfluenceLove. She’s my new hero. And she’s just one terrific person you will meet when you #VisitCalifornia. #ThisIsAdventure #IEgoodtimes #VisitTemecula #agrapeescape #GoPro #HERO5

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 2,494
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 64

## Tags

agrapeescape, visittemecula, inlandempire, visitcalifornia, influencelove, californiawild, gopro, iegoodtimes, thisisadventure, sponsored, hero5

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