Marine, Ludo, & Me: A Photo Love Story
For one wild weekend in France, I embrace my third wheel truth.
Being a third wheel is a test in endurance. How long can you stand tagging along with a pair of lovers before wanting to jump off a cliff? In the story below, I spin the wheel. I say a prayer. I show up to a French couple mid-snuggle.
Will fortune favor the brave?
(AKA other moments of courage—big and small)
Flying into the unknown: I don’t speak French or aviation, so I braced myself for impact when I decided to spend a weekend in Bordeaux with Ludo’s family of pilots. But they welcomed me with such kind, open arms—and croissants, the universal language—that none of that mattered.
Piloting a plane: Ludo didn’t just take me for a spin. He let me steer the plane. As someone with a genuinely debilitating fear of heights, doing aerobatics and flying an aircraft were two huge leaps forward.
Owning my single status: Do you know how rare it is to see a young love so pure? So secure? So unashamed? I was so touched by what I recently witnessed that I had to write about it—but that also required getting real about my own love life. Being so open still feels weird yet wildly freeing.
Tatiana Gallardo tells stories for work and play. She loves flying solo, visiting her cousins in France, and every now and then: spinning the wheel.
Oh gosh, how I 💗 a love story. (And one with good food, great photography, and a bit about facing down your fears? Even better!)
Always a doubt? Yes, I believe. Everything is change and with change comes uncertainty. I have no reservations about certain relationships but continually attuned and adaptable to shifts - and trusting the other person is as well. Love is the best, but not always easy