Robin
asked me to “guest blog” about the hot-air balloon ride Calvin and I took while
we were in Cappadocia. I’ll try to do
her blog justice, so here goes:
asked me to “guest blog” about the hot-air balloon ride Calvin and I took while
we were in Cappadocia. I’ll try to do
her blog justice, so here goes:
One
of the things Cappadocia is known for is hot-air ballooning. Last time we visited, we contemplated taking
a ride, but they are generally pretty expensive – about 120-150 Euro per
person. There are a ton of different
companies and every hotel and tour company can set you up with an early morning,
sunrise ride. Before we visited this
time, Robin saw a Martha Stewart special where she visited Cappadocia and took
a balloon ride. We talked about it
briefly, but decided that it would be wiser to put that money towards other
things while we were there, and that was the end of that.
of the things Cappadocia is known for is hot-air ballooning. Last time we visited, we contemplated taking
a ride, but they are generally pretty expensive – about 120-150 Euro per
person. There are a ton of different
companies and every hotel and tour company can set you up with an early morning,
sunrise ride. Before we visited this
time, Robin saw a Martha Stewart special where she visited Cappadocia and took
a balloon ride. We talked about it
briefly, but decided that it would be wiser to put that money towards other
things while we were there, and that was the end of that.
As
Robin blogged earlier, a friend from work gave us the name of his friend (Arif)
who has a travel agency and, as it turned out, his office was right across from
our hotel in Istanbul. We went over to
say “hi” and talked about different tours we were interested in. Towards the end, Arif asked if we wanted to take a balloon ride and could get us a good rate. After a little discussion, Robin was not
exactly enthusiastic about floating uncontrollably in the air, we decided to
book a ride for two and would decide later whether Robin or Calvin would go
with me.
Robin blogged earlier, a friend from work gave us the name of his friend (Arif)
who has a travel agency and, as it turned out, his office was right across from
our hotel in Istanbul. We went over to
say “hi” and talked about different tours we were interested in. Towards the end, Arif asked if we wanted to take a balloon ride and could get us a good rate. After a little discussion, Robin was not
exactly enthusiastic about floating uncontrollably in the air, we decided to
book a ride for two and would decide later whether Robin or Calvin would go
with me.
The
evening before, we decided that Calvin and I would go – that way nothing tragic
could happen to both parents while the kids are by themselves in a foreign country
(this was Robin’s good mothering, but worked out for her since she wasn’t so
excited about the prospect in the first place).
evening before, we decided that Calvin and I would go – that way nothing tragic
could happen to both parents while the kids are by themselves in a foreign country
(this was Robin’s good mothering, but worked out for her since she wasn’t so
excited about the prospect in the first place).
 |
| Calvin and I as they are filling up the balloon |
Since
it is a “hot-air” balloon, the rides normally start around sunrise when the
winds are calm and the air is cool. This
allows the pilot more control over the balloon’s altitude. The balloon company picked us up early –
thankfully not as early as other ones – and took us to the launch site. It was cold and foggy so we weren’t sure
exactly how it would turn out. But, when
it’s your business, you know how to do it right and Goreme Balloons knew just
when to take off. The balloon we were in
held up to 20 passengers and we were divided into 4 pens to balance the basket. The pilot is in the middle with the propane
tanks.
it is a “hot-air” balloon, the rides normally start around sunrise when the
winds are calm and the air is cool. This
allows the pilot more control over the balloon’s altitude. The balloon company picked us up early –
thankfully not as early as other ones – and took us to the launch site. It was cold and foggy so we weren’t sure
exactly how it would turn out. But, when
it’s your business, you know how to do it right and Goreme Balloons knew just
when to take off. The balloon we were in
held up to 20 passengers and we were divided into 4 pens to balance the basket. The pilot is in the middle with the propane
tanks.
 |
| Filling the balloon |
 |
| Ready for take-off |
We
headed up through the fog and after a couple hundred feet, broke through the
haze to see this:
headed up through the fog and after a couple hundred feet, broke through the
haze to see this:
 |
| Our fellow morning fliers |
 |
| Enjoying the view |
Dozens
of other balloons escaping the ground fog and drifting into clear, albeit cold,
blue skies.
of other balloons escaping the ground fog and drifting into clear, albeit cold,
blue skies.
Unlike
airplane travel with the constant engine noise, ballooning is amazingly
quiet. It’s what I imagine birds, or
hangliders, or para-gliders must experience as they move gracefully through the
sky. Calvin and I were next to each
other and could easily talk and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
airplane travel with the constant engine noise, ballooning is amazingly
quiet. It’s what I imagine birds, or
hangliders, or para-gliders must experience as they move gracefully through the
sky. Calvin and I were next to each
other and could easily talk and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
The
ride lasted about an hour and, when the fog lifted, the pilot descended the
balloon so we would pass right by some of the fairy chimneys.
ride lasted about an hour and, when the fog lifted, the pilot descended the
balloon so we would pass right by some of the fairy chimneys.
Part
of the fun was when the pilot steered us towards the cliff and we ascended just
in time!
of the fun was when the pilot steered us towards the cliff and we ascended just
in time!
When
we were in Egypt, we had fun playing with perspective – here’s Calvin
balancing another balloon on his hand.
we were in Egypt, we had fun playing with perspective – here’s Calvin
balancing another balloon on his hand.
The
pilots are very skilled and are able to land on the trailer – this is a picture
of another balloon landing.
pilots are very skilled and are able to land on the trailer – this is a picture
of another balloon landing.
The
balloon company provided a toast to cap a wonderful early-morning adventure.
balloon company provided a toast to cap a wonderful early-morning adventure.
