Ballooning Cappadocia
Flying in a hot air balloon has become, over the past years, a trademark and an attraction of Cappadocia. Flights take place very early in the morning, before sunrise and later in the afternoon, before sunset. All the balloons take off and land at the same times, so they can get the perfect currents. .
At 5 a.m. and minus 20 degrees, a jeep took us from the hotel. On the launching field, tens of balloons were lying sideways, like huge animals waiting for the hot air to bring them to life again. We get ready for take-off… and we are in the air! We’re flying higher and higher and the balloon is now one with the wind. The horizon is already purple. And suddenly, the sun bursts from the peak of the snow-covered mountain! A whole fleet of colorful balloons is up over moon-like scenery. No sound is heard in the frozen air – just the irregular breath of the gas burner that heats the atmosphere. The pilot is incredibly skillful – the balloon flies up and down, over old settlements, past mountain peaks or goes down literally among the rock, but manages not to touch even the top of a tree. We land without any incidents on a car platform. We drink the “winners’ champagne” in frozen glasses, then we have our photos taken, while smilingly holding the “flight certificates” in our equally frozen hands.
Ballooning Cappadocia
Flying in a hot air balloon has become, over the past years, a trademark and an attraction of Cappadocia. Flights take place very early in the morning, before sunrise and later in the afternoon, before sunset. All the balloons take off and land at the same times, so they can get the perfect currents. .
At 5 a.m. and minus 20 degrees, a jeep took us from the hotel. On the launching field, tens of balloons were lying sideways, like huge animals waiting for the hot air to bring them to life again. We get ready for take-off… and we are in the air! We’re flying higher and higher and the balloon is now one with the wind. The horizon is already purple. And suddenly, the sun bursts from the peak of the snow-covered mountain! A whole fleet of colorful balloons is up over moon-like scenery. No sound is heard in the frozen air – just the irregular breath of the gas burner that heats the atmosphere. The pilot is incredibly skillful – the balloon flies up and down, over old settlements, past mountain peaks or goes down literally among the rock, but manages not to touch even the top of a tree. We land without any incidents on a car platform. We drink the “winners’ champagne” in frozen glasses, then we have our photos taken, while smilingly holding the “flight certificates” in our equally frozen hands.
