#1 Reason people come to Cappadocia - Balloon Ride.

We've been up since 4am and drinking wine for the past 1/2 hour (it's now 6pm)... the sun is still shining, the swallows are chirping, the view is breathtaking - life in Turkey is good. (Yes it's Lisa, guest blogging. The wine was a give-away wasn't it?). While Geno decodes yesterday, which he skipped in favour of trying to get some sleep (epic fail BTW), I have taken on today. And what a good day it was.


























Notwithstanding another lousy's night's sleep, the day for us began at 4am. First call to prayer was around 4:30am, which was a surprise, since it didn't look like daybreak to me, but my eyes may not have been open. Scheduled pickup for the BALLOON RIDE was 4:50am. There was a little confusion about us because our room number changed and they had me down as "Muroney", but ultimately all was sorted and Geno and I and a busload of Germans headed off to Voyager Balloons.

































































































































































(view of our castle hill hotel top right area)











"They" say that the choice of balloon company - and pilot- is critical to one's safety and enjoyment of the ride. Well I think Mehmet at Argeus Travel knows what the heck he's doing. We had chosen the deluxe ride - longer ride, fewer people, smaller basket - and that was definitely worth the extra bucks. Typically the ride is 1 hour shared by 15-20 people; ours was 1 1/2 hrs and 8 people. Our pilot was Piotr, who is a Polish airplane engineer, retired, who found a second career/hobby as a balloon pilot. He's piloted balloons for 17 years and holds a very high qualification. He offered a few choice words about the skill & courtesy of some of the other pilots at other companies. Fascinating guy - he's flown balloons all over the world, including around a Japanese volcano. I think he said he's only been 3 or 6 months in Turkey




























Anyway you'll see the pictures. It was an amazing experience. "They" say it's not-to-be-missed in cappadocia and again, "they" are on the money. Geno had his doubts but he's a convert.









Ballon was down by 7:30, despite the "canadian couple" flunking the landing position practice test... apparently we pulled it off when the crunch came. We descended at a speed of 13x an elevator! But one would never know. On the ground and out of the basket, we shared sparkling wine and cherry juice, a cappadocian tradition, and were returned to the hotel by 8am. Breakfast, then a little lie-down for me until pick-up again at 10am.

Let me tell you a little about weekends in turkey. It's the time when Turkish families go to tourist sites...along with all the tourists. And children go crazy. My attempt at a nap was completely done in by screaming Turkish children visiting and playing on the nearby fortress and rock formations.

And now let me tell about why we didn't sleep last night. Krishna! these beds are hard!!!!!! (The "krishna's a little joke for Tahir, apologies to anyone offended.) And it's so hot at night without aircon - especially when they turn the radiator and the towel warmer on. That was a shock. We were both wondering why the heck we were so uncomfortable after dinner, when the outside air had cooled, when we discovered the towel warmer and front rad blasting hot air. Had to call maintenance to come turn 'em off. The rad had a knob we could have found, but the towel thingy was on a timer and needed to have the master switch switched. Unfortunately it was too late by then to manage to cool the room before sleep. So.... I slept on the couch near the open window. Geno boiled in the bed alone. Tonight we've asked for a fan.

I know you'll all say we're fussy but Argos Hotel has been a disappointment. It's spectacularly situated, wonderfully appointed, the guest services manager has been hospitable and accommodating, but overall service has been indifferent, and the food merely average. This place is way too expensive to be average in any respect, and its good reputation will suffer, I think, if they don't pick up their socks. I think they're resting on their Martha Stewart / Nicholas Cage laurels.

Enough bitching...on we go.

Pick-up was scheduled at 10am, and Tahir and "Happy" were early. No surprise there after yesterday's Goreme debacle. Only surprise is that they didn't sleep in the car park! First stop, Kaymakli Underground City. There are several underground cities in the area, but this one apparently presents the most diverse collection of "rooms". Four of seven floors have been excavated and are open to visitors, and it's remarkable. There are several theories about why the underground cities existed, but all are intelligent speculation - or 'common belief' as Tahir says - since no written record exists. I think the most prevalent is that the cities were carved into the tufe stone by early Christians to provide them a hiding place from Roman persecution. Animals and humans alike could abide in these cities for months, as functionally different areas were created (stables, kitchens, storehouses). As well, door-stones - which look like very large millstones - can be found, which one imagines were used to block the passage of enemies.




















Perhaps the most interesting thing we saw - and experienced - underground was the ventilation shaft. The chambers underground apparently maintain a constant 15-ish degree temperature and fresh air is continually circulated.
The latter is accomplished by means of a large ventilation shaft, running the "height" of the city. Interestingly, to conceal the city from enemies, the kitchen vent shafts were run in elbows back to the main shaft, so no smoke could be seen from outside.

Speculation is that communities lived in the cities for months, rather than years, at a time since enemies were unlikely to be able stage a seige in winter. Still, astounding to think of.

... There is more to today, and Lisa will continue shortly ...