The group showing our creative side. T- Winston, U - Reshmi and Me, R - Eva, K - Paul, E - Ed and Liezel, Y - Monica and ! - Sam.
Well today was a very, very long day but so great. It started around 0550 when the group, minus Ergun and Ekrem (our driver), were picked up at the hotel and taken to the hot air balloon office. There we finalized our bills, had some tea and cookies (or biscuits or whatever we are calling them these days) and then loaded back up in the vans and were taken off to join our pilot and our hot air balloon.
Me with the balloon.
Now I have to say I have always wanted to take a hot air balloon ride but have avoided in the past due to the fact that I get vertigo with heights. I figured though everyone else in the group was going and this would be a great way to check out the interesting rock formations and cave dwellings that make Cappadocia famous. I was also assured by the balloon people that you don't get vertigo in a balloon so I figured as long as I did not look down I would be ok.
Our truck looking smaller and smaller as we got higher and higher.
Some of the other balloons getting ready to take flight. We lucked out as the weather was good and they figured this was the last day in a while they would be able to go up.
A great look at some of the cave dwellings that fill the area.
Our Captain was a great guy named Mike from England. He gave us the safety rundown and told some jokes so we knew it would be a good flight. The balloon capacity is 20 people…there were 19 of us so it was pretty full but it is divided into four compartments and there actually was a lot of space. So I handled the ride up ok for a little while but there was definitely a point when I decided I would no longer be looking down.
I actually took this picture leaning over the railing…..and this is when I decided to spend the rest of the trip hugging the inside rail versus the outside rail.
The other balloons. Kind of like a party.
I took this picture while standing as far away from the railing as I could while still being able to hold my camera over the railing. Throughout the trip we traveled at different levels. This was at our highest point. Of course the direction hot air balloons cannot be controlled by the pilot but he can control our height. The rest is up to the wind.
I was very glad that I went as the view was spectacular and it actually was not that cold. The fact that I wore 2 pairs of pants probably did not hurt either. We sailed around for just over an hour. We had a little trouble landing as the wind kept changing so the team had to keep moving the trucks. Mike made a perfect landing on the trailer (after something like 18 years flying I guess he should be pretty good at it by now). We ended the ride with some champagne and collected our certificates of a successful flight.
Toasting a successful flight along with Mike.
After the ride we headed back to the hotel for breakfast. Let’s keep in mind that by this time it is only just after 0800 so we still have a very full day ahead of us. We then loaded back up in the van with Ergun and Ekrem and headed to a few spots. We stopped at a lookout so that we could get a few pictures of the valley below and then we moved to a spot at the base of a fortress to get some more pictures. You can no longer visit the fortress as it is not safe but we still took a look. We then headed into an old cave dwelling.
Looking up at the fortress with a fw other dwellings below it.
You might be asking, what are these cave dwellings I keep mentioning? Good question. Basically, back in the day, people burrowed their way into the stone cliffs and made their homes and churches and all that kind of thing there. There are also a bunch of underground cities but we will not visit those yet so I will wait to talk about them. The cave dwellings were practical….cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Paul, Monica and Sam enjoying a little rest in one of the dwellings. This was after we made the climb to the 6th floor.
The one we visited was actually 6 stories. It was really neat. With a few more throw pillows and a few plumbing upgrades I could live there. Many of the old caves are being turned into hotels and that kind of thing.
Hanging out. I'm smiling because the cliff is behind me.....and I'm in Turkey and that makes me happy.
Apparently I look natural holding a gun....which is weird considering I hardly know how to shoot one.
We then took a hike down White Valley, often called Love Valley due to the phallic nature of the rock formations in the area. The hike was quite nice as the weather warmed up.
Hanging out in White Valley.
I guess Ergun use to do some trekking so was very good at getting us through the bushes and down little cliffs and finding us fruits and berries to snack on along the way.
The group making our way down a hill to the valley.
We kind of looked like lemmings following Ergun single file but no one got hurt or lost so it is all good.
It was actually a lot harder to get into this tree than I thought it would be.
The next stop was at a local pottery shop where they hand make and hand paint all kinds of pottery. They did a nice demonstration for us and Liezel volunteered to try (she actually made a nice little item with some minor assistance). We then were able to watch as they hand painted a few items. Extremely tedious work.
Of course then we got to shop and yes I had to buy. I really had no choice. Not sure how it will get to my next destination but I will figure that out in 2 weeks when I have to fly out of Turkey.
We then made one more stop at Deverent Valley to check out a few more rock formations. This valley included formations that looked like a camel, a seal and a statue of St. Mary. The rock formations or fairy chimneys were formed by volcanic activity in the area.
See.....a camel.
Along with the rock formations and the cave dwellings you will also still see evidence of pigeon housing. The locals use to make these pigeon housings to encourage the pigeons to nest in the area. They would then use the pigeon poop as fertilizer.
Our next stop was lunch….yes all that and we are just now eating lunch. Lunch was actually at the house of one of Ergun’s friends in Ergun’s home town of Urgup. We got to try all kinds of local food including lentil soup, Turkish ravioli , some chicken and rice and of course some dessert. I am learning that there really is no such thing as a little meal here and there will always be tea afterwards. Not that I don’t enjoy the food…or the tea.
Our wonderful hosts for the afternoon.
After lunch we headed to one more valley for some rock formations. This time it was Pasabag Valley. I some how was convinced to climb up a very unsteady ladder into one of the cave dwellings to check it out.
Yeah, I look happy....but I'm not.
I had a bit of trouble getting back out and actually had to take my shoes and socks off to do it but with a little help with the still unsteady ladder I made it back to the ground. That really was not a good idea especially since when I actually got up there….there was nothing to see.
Attempting to make my way back down. I appears that I sat in a little bit of dust.
We then headed to the carpet shop…..yes that’s right the carpet shop. First we got to see some of the ladies actually hand weaving the carpets. Some of the carpets can take up to 8 months to complete and they will usually be completed by one woman. Once again very tedious.
It was then in to see the silk worms. One little cocoon produces a strand of silk about 1500 metres (about 1 mile) long.
Unravelling some of those little cocoons. The silk worms themselves have to be killed before this can happen.
Then we went to see them dying the silk. The blue silk is dyed with crushed indigo and actually starts out yellow but turns blue when it is oxidized by the air.
Dying the silk blue. You can see how the silk is in the process of changing colour. This lady was very happy to have her picture taken.
From there it was into the show room. The guy who was showing the carpets actually seemed like a mafia don or something like that. There were a few guys who rolled out the carpets for him….exactly on his command. Sam was a little afraid that a body was going to roll out of one of the carpets. It was almost on cue when the sales men started to file into the room. They seemed to separate us into groups of about 3 and them attempt to sell. The carpets ranged in price from 600 USD to 50,000 USD. That of course includes all shipping and customs cost and the carpet would get delivered to your door in about 6 weeks. No, I did not buy a giant carpet, although they were very, very pretty. It could have been a nice housewarming gift for mom and dad but since the new house does not even have a roof at this point, I can’t really buy a carpet.
Anyway, from there the night was done and it was back to the hotel to relax. Ok we made a quick stop at a Turkish Bath to check it out as some people were going to partake a little later. My experience at the Silver Rain Spa in Grand Cayman will ensure that a Turkish Bath will never be good enough for me.
For dinner the group headed off to Turkish Nights. A nice gathering with unlimited food and drink (and I do mean booze) while enjoying some traditional Turkish dancing, including a wedding ceremony......which apparently I took part in because I was told that I got married to Paul and I assure you he was just as shocked as I was.
The whirling dervishes. A must see if you are visiting Turkey.
The belly dancer...also a must see.
So once they kicked us out of there it was to the hotel to bed….of course it wasn’t. It was off to Fat Boys Bar for a drink or 2 more and a bit more dancing. After all it was a wedding celebration. The DJ was pretty good and I managed to get him to download some of my favourite songs so the group of us could dance....... in the completely empty bar. It was a fun time but a really long day.
Winston and Paul. You would never know they had only known each other for a few days.
Ergun, Reshmi and Monica. Reshmi and Monica are sisters (and Paul's cousin).
Me and Eva. Eva is a nurse in Montreal and is Sam's sister. Of course Sam is also a nurse (well a murse) in Montreal.
And then it was back to the hotel…no joke this time. We saw a lot today, but the trip is just beginning and there is much more of Turkey to explore.
Julie
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