On our last morning we woke up in the dark at 4 AM to experience Cappadocia from the air. The wonderful people at Goreme Balloons picked us up and took us to the launch site, a field just outside of town. We had coffee while watched the two balloons inflate and the light increase. We climbed into the 11-person basket, our pilot Suat fired the burners, and up we went. There were no sudden movements, only a supremely peaceful floating feeling. We ascended to over 1000 m. Sun started to hit the tops of the rock formations and valley walls, and soon after the sun appeared over the distant mountains. The air was so crisp and the view was superb. Suat brought us down amongst the fairy chimneys, and then back up as we floated towards Avanos.

 

Although some of the landscape reminded us of Utah or the Grand Canyon, we left feeling that there is nowhere on Earth like Cappadocia. We now understood why our teacher friends go back every year. When will we be able to return?

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