Fly, fly, fly

 The balloon ride was optional.

You have to be on site before the sun rises and you are under the mercies of the weather in situ. If there are strong winds, there will be no show. You also cannot hitch a ride if it rains. Esther said that her friends had to wait for several days before permission was granted.

We were indeed fortunate that we were not denied access to the privilege.

The morning weather was perfect; no rain, no strong winds but a gentle one to push the balloon precisely.

So, with great expectations we rode on a truck to the middle of no where for us to ascend.

The physical landscape in Cappadocia permits this type of fun where you get to see the world 'open-air' style .

The ride though is expensive. We have been told of the figure before the trip and after the million-dollar statement by Sara, we decided to go up.

What was the statement?

"Pa, put it this way. If you are contemplating so hard as to why we should ride on the balloon, consider that it is money not given to us as inheritance." So, that's it.

Well said.

It was US220 per pax.

Hundreds of balloons under different enterprises scour the clear skies and the riders look down to witness tuff features sticking out across the plateau.

The parachute is made of silk and accounts for the cost of the ride.

 Before the ride, we were told of precautionary steps on how to ascend and descend to prevent untoward accidents.

 Only 12 adults were allowed each time in  a basket. 

Up, up and away. Just like Mary Poppins. Yes, in our full 6 decades of age, we still behaved like children going to the zoo for the first time. Who wouldn't?

Never a dull moment. Try counting the balloons; seen and unseen. The landscape below is monotonous with castles popping here and there. Apparently, some churches even once existed in the caves among the tuff.

It was cold; -5C. But we had sufficient layers under us,

The pilot was a fine young man who also worked as a skiing coach. So, his skills are learnt and specialised. He had tricks up his sleeves for each time the parachute went close to a tuff he would put on the titanic song and frightened us with news of a crash. He was fun and we also acted along...

 At certain spots, we also the dotted landscape of houses and observed the world from above.

So, the final gimmick was when we landed successfully. We took the champagne ; congratulated one another and later to be given a certificate each.

The certificates are in the closet now.

The hot air balloon ride.