10/11 October ’04, Sunday / Monday. Up at 5am and on our way to the Kapadokya Balloons office. “Up, Up, Up and Away, In Your Hot Air Balloon…” by 7am. It was a perfect morning, for a perfect trip through Cappadocia and view all the “Fairy Chimneys and Cave Homes”. Our flight went high, and it went low. We were so low that our basket would brush the bushes and fly through the tree branches. We flew on up to 1,000 meters, and could look out over the entire area, the castles, caves, the volcano, and on, and on, and on. The ride was so smooth you could not feel any movement at all unless you looked directly down and you could see that you were in a slow glide across the sky. As far as moving up and down, you again couldn’t feel it, but you could see it if you watched the ground. Of course you would see people watching you, and all would wave, and in some cases, you could even have a conversation with them. We were up for just over 2 hours and then it was time to land. We were all given instructions to landing for the “just in case” scenario, but our landing was so good, that we landed on the trailer that was to take the basket back to the office…pretty good landing, I would say. Nooowww, the table is set, and the glasses are filled, and we have a “Hot Air Balloon Landing Party” complete with the “Bubbly”. Unfortunately, all this had to come to an end and we had to get on our way across country to Bodrum. It will take 2 days to get there, with one planned stop on the way. Our overnight is in the lakeside town of Egirdir. We found a nice little restaurant on an island just at the end of town. We dined at waters edge, and found that we could also stay the night in their pension…all was good. Just before 8am we were on our way to our next stop, Pamukkale. Our drive yesterday and today will range from all-out flat for as far as you can see to mountain driving, were you have to get down into 2nd gear (and just make it). Also along the way to Bodrum, I had a couple of other surprises…80km is the speed limit…yep, I got it…$83 million worth, and one pass. Quite an experience to be stopped by the Turkish Police. The 1st one ($83 Mil), was quite cool, the 2nd (pass, my 2nd pass since being on our journey), was “We Love Americans !!!” (thinking, OK, here it comes, $$$$), were do you go??? Bodrum, Have a wonderful time….go, go, go….we did…quickly… Pamukkale, is the host to the ruins of Hierapolis. The once grand city of pagan, Roman, Jewish and early Christian. The imposing “Theatre” (seating over 12,000 spectators), tombs and the crystal-clear Travertine pools that terraces down the hill. The water flowing through it all, is nice and warm…a good stop, a great lunch and conversation with Mustafa, at his restaurant / pension. Now, another 2 hours plus and we will be in Bodrum. Our stay is at “ Club Flipper” in Yakasi (12 km outside of Bodrum). We arrived at sundown…just in time…Tomorrow….Catch up time and relax
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