1. Rick Steves' tour day 5 schedule.
Most of the group decided to take the optional Hot-Air Balloon Ride this morning. That is why the activity didn't start early this morning. Some people even opted out the 9:30 village walk so they could go back to sleep a little more after the balloon ride.
2. We were picked up by the balloon company at our hotel at 3:30 am. They had breakfast set up at their office. We were there for an hour to eat and pay (US$195 pp cash, more if paying by credit card), and wait for the decision to fly or not that day based on weather condition.
3. That is our balloon.
4. Taking off.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14. The balloon ride lasted about an hour. It was really smooth from beginning to end, and we landed right on the trailer that was waiting for us.
15. Group photo with the pilot.
16. Goreme Open-Air Museum.
17. Goreme Open-Air Museum.
18. Goreme Open-Air Museum. There are many houses, churches, monasteries carved out of those soft rocks formed by volcanic eruption millions of years ago.
19. Goreme Open-Air Museum.
20. Goreme Open-Air Museum.
21. Goreme Open-Air Museum.
22. Goreme Open-Air Museum.
23. Lunch at Fahriye's sitting room. Fahriye is a really nice Turkish widow who is probably in her 70s, who had a very hard life, but remains upbeat, funny, sharp, and quite open minded.
24. Homemade lunch: Shepherd's salad and country stew with white beans.
25. Valley walk.
26. Valley walk.
27. Valley walk.
28. Valley walk.
(To be continued)
