Turkeys M Hideaways Day 6
Turkeys M Hideaways
Day 6 - 04/12/06 Hot Air Balloon flight/Tour Uçhisar village Hike in Cappadocia/Whirling Dervish
We had an early morning - our alarm went off at 4:35 so we could take a quick shower and prepare for our Balloon Adventure! We met Carl and Carol in the office at 5:15 and in a few minutes the representative of the Kapadokya Balloon Company was there to pick us up.
We drove into town where we stopped at their main office, checked in, and were offered tea and coffee. Other vans arrived until we had a total of 45 people. The agent gave us a little orientation and we were off to the launch site while other members of the crew were unloading the balloons. We were able to watch the inflation process and when our group of 3 balloons was all ready to lift off, we were helped into the baskets. We had 14 in our Kia balloon with Geert VanWolvelaer as our captain. He gave us very specific instructions for safety - first and foremost "Stay in the Basket"!!!
We lifted off just at sunrise over the Fairy Chimneys - of Cappadocia. We floated over the rock formations, sometimes as high as 1000 feet and other times skimming the tops of the apricot trees and then only a few feet above the chimneys. For about 90 minutes we hovered over the fruit trees, vineyards, and spires. The whole trip was incredible, but the most impressive aspect was the fact that Geert landed the balloon basket on an awaiting trailer. While the crew packed up the balloon, we were offered coffee, juice, sodas, and breads. An amazing experience!
We returned to our lodgings and had breakfast and prepared for the rest of the day. At 9:15 our group met and in the van, Meltem decided that due to threatening skies, we would drive to Kaymakli this morning instead of doing the hike. As we drove there we stopped at a scenic overlook of a community that had been moved from their rock city to nearby concrete buildings. While at the overlook we were met by local village women who showed us how to put on their regional headdress and we were able to take their pictures.
After a drive of an hour we arrived at the remarkable underground city of Kaymakli. During the Hittite era, as successive armies swept across Asia Minor, underground cities were built as a uniquely defensible community, approximately eight stories underground. We entered and explored some of the hundreds of rooms, wandering the many narrow, sloping passageways between kitchens with enameled food storage areas, water cisterns, stables, living spaces - all well-ventilated by air shafts. We found out that at one time several thousand people lived here.
We had an opportunity for a drive through very winding and narrow roads in the remote countryside. We saw the typical stone block homes, fields of hay and potatoes, as well as the sparse vineyards. Along the way, we stopped at one of the underground storage areas used as a root cellar where women were sorting potatoes and bagging them for sale. They invited us in and the women were so happy to have their photos taken, perhaps they were glad to have a break from the hard work.
Meltem knows I love to take photographs so she is looking out for photo ops for me. Along the road we made several stops just to take a picturesque memory of these untraveled roads. We stopped for a light lunch on the way Avanos, the pottery center of Turkey. We were able to watch the process of ancient pottery making and were tempted by their traditional works of art.
Then at 3:00 we headed back to the van and Ughisar to take a serious walk in preparation for our treks as we get closer to the coast. Outside Ughisar we met Valerie, the proprietress of our accommodations and we drove to the south end of town to get on a trail. For the next 90 minutes, we walked the countryside.
This exhilarating hike from Uchisar to Goreme, a scenic region surrounded by incredible natural rock foundations often called "Three-headed Fairy Chimneys" was mostly downhill and we all had a chance to converse, see the native geology and I had a chance to plow a portion of a field when a farmer just handed me the reins of his horse and gave me the plow. Every body had a good laugh, including the farmer's family. I am not sure the horse appreciated it, figuring he already had a back end he did not need another.
At 5 PM we returned to our hotel, where we had a chance to work and sort our photos, work on the journal and take a shower. At 7 we went down to dinner in preparation for our optional excursion to the Whirling Dervishes.
Whirling Dervish Optional Excursion
This evening, we witnessed the "Ritual of Sema." The Semazens, the so-called Whirling Dervishes, believe that the fundamental condition of our existence is to revolve. From the smallest cell to the planets and the farthest stars, everything takes part in this revolving. Thus, the ones who whirl participate consciously in the shared revolution of all existence. The Semazen (with their camel's-felt hats representing tombstones and wide white skirts symbolizing shrouds) stand with their arms crossed, ready to begin their turn. As they whirl, their motions represent a spiritual journey. We capped our experience with a glass of sweet Turkish sherbet.
Accommodations: Ahbab Konagi - - - Meals: B, D
Video - Balloons over Cappadocia - 1:18
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Hot Air Ballooning, Fairy Chimneys, Cappadocia, Turkey (2:47)
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