Page 139 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY

We were a little late getting airborne, but
there was another wave of balloons behind us.
Around a hundred balloons take off for the
sunrise flight in staged groups of about 50 at
a time. We were fortunate to lift off when we
did to be among bunches of colorful balloons
dotting the sky.
There was an adrenaline rush as our basket
quietly and gently lifted off the ground. Then
we were up up and away, quickly climbing and
watching the sun cover the alien landscape
below with a blanket of gold. Ron’s fear of
overcrowding faded, and he was far away from
the burner, so no worries of singed hair. Dur-
ing the flight, we rotated positions so that ev-
eryone in our compartment enjoyed views
from the front of the gondola.
During the first few minutes, we were too
busy looking and snapping photos to sense
anxiety. But, at around 6,000 feet, Ron looked
down, then gripped the side of the basket and
his iPhone as if his life depended on them.
Flying on a jet at 30,000 feet doesn’t bother
him, but knowing there’s nothing between
him and those pointy rocks but wicker is an-
other matter. Happily, after a few minutes, joy
overpowered any feeling of acrophobia.

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