Page 140 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023 DISCOVERING TURKEY

Views at high altitude were stunning. But were close because we could see dozens of
when the pilot began our slow descent above a vans, like little white bugs, moving into posi-
long valley, the magic happened. Below us, tion. A couple of balloons miscalculated and
balloons moved silently and gracefully above a landed across a large canyon some distance
landscape of fairy chimneys and orchards. away. Their vans sped down the road to meet
Ahead, Goreme gleamed in the sunlight. We them.
wondered how the pilots guided the balloons We were now skimming a farmer's field,
without colliding with each other or the tow- heading toward a van with a large flatbed
ering rock formations. We watched in awe as trailer. Visions of our long-ago near collision
our pilot took us close to the tops of one clus- in that orange grove came to mind. Incredibly,
ter. They were so close; it seemed we could the pilot skillfully maneuvered our giant craft
reach out and touch them. No one tried. above the trailer. Ropes were thrown to the
After traversing the valley, our balloon rose ground crew, who helped guide the gondola
again, offering wonderful scenes of balloons into place to deflate and drive off.
jockeying for positions to land. We knew we

140 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE FALL 2023