Thousands of years ago, the ancient region of Anatolia in Turkey was a very violent place – angry volcanoes exploding with an intensity of the like we will never see today, blasting rocks, molten lava and red hot clouds of ash and dust into the sky for miles around.
It’s this volcanic activity which forms the basis for area’s surreal, moon-like landscape of today.
Even so, the soft rocks which now constitute the area provided an unlikely home for thousands of people, who were easily able to carve out homes underground and in the numerous rock pillars. It is these homes and churches, and in some cases underground cities, which together make up the area we know today as Cappadocia.
Although it’s a cliché, a trip to Turkey really cannot be considered complete without paying a visit to this wonderful region. The scenery of Cappadocia is so breathtaking you will simply be overwhelmed.
And the absolute best way to make sure you are overwhelmed is to get yourself on a hot-air balloon and get the best possible vantage point. Doing so is an absolute must.
Arriving at the crack of dawn, the sight of so many balloons being inflated and prepped ready to soar into the skies can be a little unnerving. Most Cappadocia hot air balloons are designed to take up to 24 people, and so you can imagine it gets quite busy.
However, if you want something really romantic, see if you can arrange a private ride with one of the many travel agencies back in town.
Flying by balloon is an almost unreal experience, beginning with the take off which is so smooth you may not even realize you have left the ground until you’re already several feet high in the air.
Soaring through the Cappadocia skies, the 45 minute journey gives you a taste of freedom like nothing else – the awesome sights, the unchecked winds breezing through your hair, and the feeling of being on the very top of the world simply cannot be compared.
For photo fanatics, you’ll be hard-pressed to stop yourself from wanting to record every single second of the momentous journey – but take a moment to relax and enjoy the ride, it’s a most wonderful, fantastic feeling.
Enjoy the beauty of Cappadocia, it is breathtaking.
