Turkey's Magical Hideaways  June 1 - 17, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
June 16, 2016   Optional Ballooning Over Cappadocia tour •  Hiking in Üchisar area
This morning, you can choose to rise very early for an optional hot-air balloon flight over Cappadocia. We regroup for breakfast at our hotel,
then depart to visit the village of Üchisar and stroll through a few of the small village lanes. From here, we begin an elective hike of about
two hours, heading downhill on a small trail, among terraces and along a tiny streambed. In this small rock canyon, away from the roads and
tour buses, we penetrate an ancient world, serene and startlingly beautiful.

A number of people here still dwell in cave-homes next to their vineyards and apricot orchards. We often see tomatoes, apricots, or peppers
spread on the roofs of village homes to dry. Burbling irrigation channels and carefully cultivated fields are tucked between narrow canyon
walls. Tufa rock cones up to 250 feet tall loom over us. It's a fascinating rural tableau: A local man rides his donkey among the stone houses,
or a woman makes yufka, the traditional large flatbread of the region.

After a break for lunch on your own, we'll have opportunities for hiking through the fascinating landscapes of Cappadocia to local points of
interest such as Cavusin and Urgup. This evening, we'll gather for dinner at a local restaurant.
(From OAT  Itinerary)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
=== Hot Air Balloon
.........    Over Cappaoddcia  ===
 
A hot balloon flight is uniqpue from all other experiences of flight as there is no sensation of motion.
Travelling at heights of up to 1500 feet, the feeling is one of peace and tranquility. The earth slowly descends
and rotates below you. Within moments after lifting off you become at ease while you effortlessly drift over
the treetops and the spectacular Cappadocian landscape. It is like a dream to gently float over
the countryside in complete harmony with your surrondings.

The deep canyons and lush fertile valleys of Cappadocia provide our balloons with an ideal playgound for
a unique and memorable flight; gentle winds carry us over places that could never be reached except by balloon.
Ballooning can be such fun!
In season we can even pick apricots from the trees!  
(From OAT  Itinerary)
 
 
 
 
 
剛開始的時候，熱氣球一直往上升，升到一千呎左右，靜靜的漂浮在空中......
看到周圍一個個彩色的熱氣球忽遠忽近緩緩的浮動著，
心裡驟然有一種夢幻的感覺，
...金紅色的太陽冉冉昇起..霞光萬道.....
之後，它開始慢慢下降，有幾次我們的坐籃低到擦到地上的樹梢，
..... 熱氣球穿梭在岩山峽谷間，我感覺我的手可以摸到岩山...
熱氣球又騰然往上升...升，越過岩山脊...天氣非常好，無風.....
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
從一千呎的高空，往下看地面的岩山，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
熱汽球開始往下降到岩山區賞景，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
熱汽球越降越低，到岩山區，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
地上的人看我，我看地上的人，
越看越有趣，

他們正在岩山 Hiking 觀景 ,
 
 
 
 
 
 
我們的熱氣球穿行在岩山峽谷間觀景，
 
 
 
 
 
 

有時我們的坐籃幾乎碰到岩山，
氣球的操作員要有相當的經驗和技巧，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
有些熱汽球降在峽谷間賞景，只見其半個身影，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
熱汽球離開峽谷區，在平原找地方降落，
我們定點降落在一輛卡車後面的拖車上面，
操作員真夠精準，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
坐熱氣球高空之旅結束，舉杯香檳慶祝合影，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
=== village of uchisar,
.........    cavusin and urgup  ===
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
參觀一個陶瓷製作的工藝坊，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
午飯，
導遊、司機、和我們五個團員，正好一桌，非常和睦的一個組合，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
沒有生意，就睡大覺，
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
第二天清晨，踏上歸程，結束美妙難忘的十七天土耳其之旅，