Cappadocia (Goreme). October 8 – ELISE’S BIRTHDAY YO

Today we got up super crazy early because we are going HOT AIR BALLOONING! Which is even more exciting because we are doing it on Elise’s birthday. 23! So old!
So we were picked up at 5.10am and taken to the Royal Balloon headquarters where we all had a buffet breakfast and Elise was able to text her family for birthday conversations. We also met a lovely girl who would end up being on our balloon with us.
Before we were supposed to leave, all the boards said that we couldn’t fly in any zone, but it must have all changed because soon we were all being taken off in mini busses.
As we drove the light was just starting to break, but it was still a deep blue and suddenly these massive domes of light started growing in front of us, and it was all the balloons being blown up for the sunrise flight. Super beautiful!

We got to our balloon and watched as it, and many other balloons (there would be 100 in the sky all at once) were blown up, and soon enough we were rising into the sky! Even though it was little bit cloudy, we still got a moment where the light cut through and filled the valley, before hiding away again. But the whole experience was totally amazing and beautiful. First we were taken through the valleys and then eventually we rose really high and got the most amazing birds-eye view of Cappadocia. We think we were up for 50-60 minutes and we loved every minute of it.

We're Royal so went with Royal balloons obvs

When we got down we all received medals (?) and a glass of champagne. Elise had also pulled a sneaky and told the company (pretending to be Ash) that it was her birthday, so she got a cake and a song! Cake at 7.30am! What a dream!

Birthday champion

Eventually we were dropped off at our hotel and when we got upstairs we face timed our pals from Berlin, Prash and Eddie, in a group conversation. After that Elise called her family, which was essential, obviously. They talked for a pretty good time, and it made her super happy.

Eventually we went out again for spinach and cheese gozleme and then we decided to try and find how to get to a lookout overlooking the town.

So we ended up finding a really amazing walking track through one of the landmarks of the area, which is basically full of some fun mushroom(?) shaped formations. We explored this area for a while and then climbed a hill and found ourselves just down the road from the lookout! Amazing!

Jus' thinkin'

The lookout was pretty great, and the sun came back out so we sat here for a while taking in all the feels. Eventually we decided to head back down because Ash was feeling a little unwell, so we thought we would take a quick pit stop. On the way Elise did buy herself a birthday ice-cream though.

Afterwards we decided it was time for tea, so we headed down to a café and had some with a couple of pieces of baklava but when it hit 6.30 we decided we best go because and the desk man had told us to be back in the evening. (By the way, Elise had pulled another sneaky in the hope for champagne or something, by once again pretending to be Ash and telling them it was her birthday).

 So we went back and waited for a while but nothing happened, so we finally decided to go get dinner. As we walked out the door, the man asked where we were going, so we said we would be back after we had eaten. 
We got dinner at the restaurant next door and it was pretty tasty and they played a pretty silly mix of music.

We got back and the man was there with his friend. They got Ash to go in the breakfast room and then they made Elise close her eyes, and then they revealed a cake with candles! So lovely! So we all sat down and had cake together and they gave Elise wine, and it was so, so lovely.

We were pretty tired by now after the late morning, so we headed to bed.

Lots of love
A&E