Arriving in Göreme, we checked in to the hotel. Some of us managed to take a dip in the swimming pool. Our tour included a visit to an exhibition of Whirling Dervishes. This involves a trance-like dance. After the main dance, some of the dancers performed for a photo shoot.
Dervish Dancer, Cappadocia
These two images are the best examples of the Dervhishes.
Dervish Dancer No 2, Cappadocia
Following this event we headed for dinner. Most of the tour members chose to do a flight in a hot air balloon. Göreme is a popular location for hot air ballooning in Cappadocia. I chose not to make a flight so that I could capture some balloon pics. The launch site was a short walk from the hotel. I made my way there just before sunrise. Approaching the site, some of the balloons had already launched. In this image, I captured the balloon against contrail clouds that were lit by the rising sun.
Hot Air Balloons And Clouds At Sunrise, Cappadocia
The launch site is surrounded by several hills and valleys. The following image captured a colorful balloon lifting off from one of the valleys.
Balloon Lift Off In Valley
Soon after, I heard my name called out. The call came from members of our tour group — they were riding in the balloon below.
Kaya Balloons
After a few minutes, most of the balloons had left on their sunrise flight. I headed towards the Fairy Chimneys. In the image, the last balloon caught light from the rising sun as it was flying above the chimney formations.
Balloons Above Fairy Chimneys At Sunrise
In this image, I captured the five chimneys, with the town of Göreme in the distance.
Fairy Chimneys At Dawn
Close by was a cave in one of the chimneys. These are volcanic rock formations and are relatively soft. The cave had been carved out by hand and tools. In the following image, one can see the gouged tool marks on the rock surfaces inside the cave.
Inside The Excavated Cave
Later in the morning, our group visited the Göreme Open-Air Museum. This is the site of many churches and chapels that were carved into the volcanic rock. This is the entrance to one of the churches that a located here.
Church In Goreme Open Air Museum
Angela was visiting one of the other churches. I made this image of her gazing out across the museum.
Angela, Looking Out Over Museum
Several other visitors made the trip to the museum. I made this portrait of a lady and her child, taking a break from the sun.
Mother And Child, Open Air Museum
After visiting the museum, we headed out to the museum store while wait to regroup. Here is another image of Angela, checking mail on her phone.
Angela, Open Air Museum
Another image of Tolga, our tour group leader.
Tolga, Open Air Museum
In this image, I captured Vicky, as she was taking a break after checking her phone.
Vicky, Open Air Museum
Lunch was in a restaurant in Göreme. I could not help but make this image of colorful pots, hanging on the restaurant wall.
Pots Hanging In Restaurant, Goreme
On the following morning, Angela and I headed close to the launch site. She had missed the balloon launch the previous morning. This image shows several balloons over Göreme.
Balloons Over Goreme, Cappadocia
That’s all for now.