Early mornings in Cappadocia

I have never woken so early for (at least) three consecutive days before but it was worth it. Everyday started at 4am+ when the morning prayers are played over the loudspeakers.

The very first morning, I woke with a jolt and was so confused by it all. Only after googling ‘man praying 4am Cappadocia‘ did I realise it was just another normal day for them. Debated whether to go back to sleep or not, I decided to catch the balloons going up.

I was sold after one magical morning here - the balloon flight.

My second morning was me planning to go up to the sunrise spot to catch the balloons take flight. It was quite a hike up I would say, cause I was huffing and puffing to go up the slope. But mygod it was another amazing sunrise. You see many balloons lighting up in the distance, like fireflies with their occasional light beams. And you’re there wondering which one of these balloons will be the first to take flight. And off it goes! The first, and you see the second and third and before you know it, the sky is littered with balloons in the distance. The sun is also going up too. So there you are on a hill, with many other tourists also trying to capture the balloons and the sun going up. And who else could possibly be up to watch it all these too? A stray dog I kid you not, happily going around getting warmth, scratchies and possibly food from everyone there. Oh to be an animal in Turkiye. And there was even a brave captain whose balloon was so close to the hill that we were on, it was literally passing over it!

My last morning was me just waking up in time to catch the balloons and the sunrise but from the luxury of my hotel’s rooftop balcony. Yet another spectacular sunrise. This time it was slightly different, seeing things from a different perspective, when the balloons were so close to the city centre instead of being so far away.

I have never been happier to be awake at such ungodly hours.