Into Asia & Cappadocia (Goreme)

Into Asia & Cappadocia (Goreme)
We leave Istanbul by crossing a large suspension bridge and into Asia. Our journey to Cappadocia is around 750km and the pollution is easy to see in the air over Istanbul. Some of this is from small fires that are numerous across the countryside but most is from chimneys at various industrial plants. Initially there's lots of housing on the Asian side of Istanbul, but this gradually fades away to leave a very arid landscape as we ascend to over 1000 metres above sea level.
A way into the journey, other vehicles are tooting and pointing to the back of the bus. Dennis stops and gets out to see what the potential damage might be, some fear the worst that maybe we've been losing luggage, or perhaps a flat tyre, not that we've felt anything like that. Whilst Dennis is off the bus at the back, he is kicking a wonky hub cab in to place and thankfully it's no more adventurous than that.
Further along our journey, we see a salt lake in the distance and are able to take a driver break where we see the that the lake is currently completely dry and there are hail stone size salt pebbles left for us to witness.
When we arrive at our hostel in Goreme, it's set out as little caves, in the style of the buildings cut into the rocks, a complete contrast to our room in Istanbul. Goreme is another world completely with the stange sandstone formations.
The following morning it's an early start for a balloon ride, and we arrive at the site as the balloons are being filled with gas just upon the crest of day break. Our balloon is one of the first up and we get an impressive view of all the other balloons being inflated against a unique backdrop of the stone landscape. As the sky fills with around 50 hot air balloons, we nudge other balloons, ascend and descend at rapid rates and at one of the highest altitudes we experience the slightest breezes that just seems to tickle the balloon to give the basket the gentlest of rocking. When the balloon ride is complete from the amazing spectacle we've just witnessed, the pilot and crew manipulate the basket to hop on to it's trailer in what is an extremely smooth manoeuvre. Then it's a glass (or two) of sparkling wine – a good way to start the week and should be recommended every Monday morning.
The remainder of the time at Goreme is spent wandering around the area marveling at the sites, exploring the now empty cave houses, looking at the artwork, taking pictures and generally having fun – there's even a pool at the accommodation for an afternoon swim.