LIVE FOR TODAY

~~~ Live in the present, live for today for it is a precious gift to savor for its uniqueness, so enjoy the moment and do not worry about tomorrow or the future. ~~~ Quote by Poet After a grueling day of being on my feet for sixteen hours, from Pamukkale to Cappadocia in Turkey, l was so exhausted that sleep was hard to come by and was also thinking not getting enough of it in waking up at three the next morning for our hot air balloon ride. After three hours of sleep, I got up and pepped up to seize a very long day of adventure and savor, relish each moment with zest. We were picked up at four in the morning and got to the site, where the crew was preparing the balloon and as soon as we got in the basket and instructed on the landing techniques, we were up, up and away, flying in the wind, riding on a cloud, watching all the colorful hot air balloons around us, the magic of sunrise giving and changing colors to the clouds, meadows, valleys. After we landed, had champagne with the crew, got back at our Cave Suites for breakfast and were off at Goreme Open Air Museum, a complex of churches, chapels, monasteries built during the Middle Ages, decorated with unremarkable frescoes. As Turkey is known worldwide for beautiful rugs, we went to the Famous Carpet Weaving Center to see the hand weaving techniques passed down for more than eight thousand years. Of course, I could not leave without the Last Supper tapestry. Then our photo stop to view Pigeon Valley and Imagination Valley, the landmark valleys with variety of rock formations. Followed by our visit of Derinkuyu Underground City, the five level cave you have to walk down, down in those curvy, steep, slippery grounds and very low ceilings that you have to stoop and be very careful to avoid bumping your head. At seven in the evening, we were back to our Cave Suites to change clothes and went to a Turkish Night Show in a Cave Restaurant for dinner and entertainment by Turkish Group dancers, a belly dancer and some diners, like me. I had not even started to eat, when one of the lady group dancers took me to the dance floor and a little later, our tour guide took me to join him dancing the Turkish dance from the dance floor to outside circling the fire in the center. After we finished eating, I went to the center of the dance floor and did belly dancing while other diners surrounded me and a Turkish drummer played the drums in front of me. Had to be cut off to be back at our suites before midnight. As soon as I got in my tiny unique cave suite, I flopped on the bed smiling, exhilarated by the bustling activities, not even minding I was on my feet for twenty one hours, just relishing, savoring those incredible moments … precious!