Preparing for LaunchA bright-eyed start to the day.
We left our ship at 4:30 a.m. to take a small motor launch across the Nile to the west bank and a fleet of vans to ferry us to a large field filled with balloons and bustling ground crews readying them for flight.
All in all, a spectacular experience!Each balloon basket holds +/- 30 people.Valley of the Kings (or, perhaps, a model railroading diorama). Each opening is a tomb.Tomb of HatshepsutEverywhere there was the smell of sugar cane being burned in the fields.The desert, lush farmland, and the Nile.Upon landing, the ground crews scrambled to secure the balloons and safely gather the fabric to keep it from being damaged. It was an impressive display of teamwork.Then, back to the ship for an 8 a.m. departure from the dock.
