Rose Brooks

Episode 758 – Egypt Day 5 Part 1: High Over the Valley of the Kings

The night before our balloon ride, we were told that because the balloons take off from an Egyptian Airforce airfield, and it would be Airforce staff who determine whether the weather conditions mean that our ascent a go. That made us feel quite safe.

Then we were told that cameras (other than cellphones) should be left behind or “hidden” to prevent them being confiscated, since photography of military sites is strictly forbidden.

Ted’s camera is not easily “hidden” – and a large part of our reason for booking this excursion was for the photo opportunities.

His camera fit into my travel purse (the one I hadn’t originally intended to bring onto the balloon) – just barely – and we crossed our fingers. We’d been told we wouldn’t be going through a metal detector, and that the camera could be “revealed” once the balloon was in the air. All good.

AND… there were photographers and videographers following us, so …


There’s stock footage interspersed with our flight, since wind direction is what determines which sites the balloon flies over. Nonetheless, it’s a fun way to remember our shipmates and a wonderful day.

Plus, a selection of Ted’s photos.

04:43 Crossing the Nile to the west bank, where we’d be loaded into vans for our drive to the airfield.
05:58 Our basket and balloon await clearance.
06:09 Clearance received.Inflating begins.
By 06:12 the basket is upright.

Most surprising to me was the noise. I’d always pictured these huge balloons gliding silently through the sky – but that’s only of you”re not in the balloon, where the gas jets keeping it afloat are incredibly loud each time they are opened.

Our balloon’s pilot. He asked how many of us were first time ballooners, and then said, “Me too !” He was kidding of course – he had made thousands of flights over a 15 year career.
06:18 We’re airborne and looking down at an uninflated balloon, which shows just how much fabric is involved.
Floating over ancient temples…
… and over farmland.
High over the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut.
Zoomed in on the temple
Tombs in a portion of the west bank necropolis, where nobles were buried.
Howard Carter’s house (the archeologist who discovered King Tutankhamun’s tomb).
A bird’s eye view into homes on the west bank.
Looking up inside our balloon.

Another balloon landed and deflating.
Landed, with a ground crew twisting the air out of the balloon in order to fold it for transportation back to the airfield for another flight.

It was an absolutely incredible experience.

There were photos we simply couldn’t take ourselves. These were taken by the photo crew:

On the ground pre-flight.
In the basket ready to fly!
In the air!!
Safely back on terra firma

My cheeks are actually sore from smiling non-stop through the entire flight!

2 comments

Leave a reply to darlenewhite08 Cancel reply