Day 12: Balloon Ride and more!

(a short post for reasons)

My alarm went off at 4.15am so that we could be ready for our 5am pick up.  The medina was empty - very different from just a few hours prior. 

Our guide led us to a waiting van that drove us 40 minutes NE of the city to a hot air balloon experience.  When we got to the operation, we waited in a lit courtyard, sipping mint tea, coffee, and munching rosewater madelines.

After we checked in and got the arrangements squared away, we all left the grounds for the balloons that were filling up. 

Our basket held 24 passengers.  Most of the passengers had to climb into the basket while it was tipped over.  Once there was enough weight in the basket, a pickup truck pulled it up right and the rest of us climbed in.

In no time, we were airborn.  The views were amazing!  I have so many photos, but will just post a few here.

Our guide was knowedgeable and safe, and he kept us giggling by making taliban jokes (these jokes were pretty funny this morning, but definitely wouldn't fly in the states).

We were in the air for around an hour before landing safely and heading back to the balloon flight HQ for breakfast.  Then, back to Marrakesh.  We were at the Riad by 9.15am.

The rest of the day went by in a blur.  H and I had massages (awesome), we did some shopping, and we did most of the packing for the multi-leg trip home.

I'm a little concerned that we may have a problem flying out of Marrakesh.  The airport security sometimes requires passengers to have printed boarding passes before entering the airport.  I tried to get our boarding passes taken care of, but there's a problem with H's.  Instead of listing her as Firstname Middlename Lastname, her ticket lists her as Firstnamemiddlename Lastname.  Because this isn't what's on her passport, I couldn't get her boarding pass.  I was on support lines with Edelweiss Air (our carrier subsidiary), Swiss Air (our carrier), and United (with whom we booked the tickets) for 90 minutes and no one could help me.  Fingers crossed that it all works out!  Gulp.

We ended our day with a visit to The Secret Garden and a dinner at Le Jardins.  Delightful all around!

On the walk back, we passed through the main square.  Then quickly to the Riad.  We're getting picked up at 5am again to head to the airport!