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             Ballooning Over Luxor, Egypt: Antiquities From the Sky

   by Associated Press

   They take off at first light, reinforced wicker baskets filled with
   people, heading into the skies over Luxor, Egypt.

   Only from a balloon high in the sky, in the clear air of the early
   morning, can a visitor begin to grasp the beauty of antiquities on the
   ground in this one-time Egyptian capital known in ancient times as
   Thebes.

   The city in southern Egypt is one of the world's largest outdoor
   museums, boasting majestic pharaonic temples on the east bank of the
   Nile River and heavily adorned tombs of some of the best-known ancient
   kings -- including Tutankhamun, the boy king -- on the west bank.

   The path of the brightly colored balloons is determined by prevailing
   winds. On the ride, the silence is broken only by the whoosh of the gas
   burners and the occasional exclamations from tourists awed by the
   sights.

   Yet there may be mixed feelings at takeoff: a healthy dose of
   adventurism and anticipation about what the short flight will reveal,
   but also concerns about safety. Three years ago, 19 people died here in
   a balloon accident. Since then, authorities have imposed rigid
   regulations on balloon operators, including cancelling flights on
   bad-weather days and training requirements for pilots.

   The ride lasts about 20 minutes, before the pilot begins looking for a
   safe landing zone. Tourists brace themselves for landing, a usually
   bumpy affair more akin to a soft crash landing. The details of life in
   rural Egypt come into view as the balloon begins its descent, with
   farmers toiling in the fields and children heading to school in the
   dusty roads of the west bank.

   A dedicated ground crew riding a rugged truck tracks each balloon. The
   trucks maneuver in anticipation of the landing spot. Once the balloon
   touches down, they hurry to grab ropes to prevent it from taking off
   again or moving sideways.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ballooning-over-luxor-egypt-antiquities-from-the-sky/3290466.html