A hot air balloon ride in Egypt

For anyone who is visiting Egypt a hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings is a must. You have not seen the land of the ancient pyramids until you have looked down on it from the sky. Our day started early at 3:30 a.m. when our group of four got picked up at our hotel. None of us really knew what to expect as we got out of the van and down into the Nile River.

We joined a quick ferry ride over to the West Bank of the river. When we entered the ferry boat we found ourselves among many other tourists who were all going to take the balloon ride. Soon the passengers were given tea and coffee and boxed breakfast. The breakfast was very simple, one hard-boiled egg, one piece of bread, a packet of cheese cookies and a juice box. A proper English breakfast with bacon and mushrooms waited for us at the hotel. The ferry was overcrowded and everyone was pushing to take photos of the place. Soon we arrived and everyone loaded into another van.

We drove for another ten minutes. During the drive we got our first glance at some of the pyramids. Then we headed to a balloon that was just about to lift off the ground. Each basket had around sixteen people in it. The basket had four sections that held four passengers per section. The center of the basket had a small area where the pilot stood to control the balloon. Surprisingly, there was plenty of room to take photographs and feel comfortable during the hour flight.

People on the ground started to wave goodbye as we slowly began to rise. The process was surprisingly slow and felt like nothing else I have experienced before. We floated up slowly. The distance between the bottom of the basket and the ground stayed short for a long time. The sun was just starting to rise above the horizon.

 Where we stood was on the right side of the basket, we had a clear view of the Valley of the Kings as the balloon rose into the air. The left side of the basket saw mostly the city of Luxor and the Nile River. Those on the right side of the basket could view all the sights. People who loaded on the left side had much less time for that.

Having a bird eyes view of the place was exciting. After our balloon flight we were going to spend the whole day exploring different sights – the territory was surprisingly huge. We floated over an area where hundreds of houses once stood. The ruins of them are still there. We got a glimpse of the ancient village of the workers, one of the most overlooked sites on the West Bank. We decided it to add it to our sights to visit that afternoon.

Our basket slowly touched down in a sandy rock field next to one of the pyramids. People on the ground were waiting to help us get out of the basket. With our feet back on the ground there was a five minute song and dance from locals greeting the tourists. While they were singing and dancing, we took photos of them. There were also some young people selling souvenirs. Some of our passengers bought a few. Once back in the van all the tourists were handed our personal flight certificates that highlighted a journey most people will only dream of.

 

41

 

In the first paragraph it is stated that the best view of the Valley of the Kings is…

 

 

1)	early in the morning.
2)	from the sky.
3)	from the Nile River.
4)	from the hotel.

 

Ответ:

 

 

42

 

On the ferry boat to the West bank the tourists…

 

 

1)	had bacon and eggs for breakfast.
2)	had cheese sandwiches for breakfast.
3)	were eager to take photographs.
4)	were eager to go on with the trip.

 

Ответ:

 

 

43

 

In the balloon basket all the passengers…

 

 

1)	stood on the right.
2)	stood on the left.
3)	stood in the center.
4)	surrounded the pilot.

 

Ответ:

 

 

44

 

The ride started …

 

 

1)	early in the morning.
2)	late in the afternoon.
3)	late at night.
4)	in the middle of the day.

 

Ответ:

 

 

 

45

 

Who had a better view of the sights?

 

 

1)	People on the right of the basket.
2)	People on the left of the basket.
3)	Those standing closer to the pilot.
4)	Those standing farther from the pilot.

 

Ответ:

 

 

46

 

The tourists were impressed by…

 

 

1)	the size of the area for sightseeing.
2)	the ruins of old houses they saw.
3)	the length of the ride they took.
4)	the number of sights to see.

 

Ответ:

 

 

47

 

When the balloon landed everybody …

 

 

1)	bought some souvenirs.
2)	danced with the locals.
3)	got a registered document.
4)	registered for a new ride.

 

Ответ:

 

 

 

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