ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A giant yellow balloon is Erbil’s fastest rising new addition -- before it is pulled down to the ground a few minutes later.
The gas-filled balloon in Minaret Park is the centerpiece of Erbil Arab Tourism Capital 2014, which is not even formally opened yet. Locals and tourists, many from the south of Iraq, flock to the park for rides of 120 meters into the air, or to get a closer look at what has already been coined “Erbil’s second moon,” as the bright yellow sphere rises (and falls) over the city each night.
The park, home to the 12th century Mudhafaria Minaret and a cable car extending to neighboring Shanidar Park, has seen a dramatic surge in night visitors, as park-goers feel particularly safe in what amounts to a giant luminous bulb.
The city joins the likes of Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Paris, Disney World, Dubai, Istanbul, and Hong Kong in boasting a tethered gas balloon.
A 6,200 cubic-meter helium-filled ball lifts passengers into the air in a semi-circular gondola, as a pilot slowly extends the cable anchoring it to the ground.
Not quite to Kurdish tradition, where time between planning and execution is often long, the balloon was assembled in a mere three months -- half the usual time -- in order to launch for Newroz (New Year) festivities on March 20. Since then, the word has spread and many hundreds of people have taken a ride up.
Cyril Gautrey, a technician from the French manufacturer Aerophile, is getting ready to hand responsibility to a Kurdish team after several weeks of training. Despite not speaking the language as their instructor, most of the team has already passed exams in operating the aircraft.
Veteran balloon pilot Erik Bosman of the Netherlands is currently assisting local Kaifee Mahmmood to take over at the helm. The trainee is a former paramedic who happened to participate in an early ride while passing through the park. He liked it so much he decided to spend his days taking others to enjoy the rarified air, 20 at a time.
Only a limited number of people have been able to appreciate the spectacular views and cool air during training, but early reviews have been effusive.
Haider Eikhaffal, a petroleum engineer from Baghdad, takes his wife aboard the balloon on a honeymoon trip to Erbil. Grinning broadly above the city, Haider admits the “views were much better than on the plane ride on the way in. The citadel looks amazing from here.”
The Erbil citadel, the oldest inhabited place in the region with a history dating back some 8,000 years, is one of the main touristic attractions of the Kurdistan capital.
He points to the cable extending down to the park below. “In my work we use these cables extending thousands of meters into the ground. For once I use it to head in the opposite direction, up into the air!”
The project is the brainchild of Sirwan Barzani, the founder of sponsor company Korek Telecom, who has commissioned balloon trips all over Iraqi Kurdistan in the past.
While the balloon is certainly good advertising -- the Korek logo is emblazoned on the side of the enormous balloon, visible from all over relatively-flat Erbil -- the managers describe the balloon as a gift to the city.
