As I’ve blogged about before, I will spend the upcoming two weeks in Turkey to watch and write about the FIBA World Championships 2010 (basketball) for Nokia/WOMWorld. Just arrived here this morning. The blog posts are available in Nokia’s basketball app, which can be downloaded to their phones from the Ovi Store. But of course I will both blog here and tweet (@vampyrse) as well.

Here’s a little tale about the trip yesterday.

I left Gothenburg a couple of hours after noon, and transfered to the Turkish bound flight in Frankfurt.

The guys at Turkish Airlines blew me away. Or rather their food, produced by Do&Co. Because to be honest, airplanes in Northern Europe do have a higher standard, it’s the service that differs. The main course was ok, but what followed was great: first some crackers with fresh cheese, which I had some red wine to. Then a delicious chocolate cake with cofffee, and to round it off some almonds with soda. Talk about a triple threat (basketball nerd humour). In my final flight from Istanbul to Kayseri, I expected nothing. Maybe a drink. It was after all a domestic flight taking off after midnight. HA! A fresh mixed salad, a turkey sandwich and of course desert: home(?) made almond cake.

In Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, basketball was right about everywhere.

… including the Nokia basketball app!

As I arrived in Kayseri, a chocker awaited me. The guy representing Detur for the World Champs transfer told me there was none for me. ”But, there’s supposed to be one here for me.”… ”Sorry. You can take a cab, but it’s really far away. I don’t know what to do.”

After some discussions, he realised the mistake and could arrange with a ride. Thank god. You’re not all too cocky when you are in the Turkish mountains at 2′o’clock in the morning with no local currency. Anyhow, I ended up on my completely own 20-seat bus. And it was far.

The driver had to stop for gas on the way.

… and in Ürgüp, he had to ask the local police for directions.

Finally, I arrived at Perissia Hotel & Spa at about 4 in the morning. But it was well worth the ride, the mountains are beautiful here and the hotel great. And speaking about food, their breakfast buffet is to die for… they even serve melted chocolate. I’m at risk of returning to Swedes as the Fat Man.

Finally, some media clips:

Media are of course all over the event.

Even Turkish Airlines hade their own mag about the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

… and of course you should by yourself a new tv to watch basketball on.

That’s it for now… time to do some touristy things with my fellow blogger Mookie here in Ürgüp!