Erkan's field diary

Levent Yıldız (or Ibrahim as I knew him- he has two names) acts as a super good host! 

I flew in Trabzon today with not much planning really. I had been hoping to get a lonely time for reading and writing for a while in a human friendly climate. Well, since when I do this? I have never done this. I write and read more productively when I am too busy. So I don't think this will be become a writing camp. Anyway, my plan to stay in Uzungöl collapsed in the very beginning:)

Levent (Ibrahim), Bülent and Zeki, the former being my former student who graduated a while ago, met me in the airport and spent their afternoon with me. They took me to Trabzon's single mall, where, I was told, Trabzonspor players frequented. We had meatballs in Akçaabat and then drove to Zigana mountains. In the very old times, when we were going to Bayburt, this was the only route and I remember being so scared of the high mountains. Well, Zigana passage is now good to eat rice pudding at least. But there is also a holiday resort here: Zitaş. I never heard it before but i immediately decided to stay there. Alas, there was no room. Well dears, Black Sea is now a popular holiday destination, and you have make your plans beforehand.

ZİTAŞ 

Well I ended up staying in a five star hotel in Maçka which is on the way to Sumela Monestary.
I was exhausted to go to Uzungöl and Levent offered me a breakfast place up in the mountains tomorrow noon and I was already ready to accept:) I could stay in Zigana in another place but there was no internet connection and i thought i would prefer to stay in a mountain town with connection than a mountain passage without one.

My parents disagree where I was actually born. Dad says Vakfıkebir and Mum says Çarşıbaşı. What I guess is they used to live in between two towns of Trabzon and they like to quarrel as usual. In the mean time, I don't know yet if i can see the place where I was born...

Tomorrow Levent will host me in a mountain village. Then Yalçın 'Captain' arrives. On Friday I might meet him in his home town: Sürmene. That is another town of Trabzon, which is located on the shore after Arsin. He had promised me to take to several plateaus and mountain villages...

People are basically laughing at what happened in Trabzonspor's game last week (A fan ran into the pitch and slapped a footballer from the rival team and a fight began) and very angry with ıstanbul based sport press. they are also very angry with team's administration. and my dear readers, this city lives with Trabzonspor! A city so devoted for their team.

Everywhere I hear Black Sea music sounds and of course there is tea everywhere:)

Well, let me check if there is any cafe where I can watch European Cup games of Beşiktaş and Fenerbahçe. The new digital channel, Kanal D Smart, that broadcasts the  games is not available in many places, even in this "5 star hotel". My first explorations weren't fruitful....