Alhama Creative Holidays in real Spain: January 2007

Monday, 22 January 2007

This is the first day of my new blog. Only last week I thought blogging was for 20 somethings with nothing better to do than to share the trivia of their lives. A chance encounter with a sumptuous blogsite- My Marrakesh- showed me that a blog (oh horrible word- suggestions please for something more lyrical) can open up a window in someone's world. If that world is as beautiful as Maryam's Marrakesh, then it's a place you would want to visit both virtually and one day in reality. Well, my house isn't in Morocco-although I love the style of that beautiful country- it's in what I think is the most beautiful and friendly pueblo in Andalucia- Alhama de Granada. It's about a 40 minute drive south from Granada and an hour north from Malaga. The photograph is of a ruined flour mill in the gorge that runs by the town- it's not our house!This blog is going to be the story of our alchemical transformation- of our house and of ourselves. I hope you enjoy your visits to our changing house and maybe share your experiences too.

Our Creative Holidays

We offer four different types of holiday:

Tutored Holidays
These offer the opportunity to participate in workshops run by experienced and knowledgable tutors.

Book Club Holidays
On ths holiday you will take part in discussion of some of your favourite books and encounter some you would never have read. Some of the book club weeks will have a guest visit from one of the authors on the course. So you better be nice about their book! One of the days might include an opportunity to try your hand at writing- tutored by me or the visiting author.

Women's creative holidays
These give women, who for whatever reason, wish to holiday alone, a chance to meet other women, participate in creative activities etc. The creative activities may vary but will usually include an opportunity to take some interesting photographs (no experience required and the most basic digital camera or even phone is the most equipment you will need) This would be followed by a session in which you dvelop an idea for a story based on the photographs we have taken. Other pleasures will involve a day at a spa with all the pampering you could wish for and an optional visit to the nearby historic city of Granada with its magnificent Moorish Alhambra Palace and all the shops you would expect from a city.

Writers groups
These are unstructured holidays where we provide accommodation, space, conviviality and a substantial amount of food and drink to enable your writing group to meet. Forget the cramped back room of the local pub or the musty meeting room of the local church, we can enable you to meet up in the most beautiful of surroundings and so let your writings develop. Structured activities, tutored workshops and trips to the Alhambra can also be arranged.

Writer's Retreats
These are completely unstructured to allow you the space away from the daily grind to work on your novel etc. You will have your own private self contained apartment with private terrace and lovely views over the Spanish countryside. Breakfast can be served in your room or in the Garden downstairs. We welcome you into our home with its well stocked library and woodburning stove. You are free to sit in the garden and read, think, write or laze the day away in the hammock.

We have plans to introduce painting, ceramic and film making holidays in the near future- watch this space!

Alhama Creative Holidays in real Spain

Monday, 22 January 2007

Alhama Creative Holidays

My new blog

Our Creative Holidays

Writers' groups

Great books to Read

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