Ithaca and Beyond! A 2 day Creative Writing Holiday in Alexandria, Egypt

After the brilliant success of the recent Writers' Cruise Luxor to Aswan, I am very pleased to be able to introduce another fabulously inspiring Creative Writing Holiday.  

A new open group 'Creative Writing Holidays in Egypt' has been set up on Facebook, please do go join: https://www.facebook.com/groups/627629983996816/   

This time we will take a 1 night/2 day stay in Alexandria and we have a fantastic itinerary to present to you:

2 day Creative Writing Holiday

Alexandria, Egypt

Ithaca is the famous poem written by the poet and writer CP Cavafy who lived in Alexandria from 1863 to 1933. He was greatly inspired by the city and all its tales; ancient and modern and this inspiration lives on in this historic coastal city.

Over a 2 day trip we shall visit Cavafy's house, now a museum, and many other wondrous locations such as the Roman Catacombs, the National Museum, Roman amphitheatre, Montaza Palace and Gardens and you shall have 6 hours of Creative Writing instruction within a class on each day where we shall look at writing our own Ithacas and developing narrative inspired by the location, its present and its history.

Price per person 1100 LE

includes 6 hours of writing tuition, return transfers and transits in Alexandria in a private bus, 1 night's accommodation, several meals, all tours, guide and entry fees.

Please see itinerary and more on price inclusions/exclusions below

If wishing to book please email: thewriterscentre@gmail.com

Full Itinerary:

Day 1. Friday June 20^th

6am: pick up from Cairo and drive to Alexandria in a private air conditioned bus

Arrive in Alexandria and visit the following attractions:

Pompey’s pillar, The Catacombs of Kom Elshoqafa, Cavafy house museum

Noon: Check in at hotel. Lunch and rest

3-6 pm: Creative Writing class 1

6:30 pm, leaving for a city tour and dinner

Drive along the Cornish via Ramlah station and stop at Abu El Abbass mosque

Dinner at a fish restaurant in Bahari

Stop at Qait Bay fort and dessert from Azza famous ice-cream shop

Transfer back to the hotel around 10pm

Night stay in Alexandria.

Day 2. Saturday June 21^st

Breakfast

Personal study or free time

11am: Check out from the hotel

Visit Alexandria National Museum and the Roman Theatre

Lunch at a fast food restaurant

Stop at Alexandria Library for outside view

Drive to Montaza Gardens along the Mediterranean cost and enjoy viewing the most beautiful part of Alexandria

Creative Writing class 2 at Montaza Palace park

Exploring El Montaza (free time on Venice beach)

Drive back to Cairo

Arrive at Cairo around 10 pm

The price includes:

Return transfer Cairo to Alexandria in a private a/c bus

All tours within Alexandria using the private a/c bus

Tour guide fees (private licensed English speaking tour guide)

Entry fees to all monuments and museums (Egyptian entry fees, Egyptian ID required)

Accommodation at hotel including breakfast

Dinner on Day 1

6 hours of Creative Writing tuition course

The price is per person based on two sharing a twin room. *A supplement of 100 LE more is charged if requiring single accommodation. The price requires Egyptian ID otherwise an additional charge will be placed for site entrance fees etc – top up cost to non Egyptians is an additional 200 LE.

The price excludes:

Any tips

Any other thing not in the included section

this Creative Writing Holiday has been organised by

The Writers' Centre

&

Truly Egypt tours
www.trulyegypt.com

Creative Writing Holidays in Egypt

Dear All

For those specifically interested in Creative Writing Holidays in Egypt I have created a new open group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/627629983996816/

For those people who have already been part of my Creative Writing Holidays please feel free to post your written pieces developed on the trips, share photos of the trips and any chat about the trips. You will also see adverts for new Creative Writing holidays as they come up. All posts must be kept on topic otherwise they shall be deleted.

And for all you lovely writers if you want a catch up with ALL the photos from the so far 3 Creative Writing Holidays in different luscious parts of Egypt and the many Literary Feluccas (which count as one dayers!) then take a stroll through here:

Writers' Cruise – Luxor to Aswan (2014)
http://writerscentre.blogspot.com/2014/05/writers-cruise-luxor-to-aswan-true-love.html

Dreams & Writing Course in Bahareya Oasis & Desert (2013)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151645133205337.1073741830.781050336&type=1&l=7794c32ad4

Residential Creative Writing course in Fayoum Oasis (2010)
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.492253430336.282446.781050336&type=1&l=d8becd975f

Literary Salon On The Nile (2014/2013)
http://www.writerscentre.blogspot.com/2014/03/spring-tides-literary-felucca-on-nile.html

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151931164600337.1073741855.781050336&type=1&l=a1ffedf603

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152255397090337.1073741878.781050336&type=1&l=8f6bd43a17

And, finally, for anyone who is not yet a member of the Writers' Centre Facebook page, a space where you can post anything related to the literary arts - it is not confined to the topic of Creative Writing Holidays, then the link is here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/374437262578364/

Writers' Cruise Luxor to Aswan - a True Love Letter to the Nile

I organised a a Writing Cruise from Luxor to Aswan from May 12th to 16th and it was fabulous!  A true love letter to the Nile and an inspiration beyond the beyond.
 
It was a fantastic itinerary of temple tours in the mornings and daily writing class in the afternoons, cruising along the inspirational waters of the Nile on a 5 star boat, the Nile Smart, with accommodation and meals all included.

Please see the original advert with details here and keep watching my Writers' Centre blog for further trips: courses and events. http://www.writerscentre.blogspot.com/2014/04/writing-cruise-from-luxor-to-aswan.html

For those interested specifically in Creative Writing Holidays in Egypt then please join this open group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/627629983996816/

The guide, Mahmoud, 'Mac', that was with us throughout the cruise was exceptionally professional, knowledgable, personable and experienced.  Mahmoud has a brilliant website http://www.trulyegypt.com/
for anyone interested in looking at his 'normal' tour options ie those that do not include writing tuition.  However, look out here on this blog for more writing holidays and residential workshops coming up of varying lengths and in inspiring destinations around Egypt!!

 
Check all the Writers' Cruise photo albums!

Day 1: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152506826535337.1073741888.781050336&type=1&l=0543515a53


Day 2: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152506846425337.1073741889.781050336&type=1&l=2843e4012e 


Dat 3: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152506851995337.1073741890.781050336&type=1&l=7a58bcdf28 

Day 4: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152506863225337.1073741891.781050336&type=1&l=1fd4f52c66

Last Day: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152506892575337.1073741892.781050336&type=1&l=43d7534c66

 

 

 

 

Short Story Course with Linda Cleary in May/June

Last chance this side of the year to take this course!  After this roll out the next Short Story course will not be available again until September/October 2014.

Please note that to register you must go to Diwan Zamalek store and give your name and payment in advance - as seats go quickly! *Diwan deal with ALL registration.

Short Story Course with Linda Cleary

For those who completed the 4 week Creative Writing course or who have proven writing skills.

This course focuses on work on character, voice, atmosphere, plot and building story and we continue with further creative writing expansion techniques.

We also read published short stories for discussion and understanding format, focusing on the necessary elements for each student to produce a final draft of a 1000 word narrative.

4 weeks (8 hr course)

once a week on Mondays starting 19^th May

from 7.30pm to 9.30pm

at Diwan Zamalek

Price 540 LE

Limited number (10 students maximum only) – please register in advance

Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)

Creative Writing Courses for May/June with Linda Cleary

Last chance this side of the year to take this course!  After this roll out the next Creative Writing course will not be available again until September/October 2014

Please note that to register you must go to the Diwan store you wish to take the course in and give your name and payment in advance - as seats go quickly!  *Diwan deal with ALL registration.

Creative Writing Course with Linda Cleary

The Creative Writing course acts as an extended masterclass looking at various techniques and exercises to open up and improve writing skills, work with metaphor and imagery, create texts and narratives to given themes and word counts as well as free writing.

There is no criteria other than a willingness to open up one's writing; the course is designed that people of varying writing experience can participate and each draw their individual benefits.

4 weeks (8 hr course)

once a week on Tuesdays starting 20th May

from 7.30pm to 9.30pm

at Diwan Zamalek

and

once a week on Saturdays starting 24^th May

from 7pm to 9pm

at Diwan Heliopolis

Price 540 LE

Limited number – please register in advance

Age group: for adults (17 yrs +)