Reflections on travel writing
December 24, 2007
I love this picture of the boats in Alghero harbour.
It talks to me of what I love most about travel writing.
Capturing the colour of an experience, the essence of a place. The time to stop, watch, reflect and wonder.
The time and space to reflect on what you’ve seen, what you’ve felt, heard and experienced, and how it fits, somehow, into the bigger picture of your life.
from Joanna in Edinburgh
December 2007
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Travel Info
December 24, 2007
Plane. Ferry. Train. Coach. Car.
There are so many ways of getting to Sardinia and joining us for our writing workshops and retreats.
I’ve gathered together some information on your travel options for getting to Sardinia. There should be something that works for you, wherever you’re coming from.
Click through the links and see which way is best for you.
Plane
AirOne flies direct to Alghero from Genova, Milan Linate, Rome and Turin. AirOne also flies to Cagliari from Milan Linate and Rome.
Ryanair flies direct to Alghero from Barcelona Girona, Brema, Dublin, Dusseldorf Weeze, East Midlands, Frankfurt Hahn, Liverpool, London Stansted, Madrid, Milan Orio al Serio, Pisa and Stockholm Skavsta.
easyJet flies direct to Cagliari from Geneva, London Luton and Milan Malpensa. From Cagliari, you can catch the coach or train to Alghero. easyJet also flies direct to Olbia from Basel-Mulhouse Freiberg, Berlin Schoenefeld, Bristol, Geneva, London Gatwick and Milan Malpensa.
Meridiana flies direct to Cagliari from Bologna, Florence, Milan Linate, Naples, Palermo, Paris, Rome, Turin, Venice and Verona. Meridiana also flies direct to Olbia from Bologna, Catania, London Gatwick, Milan Linate, Paris, Rome, Turin and Verona.
Ferry
Grandi Navi Veloci has regular ferry crossings to Porto Torres from Genova.
Moby has regular ferry crossings to Porto Torres from Genova and to Olbia from Civitavecchia, Genova,Livorno and Piombino. There is also a crossing from Bonifacio (Corsica) to Santa Teresa di Gallura.
Sardinia Ferries has regular ferry crossings to Golfo Aranci from Civitavecchia, Livorno and Piombino. Sardinia Ferries also has a crossing to Santa Teresa di Gallura from Bonifacio (Corsica).
Tirrenia has regular ferry crossings to Porto Torres from Genova, to Olbia from Civitavecchia and Genoa, to Arbatax from Civitavecchia, Fiumicino and Genova and to Cagliari from Civitavecchia, Naples, Palermo and Trapani.
Coach
Arst and Turmo Travel run regular coach services.
Train
For train travel within Sardinia check out www.trenitalia.it.
from Emma in Sardinia
December 2007
Photo Credit: Plane Wing by aka Kath on flickr
People watching
December 24, 2007
A black and white photo of a fisherman at Alghero harbour.
Watch quietly. Listen. Observe.
Then describe what you see. Add colour to the picture. Bring the story to life.
from Joanna in Edinburgh
December 2007
Photo Credit: Alghero Fisherman by ulybug on flickr
Sardinia in October
December 24, 2007
I don’t know how the weather is where you are in October. In Scotland it’s cool and grey and we’re starting to pine for the sunshine. I find it hard to imagine but I’m prepared to believe what Emma tells me about Sardinia in October (she should know - she lives there!).
That’s it’s sunny and warm. Sunny and warm enough to sit outside, to work outside, to write outside.
That the sky will be blue and the sea green.
Good enough for me.
from Joanna in Edinburgh
December 2007
Photo Credit: Alghero Harbour by ulybug on flickr
Brevity, simplicity, clarity
December 24, 2007
We’ll be looking at some key ingredients of absorbing writing in the 4 day workshop: brevity, simplicity, clarity.
This picture got me thinking about the workshop and some ways of getting into that clear frame of mind.
Take a look at this photo of the harbour - and then think for a moment.
What does it teach you about brevity, simplicity, clarity? How could you apply that learning to your writing?
from Joanna in Edinburgh
December 2007
Photo Credit: alghero harbour by AnnaKika on flickr
What you’ll need to bring
December 21, 2007
When it comes to packing your suitcase remember that Italians are in a league of their own in the style stakes - and that goes for men as well as women.
Must-have items include:
- stylish warm weather clothes because Sardinia’s summer lasts until November
- some SPF30 to stop you turning lobster red
- your favourite sunglasses.
You’ll need them unless you want to squint all day.
Oh, and don’t forget your laptop or pen and paper to write on…
from Emma in Sardinia
December 2007