Writing The Journey         January 10 – 23, 2013.

A creative adventure into the heart of Moroccan culture beginning in the world heritage city of Fes, home to the oldest continuously functioning university in the world.

Known as the Mecca of the West and the Athens of Africa  we spend two days exploring its fascinating markets and medinas before heading out for our desert retreat.  Our destination is a retreat in the Saharan village of Tissardine owned and run by Australian artist Karen Hadfield.

‘Situated in an oasis, this tiny traditional Berber village comprising of 15 houses, is perched on the edge of one of the Sahara’s most extraordinary natural phenomenons, Erg Chebbi, a large dune stretching 22 kms long and 5 kms wide and peaking up to 150 metres high.

Formed by wind blown sand, Erg Chebbi is celebrated for its unique golden-orange sand formations that start at the most northern tip of the Sahara and undulate across Morocco to Tomboctou.

Located 30km from the more well-trodden towns of Erfoud and Rissani, Tissardmine is a place of tranquility, where the loudest thing you will hear is the birdsong’.

After our six day writing retreat in this peaceful oasis, we continue on our desert journey to Marrakech and end our caravan feasting on the sights and sounds of this famous Moroccan city.

This fourteen day creative adventure into the Moroccan desert will take you deep into the heart and essence of your writing. Start a new project, revitalise an old one or simply write the journey. All genres and levels of experience welcome.
The Workshops
Daily workshops begin in Fes and follow the cosmology of the eight pointed star, which is the base of Moroccan decorative arts, architecture and Islamic symbology. Each day as we travel the desert sands from the ancient city of Fes to our six day oasis retreat in Tissardine and on to Marrakech, we will explore the mystical significance of the eight cardinal directions and the areas of writing craft they relate to. Meditative writing techniques combined with image and sense explorations will take your writing to new and unexpected places as the journey reveals the geographic treasures of the shifting Saharan landscape. With the Moroccan star as our map and guiding light, on our last day we will arrive at the ninth point, the centre of the octagon, which in Sufi beliefs represents wholeness and perfection.  As we pack our bags for our return we can be sure the profound knowledge and newfound discoveries of our adventure will be useful in our writing for years to come.

Places are limited and are filling fast so. To secure your place with your deposit asap contact Jan

Cost:  $3630AUD. (quoted price may change slightly according to local conditions and additional excursions )

Includes the itinerary below. Does not include return airfare from Australia to Cassablanca then on to Fes(approx $2500AUD and stopover in Dubai $150AUD).

Morrocan Caravan – Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive Fes, stay in a fabulous medina, first writing workshop

Day 2  – Guided tour around Fes

Day 3 -Travel through the desert to Tissardmine Artist’s Retreat

Days 4 – 9  – six day intensive writers retreat with daily workshops, evening readings and local desert excursions

Day 10 -Travel to Todra Gorge

Day 11 – Travel to Marrakech

Day 12 – A Day exploring Marrakech

Day 13 – Last writing workshop and celebration in  Marrakech

Day 14 – Depart for Oz or continue own itinerary

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