Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

Turning over a new leaf

Take a trip that will leave you with more than a nice tan this autumn by nurturing a new talent or improving on your existing skills. From the literary in the Languedoc to the culinary in Andalucia, Jenny McNeely discovers that a holiday can be a real education

Illustrations Rob Cowan

Writers’ retreat

Don’t let another year pass by without discovering that novel inside you just waiting to get out. Taking place amidst the vineyards of Southern France, Fiction for the Fearful is a course aimed at those who have always wanted to put pen to paper but don’t quite know where to start. Your guru will be British writer Patrick Gale, author of 14 novels and a book reviewer for The Independent. The course is structured around writing exercises and reading groups designed to put you back in touch with your imagination, and everyone has the opportunity for a private tutorial with Patrick.

The holiday is based in the Château Ventenac in the Languedoc region of France. The views from the terraced gardens over the vineyards to the Canal du Midi and the Pyrennes beyond are bound to kick-start your creativity, while inside the marble fireplaces and polished oak floors provide a tranquil atmosphere in which to unleash your masterpiece.

Need to know The course runs from 6-12 November and costs €847; non-participating partners can stay in the château for €549. www.chateauventenac.com/writingcourses

La bella photography

Undergo your own renaissance in Florence with the opportunity to polish up your Italian and develop your photography skills at the same time. This two-week course begins with a short test to assess your grasp of the language before you embark on daily classes. All levels of language skill are catered for, but for the photography aspect you will need to have basic experience of developing and printing. The photography classes will take up 10 hours of your week, and include access to a studio.

You can stay with an Italian family for the duration of the course, providing an immersive experience that will not only give you lots of opportunity to put your conversational skills to the test but also allow you a unique insight into Italian culture. Weekends are yours to roam the city or take part in social and cultural activities organised by the holiday operator, such as group walking tours, wine tasting and museum visits.

Need to know Courses run in October and November and cost from €777 for 14 days. Homestays on a B&B basis cost from €150 per week, while shared self-catering accommodation costs from €128 per week. Pack a small Italian dictionary in your luggage; if you don’t bring your own camera, you can rent one from the photography school for an additional €50. www.golearnto.com

Catering and cantering

Do you crave the chance to perfect your rising trot? Are you frustrated by your inability to recreate your favourite holiday food when you return home? This unusual combination of skills is catered for in the stunning surrounds of the Andalucia Triangle – the area between Cordoba, Malaga and Granada. Classes are aimed at those with intermediate to advanced riding skills and you can choose an equestrian speciality on which to focus, from dressage to jumping – all under the tutelage of a qualified BHSAI instructor. The course runs for four days, during which you will also learn how to cook three-course Spanish menus featuring dishes such as gazpacho and codornices con higos – quails with spiced figs – or opt to master the perfect paella.

Accommodation is in a restored 150-year-old finca in the hamlet of Los Juncares near the Moorish village of Iznájar. You can also choose to extend your stay beyond the duration of the course.

Need to know Courses start at €430, while hiring a car from the airport is strongly recommended for travel to and from the finca. Riding helmets will be provided, but visitors should bring jodhpurs and riding boots or a suitable equivalent. www.golearnto.com

Christmas cracker

Transform yourself into a domestic god/ goddess in time for the festive season with the help of The Grove hotel in the Hertfordshire countryside, which is running two exclusive masterclass weekends this autumn. Experts from McQueens florists will teach the art of flower arranging, while master pâtissier Eric Lanlard will demonstrate how to bake and decorate perfect Christmas delicacies.

Taking the opulent decadence of Moscow as its inspiration, McQueens will decorate the hotel with bold colours and oversized babushka dolls, which the masterclasses will help you recreate in your own home. The kids’ club, Anouska’s, will also keep your youngsters occupied with their own classes in making Christmas gifts and cards – expect a lot of glitter and glue, and be thankful that you won’t be clearing it up.

Need to know The masterclasses take place 26-27 November and 3-4 December, costing €347 including B&B accommodation. Non-residents can attend the masterclasses for €103 per workshop. www.thegrove.co.uk

Further education

Trips with a twist

Conservation

The National Trust runs working holidays across the UK. Expect everything from bashing rhododendrons to constructing a dry stone wall. www.nationaltrust.co.uk

Animal action

Combine a holiday with working in a sanctuary for chimpanzees near Girona in Spain, with 90% of the profits going straight to the rescue centre. www.responsibletravel.com

Tasting tour

Learn about the Tokaj harvest and the wine-making history of Hungary with workshops in Budapest. Author of Food Wine Budapest Carolyn Bánfalvi will also take you on a market tour of the city, with tips on seasonal produce. www.tastehungary.com

FR Tourner une nouvelle page

Des ateliers littéraires dans le Languedoc aux formations culinaires en Andalousie, Jenny McNeely découvre que vacances peut rimer avec connaissances

Retraite d’écrivains En plein cœur des vignobles du sud de la France, Fiction for the Fearful s’adresse à ceux qui ont toujours rêvé d’écrire mais qui ne savent pas par où commencer. Ces ateliers, qui se déroulent au Château Ventenac dans le Languedoc, sont donnés par l’auteur britannique Patrick Gale. La vue devrait déjà stimuler votre imagination. Informations utiles : du 6 au 12 novembre ; coût 847 €. chateauventenac.com/writingcourses

La bella photographie En 14 jours, perfectionnez italien et photographie. Peu importe votre connaissance de la langue, par contre vous aurez besoin d’expérience technique en développement et impression. Pour un plus culturel, séjournez dans une famille italienne. Informations utiles : cours d’octobre à novembre, à partir de 777 € ; logements B&B à partir de 150 €/semaine. golearnto.com

Cuisine et cheval C’est un mélange inhabituel d’équitation et de cuisine qui est proposé dans ce fabuleux « triangle d’or andalou ». Destiné aux cavaliers moyens ou avancés, le cours de quatre jours inclut aussi la préparation de recettes espagnoles comme le gazpacho et la paëlla. Informations utiles : le prix des cours démarre à 430 € ; la réservation d’une voiture est recommandée. golearnto.com

Crackers de Noël Transformez-vous en dieu ou déesse domestique pour les fêtes, avec les cours de l’hôtel The Grove dans la campagne anglaise. Les experts de chez McQueens vous apprendront les arrangements floraux tandis que le pâtissier Eric Lanlard fera des démonstrations de délices de Noël. Informations utiles : cours 26-27 novembre et 3-4 décembre, au prix de 347 €, frais d’hébergement B&B inclus. thegrove.co.uk

NL Met een schone lei beginnen

Van literatuur in de Languedoc tot gastronomie in Andalusië. Jenny McNeely ontdekt hoe u op vakantie ook iets kunt bijleren

Schrijversuitje Wie altijd al wilde schrijven maar niet wist hoe eraan te beginnen kan terecht bij Fiction for the Fearful, te midden van de Zuid-Franse wijngaarden. Alleen al het uitzicht vanuit het Château Ventenac zou uw verbeelding moeten prikkelen tijdens deze cursus in de Languedoc onder leiding van de Britse schrijver Patrick Gale. Praktische informatie: van 6-12 november; kostprijs €847. chateauventenac.com/writingcourses

La bella fotografie Poets uw Italiaans op en ontwikkel uw fotovaardigheden tijdens deze 14-daagse cursus. De cursus is beschikbaar in alle taalniveaus maar u hebt wel ervaring nodig rond foto-ontwikkeling en -afdruk. Tijdens uw verblijf bij een Italiaanse familie ontdekt u de Italiaanse cultuur. Praktische informatie: lessen in oktober en november, vanaf €777; B&B verblijf in gezinnen vanaf €150/week. golearnto.com

Gastronomie in galop In de oogverblindende Andalusische driehoek kunt u terecht voor een bijzondere combinatie van paardrijden en koken. Tijdens deze vierdaagse cursus voor middelmatige en gevorderde ruiters leert u de keukengeheimen achter Spaanse gerechten zoals gazpacho en paella. Praktische informatie: Lessen al vanaf €430; huurauto sterk aanbevolen. golearnto.com

Spetterende kerst Word de ideale gastheer/vrouw tijdens deze masterclass in het Grovehotel op het Britse platteland. De experts van McQueens leren u alles over bloemschikken en pâtissier Eric Lanlard leert u de perfecte kerstdesserts bereiden. Praktische informatie: de lessen vinden plaats op 26-27 november en 3-4 december en kosten €347, inclusief verblijf in een B&B. thegrove.co.uk

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