Destinations Travel Show and Awards
What better time than Travel Tuesday than to talk about the very event which celebrates both books and travel in the most unique of ways?
It was a real honour to be invited to this event and to the awards ceremony. So many people to thank (individually otherwise this post would be a long list!) and to all those I met on the days themselves.
The show itself was one discussion about books, walks and travel. Julia Bradbury was at the Outdoor Guide stand for two days with her very adorable son who is as passionate about travel as she is! He’s my phone a friend for he knows his stuff!
I thought a photoguide was the best way to go here – some of the crazy antics, the lovely people and the awards themselves…sometimes words are just not enough:
Julia Bradbury
I was there to work with Julia Bradbury and the Outdoor Guide – what they don’t know about walks and walking, just isn’t worth knowing! There are now quite a lot more people coming up to Vera country Ann Cleeves! and others I guided to other counties in and around the UK where the best literary walks are to be found. I promise to answer each and every one of your emails in the next few days! Julia spoke twice on stage showcasing her latest programme 100 walks and inspired even more people in the process
I was encouraged to travel more internationally too – well, sort of – as given the premise of the BookTrail – which is inspired by the novel 80 Days Around the World, my colleagues decided that a 80 seconds around the world was a good homage to the site and to the Destinations show. So, here we are in Australia and Asia:
Getting led astray by my Outdoor Guide colleagues
Getting led astray by my Outdoor Guide colleagues
We did get a few funny looks but we also got some lovely gifts such as sweets on our way around….
The best look of the show was that on all our faces when Levison Wood rocked up to say hello! And to say a personal thank you for the BookTrail of his latest book Eastern Horizons. I’ve promised to put his other ones up there asap. And I MAY have offered to come and live in his library…..yes he has a library. Could he BE any more perfect? Loves adventure AND Books!
Levison Wood – words fail
And now for the awards. One of the highlights of the week: So many deserving winners and authors. Met the judges, publicists, travel people from so many differerent backgrounds…what a fascinating fascinating evening. A real honour to celebrate the love of travel and books in one place. Such an opulent setting and a grand dinner to boot:
Destinations dinner
I didn’t really want to be THAT person who photographs all the dishes but this one – beef cooked in liquorice sauce was something else. No time to photograph the desert – it disappeared before I had a chance! Too yummy.
The Stanford globes for the winners
The best awards ever for a travel writer or for an author who writes a book with a keen sense of place. I may have stroked one or two and even tried to take one home, but sadly had to leave them for the winners.
One of the winners on the evening
This was one of the loveliest surprises as the author was so overcome and surprised on the evening. This was also one of the titles which left me with such an impression. The whole evening was a celebration to the world of books and travel and I was honoured to be part of it.
So where will you travel this Travel Tuesday?
Destinations around the world await – thebooktrail.com/books-with-a-sense-of-place/
