In our second post of this tour along the European Mediterranean coast, we continue in Marbella because there is more to share about this city to entice the avid home swapper.

Beaches: Marbella has more than 25 different beaches along 30 Km, the most famous and most visited are in the area of Puerto Banus but since it is a city visited by the rich and famous, any beach has amenities nearby, good bathing conditions and sometimes even services right on the sand

Sports: There are many sports you can play in Marbella, not all related to the sea, but it is fair to say these are quite popular. You can golf, bowl, go trekking, rock climbing, horse riding or hiking in the near mountains (there are 4×4s available if you are not that into “actively” enjoying nature), and of course there are tennis courts and football fields as well.

For nights and rainy days: There are literally hundreds of bars, pubs and nightclubs in Marbella, so you won’t have problems finding things to do with your nights during your house swap. But also, you can attend flamenco shows or a show in a bullring (not only bullfights) which are a patrimony of Spain.

Image: bk images / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

We are going back to our inspiration for the past months: music. And where are we going to let music take us now? To Brazil. Like in our tour throughout the United States following the footsteps left behind by the rise and development of Jazz and the Blues, we are probably going to need several posts to explore the musical Brazil.

There are several things Brazil is know for, including soccer players, “Carnaval”, the Amazon Rainforest and its  But the fifth largest country in extension and the fifth most populated certainly has many more things to offer.  One of the recurring things you are going to read about in our posts about Brazil are its sandy beaches, because it has a coastline bathed by the Atlantic Ocean that stretches over 7000 Km. This combined with its nice climate, mostly tropical and sub-tropical, makes it a perfect destination for beach lovers.

From the 16th century, with the merge of Portuguese (colonizers), Africans (slaves) and Amerindian (indigenous) populations, a diverse culture developed, that was further enriched with the later arrival of immigrants from different parts of the world, including Italic, Arabic and German immigrants that travelled to the New World searching for new opportunities. There are many music styles that originated in this cultural fermentation broth, like samba, axé, choro and bossa nova.

Come with us to explore Brazi in our nexts posts and then let yourself be amazed by the beauty of its natural resources, the warmth of its people and the richness of its culture. A home exchange to Brazil may be just right for you.

When someone talks about Cannes in France, I usually only think of one thing: the Cannes International Film Festival. Every year, the festival is celebrated and the best films from all around the world are given recognition and honor. Movie buffs anticipate this event held every May. But is there more to Cannes than just the host for this wonderful festival?

Well, yes. Cannes is a city with overflowing culture and rich history. The city is located in the French Riviera, south east of France. The name “Cannes” has unknown origins, but suggested that it may have been derived from the work “canna”, meaning reed. As early as 2^nd century BC, Cannes was already established as a fishing village until Romans have since then occupied the city. The Spanish and British armies fought over the Lerins Islands in an attempt to gain control of it during the 18^th century.

Cannes is perfect for any outdoor activity, as the city has its share of the warm Mediterranean climate. Cannes has long been famous for its climate, as more tourists come here to spend 30°C Summer days. La Croisette is surrounded by beaches open to the public. It also is the place for boutiques, cafés and restaurants. La Croisette also houses several museums including Musée de la Mer, Musée de la Photographie and Musée International de la Parfumerie among others. La Suquet is the village overlooking La Croisette, this is where grand residencies were first built.

Grand residentcies or not, you are sure to find a home exchange available here. If not, you can also have home swapped in the nearby cities as going to Cannes is very quick and easy. Cannes is just an 8 hour drive away from Paris, as same as to Monaco and Nice. Brussels is a 6-hour travel via the railway system while 5 hours for Milan.

So next time someone says Cannes, it’s not just the film festival that you should think of, there are a lot of things to know and discover in Cannes. You might want to consider giving in to the idea of a visit there.

If you are one of those people who love to go on nature tripping, then Madeira in Portugal is a perfect vacation spot for you. Whether you are feeling like a beach bum or looking for a hiking adventure, or maybe just wanting to relax your view with the greens of floras and blues of the sea, this is definitely the place to go visit.

Madeira is an archipelago with volcanic origins that is one of the Autonomous Regions in Portugal that is located along the mid Atlantic Ocean (read: perfect place to get a tan). The archipelago is famous for its waters, the sea is always nearby. The waves are perfect, surfing competitions and championships are held here almost regularly. And if you aren’t up for any beach-related activity, there is always the Levadas or aqueducts to find an adventure in. The Levadas aside from producing hydro-electric power for the region, provides a beautiful view of the mountainous regions. Discover different floras and faunas that are unique to Madeira. UNESCO did not award Madeira as a World Heritage Site for nothing. To top things off, food here is extremely sumptuous, local specialties that are a must try are the Bolo de mel (honey cake), and black scabbardfish or espada, as it is locally known. Don’t forget to give Madeira wine a try.

Madeira is nice to visit all year round, as this place is also famous for its huge fireworks display during New Year’s Eve. Getting here is not even a problem as there are direct flights from most European cities and from Lisbon and Porto locally. If you are in main Portugal, you can get to Madeira in no time. That means you could have a home exchange anywhere in Portugal and still enjoy Madeira’s beauty and get back to your home swap in an ease.

One of the many wonderful things about summer is the beach.

Whether it be rolling up your trousers to take walk along the shore, stepping lightly just where the cold fizzling water combs the sand and relaxing your heels into the marshy surface… Or whether it’s a proper, all out, full body wax, string bikini, factor 4 body oil, day long’s dedication.

Or maybe it could be a day organized around meal-times, as all the best days are. A picnic on the beach, followed by a a creamy calorie packed-out Mr Whippy Ice-cream (crunchy chocolate flake to boot). Then a siddle down to a summer haven of a bar, to sit back and sip the sweet syrup of the sangria, packed out with loaded bed of red oranges. Or you could just get a beer. The important thing is the way the light falls across the sand and that clanging salty sea air caressing your skin and just how relaxed and calm you feel in that environment.

We already have a selection of beach houses at http://en.homeforhome.com, not to mention homes available that are close to the beach. With the summer coming, if you’re not lucky enough to live by the shores, now is the perfect time to get organizing your beach holiday home exchange!