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!

Water. It covers 71% of the world´s surface. And it steers the flow of our day to day living in more ways than we realise. The relationship that we have with water is something so entrenched in our every day lives, that we often take it for granted. Or worse, we don´t even notice it.

But it´s there. Rinsing, cleansing, quenching, pouring, soaking, cooking, raining, healing, swimming, drenching, dripping. And in different cultures water is used in distinctive and different ways. It´s one of the delights brought to life when you visit other cultures.

Some of the ways that you can appreciate the alternative uses of waters are in the Arab baths of Spain. Córdoba, Madrid, Granada and Sancti Pectri are a few of the cities that boast live Arab baths. Here you can begin to understand the centrality of water in the Islamic way of life. You can luxuriate in the hot baths, have a message, take advantage of the aromatherapy specialists, and either visit the Arab tea bar or enjoy a spectacular dinner. It is also a way to get in touch with the history of the country, and learn about the different cultural influences exerted on this part of Europe. www.hammamspain.com

Alternatively, Huningue, St Cyprien, Port Leucate and Cap d’Agde are some of the parts of France that offer mega hydro-fun with their spectacular water parks. With the hot peppery sun beating down on those French summer days, you can slide your way into oblivion in these Hurculean watery playgrounds. It makes for a great dynamic day with the kids, and you can really get to grips with the raw elements against your bare skin. (Don´t forget to re-apply sun screen - factor 20 mimimum!) Aqualand, for example, has sites in Portugal, France and Spain. http://www.aqualand.es/common/popup_aqualand_ok.php

And the most atmospheric of all would be the ethereal Blue Lagoon of Iceland. You can spend a day wading into the depths of the cobalt waters, or take the opportunity to pamper and cleanse your body with the healing properties of the hot springs and body treatments, all against the backdrop of the Icelandic planes. http://www.bluelagoon.com

Water is just one example of the many common themes that unites us as humans across the planet. It can be something really quite thought provoking, when you see it used in such inspired and different ways.