Vacationing at beach is like heaven or earth for all the aqua lovers and fans. The beach vacation is different from the rest where you the pleasure to get soaked in the sun and sand, experience the ups and downs with the tides and get carried away with the huge waves. To enjoy the water and water activities there are several beach destinations around the world.

• The Capri Islands is an amazingly beautiful coastline. It has no beach yet it is deemed to be one of the best amongst the international beaches. The island has “bathing establishments” in place of beaches. It has a treasure of beach towels, beach balls and beach bunnies. The island is famous to host the rich and facilitate them with perfect luxuries and the exotic Roman art and architecture.

• Barcelona can never be overlooked in the count of beach holidays. Barcelona beaches like the Bora Bora, the nude beach Platia de la Mar Bella, Platja de Sant Sebastia and Platia Barcelona one of the most popular beaches of the world, invite visitors all round the year and from everywhere in the world. Besides the seaside fun and adventure this city of Spain is also perfect for sightseeing. There are marvelous museums, traditional buildings and at display the magnum opus of some of the great architects likes Antonio Gaudi.

• Bermuda has always excited the spirits of all the water devotees. The island is known for some of the ravishing beaches with pink sand and greenish water, fishing activity and uniquely painted homes and cottages. Amongst the well known beaches of the place is the Horseshoe Bay close to the southern end of the island. This Bay is further divided into smaller coves and bays on both the sides and is also a home to many good hotels, restaurants, tennis courts and golf courses. The Astwood Cove is another beach region which is bordered by tall cliffs and beaches with numerous water sports and bewitching flora and fauna. Apart from the beach amusement the island offers delectable sea food and a peculiar lifestyle that makes your vacation a memorable experience.
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A new look, a new name: The Rittenhouse Square Bed and Breakfast transforms into Philadelphia’s prmiere luxury accommodation — Rittenhouse 1715, a boutique hotel.

With the completion of the first phase of renovations, The Rittenhouse Square Bed and Breakfast embraces its fresh, innovative look with a distinct new name — Rittenhouse 1715, A Boutique Hotel. One of Philadelphia’s most exclusive and luxurious hotel accommodations, Rittenhouse 1715 guarantees impeccable service infused in a locale of refined and sophisticated style. Intimate surroundings, unique design, a dedication to detail, and the highest standards of hospitality will define the boutique hotel experience at Rittenhouse 1715.

Located off Philadelphia’s world-renowned Rittenhouse Square, Rittenhouse 1715 is a boutique hotel of sixteen stately rooms outfitted in the finest furnishings and decorated with exquisite artwork. The original Walter Cope designed carriage house and adjacent Georgian townhouse have been combined to enhance the hotel with an inviting drawing room, and an elaborate, two-story presidential suite. Led by famed masterminds of design, Peter Salgado and Kip Saucier of Salgado Saucier, traditional and eclectic styles reminiscent of the Rittenhouse Square area have been uniquely intertwined throughout the establishment to create an ambiance of chic elegance and modern comfort. Perfectly complimenting the historical foundation of Rittenhouse 1715, the design updates provided by Salgado Saucier introduce a new level of style and tranquility that truly makes each guest feel that have checked-in to their own personal sanctuary.
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For three, five, seven or however many days, the ship’s cabin will be your second home. Depending on your plans for rest and relaxation, you might want to give some thought to your choice of cabins. If you plan to be on the go, go, go and partake of all the ship has to offer, then pay for the cheapest cabin rate. After all, you will only be in your cabin to sleep and change your clothes. However, if you need to be alone and plan to huddle in your cabin at times, reconsider your options.

All cruise cabins are created for comfort with a sensible design where you can move with ease. Nonetheless, all cruise cabins are not the same. Your normal, average cruise ship cabin is going to be smaller that what you would find at some landlocked hotel. To compensate for the size, cruise lines spoil the passengers with mints on their pillows, shampoos, bath gel, fluffy robes and other amenities.

The cruise ship cabins were designed to make the best of the least amount of space possible. Sure some cabins have more room than others, but in any case, not a square inch is wasted. The cruise literature depicts a roomy cabin but that is just trick photography. The furnishings are utilitarian, but attractive. There is often a queen or king sized bed that could be broken down into twin beds if you were traveling with a companion other than a spouse or significant other. A closet or wardrobe is also in the cabin with a desk, bathroom, shower and chair. Depending on the size of your cabin, you might even have a little nook with a small couch and table.
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If you are planning to attempt to walk up Ben Nevis this summer there are some interesting facts you might like to know. Standing at 1,344 metres high (or 4,408 feet) Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles, and as such is the major challenge for any UK climber or walker. It is also a challenge for people to get into the record books by attempting the climb in peculiar ways!

For the novice or non serious walker, once this peak has been achieved you can sit back and hang up your walking boots knowing that you have beaten the ultimate walk (as far as height is concerned, anyway).

Ben Nevis, translated from the Gaelic means ‘Mountain of Heaven’. The first recorded ascent was in 1771, and in 1883 the footpath and observatory were built all thanks to Clement Linley Wragge, nicknamed Inclement Wragge.

Ben Nevis Weather

If you plan to walk up Ben Nevis you will find it hard to pick a day with perfect weather. The mountain summit is only clear on one day out of 10 on average. The old observatory records show 261 full gales per year, and 4,350 mm of rainfall, compared with less than half that amount in Fort William, the town at the foot of the Ben. The wettest month of the year is December. Only in April, May and June is the monthly rainfall less than 25 cm.

The AVERAGE temperature at the summit is one degree below freezing.

Deep snow lies all year in large pockets at the foot of the northern and northa east cliffs, and snow can fall in any month of the year. h

Every year around 100,000 visitors find their way to the summit. Following the path on a summer’s day is a fairly safe way to the top, but going off the path or rock climbing can be very dangerous. In a five year period there were 13 deaths on the mountain. Although most averagely fit people can reach the top safely, it is not a walk in the park, and common sense safety precautions should be followed.

Check the weather before you set out!
Always make sure someone knows you are going to climb the mountain so they can raise the alarm if you do not return!
Keep to the path!

Meteorologists on Ben Nevis

Wragge was a meteorologist who climbed Ben Nevis every day to collect weather information. Wragge would collect information from various points on the way up and down the mountain, and his wife would collect readings from their home at sea level. His journey took him four hours to reach the top, and he was away from home for around 11 hours per day. From the 1st June 1881 to the 14th October 1882, and for a similar period in 1882 Wragge climbed the mountain every day without fail. In 1883 sufficient funds were raised to build the path and the 13 foot square room with 10 foot thick walls which was to be the Observatory. To help raise the funds walkers using the path were charged 1 shilling (5p in modern money), and 3 shillings if they were on horseback. Permits could be bought from a shop in Fort William, or from a path maintenance man based at the half way hut.

By 1884 an office, two bedrooms and a visitor’s room was added to the observatory, together with a 30 foot tower (which would rise above the snow in the winter. The observatory was connected by telegraph, and later by phone to the Fort William Post Office. From 1884 to 1904, when funds ran out, the observatory was permanently manned and weather conditions were rigorously recorded. The normal summer shift at the summit was two months. They had fresh food in the summer. In the summer tinned food for nine months was taken up by horses, and coke, for fuel, was carried the same way.
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