Holidays

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Buckets and spades and other beach toys are displayed for sale at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: People enjoy the summer weather on the beach at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Buckets and spades and other beach toys are displayed for sale at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: People enjoy the summer weather on the beach at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

Volunteer workers from the charity organisation 'Secours populaire' put on a skit during a giant picnic organised for the 'Day of the forgotten by holidays' on August 19, 2010 on the Champs-de-Maris in Paris. The NGO has organised this every year since 1979 for families and their children who are too poor to go on holidays.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: People enjoy the summer weather on the beach at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: People enjoy the summer weather on the beach at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: People enjoy the summer weather on the beach at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: People enjoy the summer weather on the beach at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: Buckets and spades are displayed for sale at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

WEYMOUTH, ENGLAND - JULY 21: A vanancies sign is displayed in a hotel at the seafront on July 21, 2010 in Weymouth, England. With many schools in England and Wales about to, or already, broken-up for the summer holidays, many seaside resorts are gearing to what they hope will be a bumper summer season, with many Britons opting to stay in the UK for their holidays due to the weak UK pound and continuing economic woes.

Dogs play together on May 30, 2010 at the Champs-de-Mars, in Paris, during the first 'dogdating' ever set in France. Copied on Speedating, this event, organised by Gardicanin company, allows dog owners and their pets to meet dogsitters in preparation for holidays.

BRONNITSY, RUSSIA - JUNE 19: Russian neo-pagans jump under a ritual fire celebrating the summer solstice festival called Kupalo on June 19, 2010 in a forest near Bronnitsy, 60 km east of Moscow, Russia. Hundreds of followers of slavic neo-pagan religious movements gathered in a forest to celebrate the midsummer. The festivities of Kupalo, or Kupala is known as one of the most expressive Russian folk and pagan holidays. According to their point of view they try to reconstruct the true religion of Russian people that was destroyed by early Russian Christian church 1000 years ago when it came to Russia and violently converted local pagan populations to Christianity. After the 1991 Soviet collapse Russia has seen a revival of religious movements,superstitions and creeds such as paganism.

BRONNITSY, RUSSIA - JUNE 19: Russian neo-pagans pray celebrating the summer solstice festival called Kupalo on June 19, 2010 in a forest near Bronnitsy, 60 km east of Moscow, Russia. Hundreds of followers of slavic neo-pagan religious movements gathered in a forest to celebrate the midsummer. The festivities of Kupalo, or Kupala is known as one of the most expressive Russian folk and pagan holidays. According to their point of view they try to reconstruct the true religion of Russian people that was destroyed by early Russian Christian church 1000 years ago when it came to Russia and violently converted local pagan populations to Christianity. After the 1991 Soviet collapse Russia has seen a revival of religious movements,superstitions and creeds such as paganism.

BRONNITSY, RUSSIA - JUNE 19: Russian neo-pagans attends in celebration of the summer solstice festival called Kupalo on June 19, 2010 in a forest near Bronnitsy, 60 km east of Moscow, Russia. Hundreds of followers of slavic neo-pagan religious movements gathered in a forest to celebrate the midsummer. The festivities of Kupalo, or Kupala is known as one of the most expressive Russian folk and pagan holidays. According to their point of view they try to reconstruct the true religion of Russian people that was destroyed by early Russian Christian church 1000 years ago when it came to Russia and violently converted local pagan populations to Christianity. After the 1991 Soviet collapse Russia has seen a revival of religious movements,superstitions and creeds such as paganism.

BRONNITSY, RUSSIA - JUNE 19: Russian neo-pagans play a traditional erotic slavic game celebrating the summer solstice festival called Kupalo on June 19, 2010 in a forest near Bronnitsy, 60 km east of Moscow, Russia. Hundreds of followers of slavic neo-pagan religious movements gathered in a forest to celebrate the midsummer. The festivities of Kupalo, or Kupala are known as one of the most expressive Russian folk and pagan holidays. According to their beliefs they try to reconstruct what they believe is the true religion of the Russian people that was destroyed by early Russian Christian church 1000 years ago when it came to Russia and violently converted local pagan populations to Christianity. After the 1991 Soviet collapse Russia has seen a revival of religious movements,superstitions and creeds such as paganism.

BRONNITSY, RUSSIA - JUNE 19: (EDITORS NOTE: CONTAINS NUDITY) Russian neo-pagans play a traditional erotic slavic game celebrating the summer solstice festival called Kupalo on June 19, 2010 in a forest near Bronnitsy, 60 km east of Moscow, Russia. Hundreds of followers of slavic neo-pagan religious movements gathered in a forest to celebrate the midsummer. The festivities of Kupalo, or Kupala are known as one of the most expressive Russian folk and pagan holidays. According to their beliefs they try to reconstruct what they believe is the true religion of the Russian people that was destroyed by early Russian Christian church 1000 years ago when it came to Russia and violently converted local pagan populations to Christianity. After the 1991 Soviet collapse Russia has seen a revival of religious movements,superstitions and creeds such as paganism.

BRONNITSY, RUSSIA - JUNE 19: Russian neo-pagans play with a fire celebrating the summer solstice festival called Kupalo on June 19, 2010 in a forest near Bronnitsy, 60 km east of Moscow, Russia. Hundreds of followers of slavic neo-pagan religious movements gathered in a forest to celebrate the midsummer. The festivities of Kupalo, or Kupala are known as one of the most expressive Russian folk and pagan holidays. According to their beliefs they try to reconstruct what they believe is the true religion of the Russian people that was destroyed by early Russian Christian church 1000 years ago when it came to Russia and violently converted local pagan populations to Christianity. After the 1991 Soviet collapse Russia has seen a revival of religious movements,superstitions and creeds such as paganism.

Tatooed US marines with 1/3 Charlie Company shows listen to instructions before leaving the USMC base for their holidays on Hawaiian island of Oahu on June 18, 2010, following his return after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

French singer Hindi Zahra performs during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2010. The 2010 edition of Solidays which runs until June 27, features more than 80 concerts bringing together diverse artists from every corner of the globe in support of the fight against AIDS. The name Solidays, a blend of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays�.

French singer Hindi Zahra performs during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2010. The 2010 edition of Solidays which runs until June 27, features more than 80 concerts bringing together diverse artists from every corner of the globe in support of the fight against AIDS. The name Solidays, a blend of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays�.

Mexican guitarists Rodriguo (R) y Gabriela (L) perform during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2010. The 2010 edition of Solidays which runs until June 27, features more than 80 concerts bringing together diverse artists from every corner of the globe in support of the fight against AIDS. The name Solidays is a blend of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays�.

French rap singer Melanie Georgiades aka Diam's performs during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2009. The name Solidays, an amalgam of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays� is meant to convey a sense of standing with AIDS victims while celebrating life and having fun.

French rap singer Melanie Georgiades aka Diam's performs during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2009. The name Solidays, an amalgam of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays� is meant to convey a sense of standing with AIDS victims while celebrating life and having fun.

French rap singer Melanie Georgiades aka Diam's performs during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2009. The name Solidays, an amalgam of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays� is meant to convey a sense of standing with AIDS victims while celebrating life and having fun.

British singer Jamie Lidell performs during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2010. The name Solidays, an amalgam of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays� is meant to convey a sense of standing with AIDS victims while celebrating life and having fun.

British singer Jamie Lidell performs during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2010. The name Solidays, an amalgam of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays� is meant to convey a sense of standing with AIDS victims while celebrating life and having fun.

French singer Hindi Zahra performs during the Solidays music festival at Paris� Longchamp racetrack on June 26, 2010. The 2010 edition of Solidays which runs until June 27, features more than 80 concerts bringing together diverse artists from every corner of the globe in support of the fight against AIDS. The name Solidays, a blend of �Solidarite� (solidarity) and �Holidays�.

Policemen control a car on July 2, 2010 at a toll in Fresnes-les-Montauban, northern France. French gendarmes make joint controls with their Belgian and Dutch counterparts on the A1 highway on the first week-end of departure for holidays.

Vehicules are stuck in a seasonnal traffic jam on July 3, 2010, on the Bordeaux ring road, before accessing the A63 motorway to Pays Basque, on the first week-end of departure for summer holidays. July 3, 2010 was ranked one of the heaviest traffic days in Ile-de-France and on a national level.

A French gendarme stands at a police control point on July 2, 2010 at a toll in Fresnes-les-Montauban, northern France. French gendarmes make joint controls with their Belgian and Dutch counterparts on the A1 highway on the first week-end of departure for holidays.

A boy laughs as he plays in snow during a promotional event in Sydney on June 2, 2010. Tonnes of snow were brought to the city centre from Australia's Perisher skiing resort to help promote the the start of the school holidays and the skiing season, which has seen bumper snow falls and the best opening to a season in years.

Vehicles are stuck in a seasonal traffic jam on July 10, 2010, on the Bordeaux ring road, before accessing the A63 motorway to Pays Basque, on the first week-end of departure for summer holidays. July 10, 2010 was ranked one of the heaviest traffic days in Ile-de-France and on a national level.

Chinese students play online computer games at an internet cafe during their summer holidays in Hangzhou, 26 July 2007. China looks set to overtake the US as the world's biggest user of the Internet after its numbers online hit 162 million recently. The number of Internet users is expected to grow to 200 million by the end of this year, second only to the 211 million Americans and if the rate of growth continues then China should have the world's largest online population by the end of 2008.

Tatooed US marines with 1/3 Charlie Company shows listen to instructions before leaving the USMC base for their holidays on Hawaiian island of Oahu on June 16, 2010, following his return after a seven-month deployment to Afghanistan.

Passengers watch information screen on July 21, 2010 at the Orly airport, outside Paris as a strike by air traffic controllers disrupted travel across France, to protest against plans to merge to French air traffic control into a European-wide system. Half of all flights were cancelled from Paris's second biggest airport, Orly, which serves domestic and some international destinations, as many people are leaving for their summer holidays.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel reacts to a question as she addresses her last press conference before going on holidays in Berlin, on July 21, 2010. Merkel rejected criticism that 'stress tests' being conducted on European banks were not stringent enough, saying they were 'very realistic.'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel smiles during her last press conference before going on holidays in Berlin, on July 21, 2010. Merkel rejected criticism that 'stress tests' being conducted on European banks were not stringent enough, saying they were 'very realistic.'

Spain's Prince Felipe (L) is pictured on board the CAM yacht during the session trainning before the Copa del Rey regatta, off the coast of Palma de Mallorca on July 31, 2010. The Royal Family spend their traditional summer holidays at the Marivent Palace on the island in Palma de Mallorca.

PADSTOW, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Kit belonging to crew of the Tamar class, Spirit of Padstow lifeboat is stored in the changing rooms of the Padstow Lifeboat station on July 28, 2010 in Cornwall, England. As more and more Britons are choosing to staycation and spend their holidays in the UK the RNLI - which provides 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea - is gearing up, to a busy summer season keeping the beaches and waters arond the coast as safe as possible. Funded by charitable donations, the lifeboat crews and lifeguards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have saved over 139000 lives at sea since 1824. The RNLI has an active fleet distributed throughout the UK and divided into two categories: all weather lifeboats and inshore lifeboats, which number more than 300 lifeboats, ranging from 5m to 17m in length, and a relief fleet of about 100 boats.

PADSTOW, ENGLAND - JULY 28: RNLI lifeguard Craig O'Rourke watches swimmers in the sea from the cliff top hut at Harlyn Bay near Padstow on July 28, 2010 in Cornwall, England. As more and more Britons are choosing to staycation and spend their holidays in the UK the RNLI - which provides 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea - is gearing up to a busy summer season keeping the beaches and waters arond the coast as safe as possible. Funded by charitable donations, the lifeboat crews and lifeguards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have saved over 139000 lives at sea since 1824. This summer the RNLI will operates over 150 lifeguard units around the coast of the UK and claims it makes a significant difference to safety on beaches by providing an integrated rescue service from the beach to the open sea. In 2009 RNLI lifeguards saved more than 60 lives and assisted nearly 10,000 people.

PADSTOW, ENGLAND - JULY 28: The Padstow Lifeboat station is seen on July 28, 2010 in Cornwall, England. As more and more Britons are choosing to staycation and spend their holidays in the UK the RNLI - which provides 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea - is gearing up, to a busy summer season keeping the beaches and waters arond the coast as safe as possible. Funded by charitable donations, the lifeboat crews and lifeguards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have saved over 139000 lives at sea since 1824. The RNLI has an active fleet distributed throughout the UK and divided into two categories: all weather lifeboats and inshore lifeboats, which number more than 300 lifeboats, ranging from 5m to 17m in length, and a relief fleet of about 100 boats.

PADSTOW, ENGLAND - JULY 28: RNLI lifeguard Jamie Rowlands (L) and Vince Prescott (R) watch swimmers in the sea from the roof of a 4x4 truck at Harlyn Bay near Padstow on July 28, 2010 in Cornwall, England. As more and more Britons are choosing to staycation and spend their holidays in the UK the RNLI - which provides 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea - is gearing up to a busy summer season keeping the beaches and waters arond the coast as safe as possible. Funded by charitable donations, the lifeboat crews and lifeguards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have saved over 139000 lives at sea since 1824. This summer the RNLI will operates over 150 lifeguard units around the coast of the UK and claims it makes a significant difference to safety on beaches by providing an integrated rescue service from the beach to the open sea. In 2009 RNLI lifeguards saved more than 60 lives and assisted nearly 10,000 people.

PADSTOW, ENGLAND - JULY 28: People watch from the harbourside as the Tamar class, Spirit of Padstow lifeboat comes into Padstow harbour during a training exercise as it patrols waters close to the Padstow Lifeboat station on July 28, 2010 in Cornwall, England. As more and more Britons are choosing to staycation and spend their holidays in the UK the RNLI - which provides 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea - is gearing up, to a busy summer season keeping the beaches and waters arond the coast as safe as possible. Funded by charitable donations, the lifeboat crews and lifeguards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have saved over 139000 lives at sea since 1824. The RNLI has an active fleet distributed throughout the UK and divided into two categories: all weather lifeboats and inshore lifeboats, which number more than 300 lifeboats, ranging from 5m to 17m in length, and a relief fleet of about 100 boats.

PADSTOW, ENGLAND - JULY 28: Holidaymakers gather at Harlyn Bay near Padstow on July 28, 2010 in Cornwall, England. As more and more Britons are choosing to staycation and spend their holidays in the UK the RNLI - which provides 24-hour lifeboats and seasonal lifeguards dedicated to saving lives at sea - is gearing up to a busy summer season keeping the beaches and waters arond the coast as safe as possible. Funded by charitable donations, the lifeboat crews and lifeguards of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution have saved over 139000 lives at sea since 1824. This summer the RNLI will operates over 150 lifeguard units around the coast of the UK and claims it makes a significant difference to safety on beaches by providing an integrated rescue service from the beach to the open sea. In 2009 RNLI lifeguards saved more than 60 lives and assisted nearly 10,000 people.

ALMKE, GERMANY - JULY 31: A scout enjoys the sun in his hammock at the camp on July 31, 2010 in Almke near Wolfsburg, Germany. About 5000 young scouts from Germany, Russia, Belgium, Suisse, USA and Italy aged 12 to 20 participate in a camp. Since 1973, the German VCP-Christian Guides and Pathfinders organisation, offers an International historic boys and girls scout meeting during the summer holidays. On a 25 hectare field include 1370 tens, a tent church and a tent theater. The Federal camp is held every four years.

ALMKE, GERMANY - JULY 31: Youth scouts walk at the camp on July 31, 2010 in Almke near Wolfsburg, Germany. About 5000 young scouts from Germany, Russia, Belgium, Suisse, USA and Italy aged 12 to 20 participate in a camp. Since 1973, the German VCP-Christian Guides and Pathfinders organisation, offers an International historic boys and girls scout meeting during the summer holidays. On a 25 hectare field include 1370 tens, a tent church and a tent theater. The Federal camp is held every four years.

ALMKE, GERMANY - JULY 31: The scout community of Kiel prepare their dinner at the camp on July 31, 2010 in Almke near Wolfsburg, Germany. About 5000 young scouts from Germany, Russia, Belgium, Suisse, USA and Italy aged 12 to 20 participate in a camp. Since 1973, the German VCP-Christian Guides and Pathfinders organisation, offers an International historic boys and girls scout meeting during the summer holidays. On a 25 hectare field include 1370 tens, a tent church and a tent theater. The Federal camp is held every four years.

ALMKE, GERMANY - JULY 31: Scouts pose for a photograph at the camp on July 31, 2010 in Almke near Wolfsburg, Germany. About 5000 young scouts from Germany, Russia, Belgium, Suisse, USA and Italy aged 12 to 20 participate in a camp. Since 1973, the German VCP-Christian Guides and Pathfinders organisation, offers an International historic boys and girls scout meeting during the summer holidays. On a 25 hectare field include 1370 tens, a tent church and a tent theater. The Federal camp is held every four years.

ALMKE, GERMANY - JULY 31: A scout jacket is pictured at the camp on July 31, 2010 in Almke near Wolfsburg, Germany. About 5000 young scouts from Germany, Russia, Belgium, Suisse, USA and Italy aged 12 to 20 participate in a camp. Since 1973, the German VCP-Christian Guides and Pathfinders organisation, offers an International historic boys and girls scout meeting during the summer holidays. On a 25 hectare field include 1370 tens, a tent church and a tent theater. The Federal camp is held every four years.