According to the Official Tourism Department of Aruba, the population of the island is about 120,000 and is made up of a broad international mixture of well-educated people with a pleasant nature and a zest for hospitality. The modern Aruban is generally of mixed ancestry, claiming Caquetio Indian, African and European roots. Aruba’s strong economy, excellent living conditions and prime weather continue to attract individuals from all over the world. Today, the island claims over 79 different nationalities, who live and work peacefully on the island.

The sincerity of a warm smile and the friendly demeanor of Arubans have not been lost on the island’s guests, with many visitors remarking that it is the people that continue to bring them back to the island year after year. With so many diverse influences on the island, Aruba still retains its uniqueness, as reflected in the openness of its population.

Over the years, a great number of people from all over the world have found their way to Aruba. Immigrants hail from South America (primarily Colombia, Venezuela and Peru), other Caribbean islands, and as far away as China, the Philippines, and seventeen African nations. Despite a multi-cultural background, Arubans share a strong national identity buoyed by the success of a healthy economy, a strong educational system, and one of the highest standards of living in the Caribbean.

I was lucky enough to travel to Aruba on my honeymoon in November 2005. It was the most beautiful place I had ever seen. The weather and water was perfect; not to hot-not to cold. And the breeze and view are breathtaking. I would definitely reccomend a Vacation to Aruba. We stayed at the Divi Aruba All Inclusive. “The ultimate white sand beach… vacation offers a choice of ten dining options, seven bars and lounges, non-motorized watersports, golf, spa and full use of the adjacent Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive…just steps away.” You have open bars and restaurants at your fingertips, no matter what time of the day. And they also provide you with entertainment every night. But don’t worry, if you are not planning to visit Aruba for a romantic get-away and you need something a bit more family-friendly, they also provide daily activities for the children to get involved and their are tours and towns nearby for fun adventures! I hope you enjoy your stay in Aruba!

Maybe you are reading this page about Thousand Hills Golf Resort (Branson, Missouri) because you love the game of golf. Or maybe you are interested in staying at or owning a time-share. Whatever the reason, you will enjoy everything about this place. From theatres, music shows, theme parks, put-put golf, bowling, hundreds of restaurants, shopping (even Tanger outlet mall) and all the wonderful people; it is an amazing get-away. It is also a great place for all ages; young or old, there is something for everyone.

Well there is more to this time-share than you think, because it isn’t really a time-share at all. Thousand Hill’s golf condominiums, golf homes, log cabins and lake condos are completely owned, unlike typical time-shares where they are SHARED between multiple owners. Instead, owners can enjoy their very own place whenever they desire. No dates to work around and no rescheduling, EVER. Owners can also make a profit from the nightly rental program. They can rent their place out for days or nights at a time and make an income from it. Those visitors who love your place with come back time after time!

The accomidations at Thousand Hills are incredible. They offer a wide range of places to stay from suites to four bedroom units. They also offer Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, relaxing Jacuzzi tubs, fitness center, spacious meeting rooms, and of course, an 18 hole golf course. Lastly, you will get 5 start treatment with over $300 in savings to the best shows & attractions in town at no cost to our guests. Here are just a few of the spectacular attrations Thousand Hills can offer savings to.

Silver Dollar City- Theme Park
Ride the Ducks – Land/Water Tour
White Water – Water Park
Branson Landing – Shopping Downtown/River
Kanakuk Kamps – Christian Sports Summer Camp
Ozark Mountain Helicopters – Branson/Lake Tours
Branson Scenic Railway – Ozark Hills Tour
Stone Hill Winery – Tour & Wine-tasting
Table Rock Lake State Park Marina – Bass fishing, boating or skiing
Lake Taneycomo – Trout Fishing
Bull Shoals Lake – Water Activities
Veterans Memorial Museum – National tribute to veterans
The Track Family Fun Parks – Go-kart tracks
Wild Eye Ranch – Trail rides, chuck wagon rides, horse boarding, riding lessons.
Mystic Caverns – Caving adventure!
Talking Rocks Cavern – Beautiful caves beneath the surface
Great Passion Play – The Greatest Story Ever told; Christ
Tri-Lakes Houseboat Rentals – Table Rock Lake.
Strike Bass Fishing Guides – Professional Guides for all Branson area Lakes.
Titanic Museum – Tour & Museum
Mt. Pleasant Winery – Tours & Wine-tasting
Butterfly Palace & Rainforest Adventure – Species of Butterflies, Museum
Hollywood Wax Museum – Hollywood Wax Stars
Ripley’s Believe It or Not – Museum
The Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum – Kings and Queens of the West
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf & Games – Put-put golf, arcade
Greatest Adventures Minigolf – Games, golf & arcade

So if all these attractions look fun and exciting and you are interested in not just sharing a condo or cabin, but owning one, than Thousand Hills Golf Resort is for you. Branson also offers villas, residential lots and home sites available for whole ownership. They’re not just hotels, they’re homes!

Costa Rican culture is in many ways a reflection of its racial diversity. The major influence has long been European, which is reflected in everything from the official language — Spanish — to the architecture of the country’s churches and other historic buildings. The indigenous influence is less apparent, but can be found in everything from the typical dishes (fruits, tortillas, rice and beans) that are served with a typical Costa Rican meal to the handmade ceramics sold at roadside stands. My team even had a chance to go to a street market and view their beautiful crafts and clothes and taste their delicious foods. Each one of us went home with something to treasure.

The country is an interesting blend of modern and traditional. The technology industry is one of the country’s most important industries, yet traditional festivals, such as the San José’s Fiesta Horse Parade on Dec. 27, still draws thousands of riders and paralyzes the capital for the day. The cities are full of Internet cafes and people carrying cell phone, which was very suprising. Costa Rica was much more “Americanized” that I thought it would be.

An important aspect of Costa Rica’s cultural heritage is their love of peace and democracy. Democracy is Costa Rica’s most treasured institution, and the ideal of personal liberty is strongly cherished. Ticos are very proud of their accomplishments in this area and like to point out that their nation is the exception in Latin America, where military dictatorships long dominated politics. They can boast of having more than one hundred years of democratic tradition, and almost half a century without an army. The army was abolished in 1949, and the money the country saves by not having a military is invested in improving the standard of living for Costa Ricans, which has fostered the social harmony that makes it such a pleasant country to visit.

Costa Rica declared their independence from Spain on September, 15 1821. There constitution was adopted on November, 7 1949. And the country is divided into seven administrative divisions or provinces. These divisions are: Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, and San Jose (Figure 2). One of Costa Rica’s most important symbols is their flag. The flag consists of five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on the left side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA (Figure 1).
Figure 1

Ticos, as Costa Ricans are commonly known, are famous for being hospitable, and are quite happy to live up to their reputation. They are a polite, well-educated and gregarious people, who are quick with a handshake, kiss, and a smile. While we were there, we were greeted with kisses everywhere we went. We definitely had to get used to that, but by the end of our stay, we were kissing them back. They also enjoy gatherings and celebrations of all sorts. Our team went to several parties and the meals were delicious. Usually the women would sit around and talk and the men would kick a soccer ball around and laugh at each other. As Im sure you already guessed, yeah I had a hard time sitting around, so I was usually seen playing with the guys. They are well aware that their country is a special place, and they go out of their way to accommodate visitors, pointing them in the right direction when they get lost, explaining things that might seem foreign to a foreigner, and helping make their stay as enjoyable as possible. You can generally count on Ticos loyalty but don’t count on their punctuality.

It has been said the Ticos are their nation’s greatest asset, and once you’ve experienced their friendliness and spontaneity, you’ll no doubt agree. But there’s more to Costa Rica than a stable status quo. The country’s natural attractions, wildlife and reputation for enlightened conservation draw tourists from all over the world. The country is a tourism heaven, making Costa Rica one of the best places to experience the tropics naturally and with minimal impact.

Costa Rica is mostly coastline; therefore it has some of the regions best surfing beaches and a climate that encourages sluggishness in all species. Costa Rica is located in middle America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama (Figure 2). Be prepared for sunshine, rain, cool mountain breezes, and muggy jungle mists depending on where and when you visit the country.

Figure 2

The rainy or “green season,” which typically brings sunny mornings and afternoon showers, lasts from May to November, but it’s best to be prepared for rain at any time of the year. In rain forests and cloud forests, it rains almost every day, sometimes several times per day. In the Central Valley, year-round daytime temperatures are in the 70s and 80s Fahrenheit. At night, expect temperatures in 50s and 60s. Most Costa Rica’s beaches are hot and humid, except for a few which tend to be dry and breezy. Temperatures will be in the 80s and 90s at the beach. You are only 8 degrees from the equator, so use plenty of sunscreen and a hat. Expect windy weather and temperatures in the 50s and 60s at Costa Rica’s highest altitudes.

Costa Rica also has four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65. My team had the chance to go see one of these volcanoes, Arenal, and it was gorgeous. We aslo got to swim in its hot springs and that was one of the coolest things I have ever done. “Near the base of the active Arenal Volcano in the north side of Costa Rica, world renowned Tabacón Resort provides you a relaxing and unparalleled experience with its natural hot spring and thermo mineral water pools, its tropical and exuberant surroundings and its famous Iskandria Spa. This extraordinary setting, combined with exceptional service, warm smiles and outstanding facilities, assures our guests an unforgettable time in Costa Rica.” (Tabacon)

The country boasts a population close to 3.7 million people, which by standards of the region, is not large at all. El Salvador, for example, is half the size of Costa Rica, but it has double its inhabitants. Also, the growth rate of the population of Costa Rica is only 2.3% per year, and it’s actually decreasing.

Racially speaking, the country is one of the most homogenous of the region. The 1989 census classified 98% of the people as white or mestizo (people of mixed Spanish and Native American Ancestry) and 2% as black or indigenous. A foreigner traveling through Central America will notice the difference between Costa Ricans and their neighbors. Even though racial problems don’t exist to the extent that they do in the U.S. or in some European countries, some “Ticos” look down upon darker-skinned people. However, racial confrontations are extremely rare and prejudice, even though it exists, is displayed in indirect and careful ways.