Meet Costa Rica, the happiest nation in the world

Travelers embrace Costa Rica's beaches and the greenery in its scenery.

This weekend's announcement declaring Costa Rica the happiest place on earth may have surprised many people. Ah, but there are other ways to measure happiness than the amount of bills stuffed into your wallet. The Happy Planet Index looked at three principal areas: a life expectancy,  citizens' satisfaction with their lives,  and a country's ecological footprint. While pondering all that, let us take a closer look at that pretty and peaceful Central American country.

* Costa Rica means "Rich Coast."  Good thing, because the country has 800 miles of coastline.

* Their McDonald's restaurants have home delivery.

* While violence, political and otherwise,  is not unknown in other Central American countries, Costa Rica has a stable democracy. More than that, it was the first country in the world to abolish its army.  

*Instead of referring to their wives as "my better half," men say (in Spanish) that their wives are "the better half of my orange."

* Costa Ricans refer to themselves as  Ticos  (males) or  Ticas  (females). 

* Life expectancy among its 4 1/2 million people is about 77 1/2 years. (The U.S. figure is 78.1.) The literacy rate exceeds 96 percent.

* The diversity of its wildlife is breathtaking. There are about 52 species of hummingbirds, four   species of monkeys, and four kinds of toucans. There are about 34,000 species of insects, not all of whom contribute to the happiness factor.

*Instead of saying, "She gave birth," Costa Ricans often say, "She gave light." 

* There are more than 120 volcanic formations.

* Speed bumps are referred to as "dead persons."

* More than one-fourth of the country's land is in national parks or other protected areas.

The Happy Planet Index report was  published by the New Economics Foundation, which studied 143 countries before placing Costa Rica at the top. And the United States? It came in 114th. 

For Costa Rica tourism information, click here.

Hurry, hurry: Crystal Cruises plans a 3-day sale

On  July 8, 9 and 10,  Crystal Cruises is offering 25 percent  additional savings on five already discounted itineraries this fall and winter. The extra  savings,  from $885 to $2,000 per person, apply to all deluxe outside and veranda category staterooms on its Sept. 26 Mediterranean cruise, a November itinerary from New York to Bermuda and the Caribbean, a Nov. 12 trans-Atlantic voyage, a Dec. 5 South American and the Amazon journey and a Dec. 10 Panama Canal transit. With the savings, and depending upon the cruise, prices will start at $2,300-$4,050 a person. Also, Crystal's  "All Inclusive -- As You Wish" program provides an additional $500-1,000 per person in  shipboard spending credits.  

The website is www.crystalcruises.com.

Trivial question

What is the world's most densely populated country? Answer Wednesday.

Kansas vacations at $30 per person per day

AAA has rated Kansas among the top five least expensive states to visit, and this summer vacation plans start at less than $30 per person per day, including lodging. Among the adventurous offerings, based around dinosaurs and other fabulous fossils; a quirky itinerary that will take you to such sights as the home of the world’s largest ball of twine; nature-based traveling; and a cowboys-and-cattletowns itinerary.

Visit www.travelks.com or call 785-296-2009.

Worth quoting

"He that is a traveler must have the back of an ass to bear all, a tongue like the tail of a dog to flatter all, the mouth of a hog to eat all that is set before him, the ear of a merchant to hear all and say nothing."

-- Thomas Nashe (1567-1601), English playwright

A hotel's reading choices for the digital age

EPIC, a new and upscale boutique waterfront hotel in Miami,  is going to give guests their choice of ways to read books, including  best-sellers and new releases.The EPIC Page Turner guest reading program will provide complimentary books, access to Sony Reader Digital Books, and an online choice where guests can access book excerpts from the  in-room desktop computer.  Author visits and signing events held during EPIC’s complimentary evening wine hour are also planned.

For more information, click here or call 866-760-3742. 

Were you standing where you thought you were?

Thousands upon thousands of people have had their pictures taken standing at the Four Corners Marker, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah were said to meet. But in case you missed the news reports, the National Geodetic Survey found that the actual spot where you can  stand simultaneously in the four states is about 2 1/2 miles west of the marker. Update: The National Geodetic Survey says those reports were erroneous. See July 8 entry.

When it comes to hotel rooms, it pays to haggle

A new survey by Consumer Reports says that of people who tried to negotiate for a lower hotel rate, 83 percent were successful.