Santa Cruz is the capital of the Costa Rican canton of the same name in Guanacaste Province. The population of the entire canton is 43,000. This typical Costa Rican rural town consist mostly of farmers, fishermen, workers, or tourist workers.The town is known within Costa Rica for its cultural heritage and many historical traditions. These traditions include the Fiesta de…...

Methuen is a small city and suburb that is northwest of Boston.  This is an old town (population 44,000) with a  history dating back to 1642.  It has many strong institutions, such as the stately Nevins Memorial Library pictured above (photo courtesy of Wikipedia and EraserGirl).   The town lies along the north banks of the Merrimack River. There are several…...

The title of the most artistic little town in west Texas would probably be awarded to Marfa. Marfa was actually named after Marfa Strogoff, a character in Jules Verne's novel Michael Strogoff. This little town of about 2,000 near the Big Bend is home to a vast array of artistic treasures, thanks to the efforts of Donald Judd. This minimalist…...

Manitou Springs is a small town of 5,800 that is a short distance west of Colorado Springs. Pikes Peak rises above the town. The downtown is a Victorian sampler that has attracted many people, including a previous generation of hippies. The town is popular with tourists and with retirees for its mountains and scenery.  Many interesting shops and galleries, along…...