Population: 15, 907

Area: 112 square miles

Language: Dutch is the official language. English and Spanish is widely spoken. Papiemento which is a mixture of several languages is spoken by some.

Time: + 1 hour from New York

Electricity: 127/120 volts AC / 50 Hz.

Geography: Bonaire is a desert island which has no outstanding physical features. There are no mountains and no significant hills. The island is flat.

International Airport

Kralendijk - Flamingo International Airport located about 3 miles from town. Only taxis are available for the short drive. Most taxi fares to town or hotels range from $5 to $10.

Tipping: Restaurants usually add a 10% service charge to your bill, hotels add 12%. It is customary to tip porters or delivery persons NAFl 1 ($1) per bag, and taxi drivers 10% of the fare.

Shopping: Regular store hours are from 8:00am to 12:00pm and 2:00pm to 6:00pm. There are always markets and stores offering a rich supply of local items.

Food and Drink: The Netherland's popular "Ricetable" (which is really from Indonesia) is an excellent dish for those with a hearty appetite. It contains rice and over 40 different garnishes ranging from meats to exotic vegetables and sauces. Another specialty to be found in Aruba is "Keshi Yena" which is stuffed Edam cheese. There are many international restaurants to be found featuring foods from China, France and also fast food emporiums from North America.

Social: The people are of mixed racial background and get along well together. It is important to dress modestly and not wear beachwear at any other place than the beach