Best Places In The World To Retire

Here in Baja, California, there is a mountain range called Sierra Juarez. It has a large observatory that astrologists visit. During Semana Santa (Holy Week), sometimes we go to Sierra Juarez. However, I don’t want to go there because we have to go camping and it is very cold because of the elevation. Sierra Juarez is a nice place to visit because of the nature and there are lots of activities that you can do there. Sierra Juarez is slightly over 10,600 feet in elevation, which...

Here in Baja, California, there is a mountain range called Sierra Juarez. It has a large observatory that astrologists visit. During Semana Santa (Holy Week), sometimes we go to Sierra Juarez. However, I don’t want to go there because we have to go camping and it is very cold because of the elevation. Sierra Juarez is a nice place to visit because of the nature and there are lots of activities that you can do there. Sierra Juarez is slightly over 10,600 feet in elevation, which makes it pretty cold even in summer.
 
Laguna Hanson is a lagoon that is also a part of Sierra Juarez. It is not that high and we have been there camping. Many kids go there during Holy Week and learn about nature and how to take care of trees so it is really interesting. It is now called Parque Nacional Constitucion de 1857 because it is now protected by the Federal government although locals still call it Laguna Hanson.

 

(Camping at Laguna Hanson, Baja California Mexico, pictured.)

There is kayaking around the Lake of Nicaragua, or as local people call it: Cocibolca Lake. There are options for beginners and  for people with experience.

 

Be aware that conditions can vary, depending on the season. Normally November through January, it is very windy, but the rest of the year the water is pretty mellow. And once you are in the middle of the islands, the islands act as a windbreak, and then kayaking...

There is kayaking around the Lake of Nicaragua, or as local people call it: Cocibolca Lake. There are options for beginners and  for people with experience.

 

Be aware that conditions can vary, depending on the season. Normally November through January, it is very windy, but the rest of the year the water is pretty mellow. And once you are in the middle of the islands, the islands act as a windbreak, and then kayaking is very

pleasant.

 

FATCA compliance is slowly being implemented by most banks around the world. This mainly impacts US citizens and is causing banks to incur many costs in order to be compliant and be able to report back to the IRS.

 

The main effect it has had in Belize is for Americans to have more difficulty in opening up a bank account in Belize. The Central Bank of Belize has to approve all applications.

FATCA compliance is slowly being implemented by most banks around the world. This mainly impacts US citizens and is causing banks to incur many costs in order to be compliant and be able to report back to the IRS.

 

The main effect it has had in Belize is for Americans to have more difficulty in opening up a bank account in Belize. The Central Bank of Belize has to approve all applications.

No you do not need a second passport to retire, work, or live abroad.  You can reside in Panama as a tourist but it is recommended to apply for one of the many visas offered.  There are plenty to choose from for the retired and non-retired.  Panama has opened its doors to many nations due to the need for skilled labour.  The new Friendly Nations visa has made it a lot easier for individuals who are not ready to retire but who want to live and work in Panama.

No you do not need a second passport to retire, work, or live abroad.  You can reside in Panama as a tourist but it is recommended to apply for one of the many visas offered.  There are plenty to choose from for the retired and non-retired.  Panama has opened its doors to many nations due to the need for skilled labour.  The new Friendly Nations visa has made it a lot easier for individuals who are not ready to retire but who want to live and work in Panama.

Yes indeed !!! There are many Panamanian US trained doctors working at private hospitals in Panama.  Probably hundreds !!!  Trained at some of the best hospitals in the US (Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Jackson Memorial, etc. etc.), they will speak fluent English and have diplomas of some of the best medical schools in the world hanging on their office walls !
 

Yes indeed !!! There are many Panamanian US trained doctors working at private hospitals in Panama.  Probably hundreds !!!  Trained at some of the best hospitals in the US (Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Jackson Memorial, etc. etc.), they will speak fluent English and have diplomas of some of the best medical schools in the world hanging on their office walls !
 

My experience as an American woman in Portugal 30 years ago was not good; at that time I found it a frustratingly "macho" country. However, this has definitely changed, perhaps as Luis da Silva mentions in an earlier post, this is due to most women now working, better education, and greater exposure to global influences.

 

(Woman in Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.)

My experience as an American woman in Portugal 30 years ago was not good; at that time I found it a frustratingly "macho" country. However, this has definitely changed, perhaps as Luis da Silva mentions in an earlier post, this is due to most women now working, better education, and greater exposure to global influences.

 

(Woman in Lisbon, Portugal, pictured.)