How many Americans and Canadians and other expats live in San Miguel de Allende?
Gilles Vachon - Mon Bistro Canadien Cuisine
Probably 40% of the population of San Miguel de Allende are expats. When we first got here, we had the window of our car rolled down and we noticed that people were talking in English. We went down a little further and there were some more people speaking in English.
95% of the people who come to my restaurant here in San Miguel are either Americans or Canadians who live here. There are also Europeans, Chinese, and a whole bunch of other nationalities.
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Probably 40% of the population of San Miguel de Allende are expats. When we first got here, we had the window of our car rolled down and we noticed that people were talking in English. We went down a little further and there were some more people speaking in English.
95% of the people who come to my restaurant here in San Miguel are either Americans or Canadians who live here. There are also Europeans, Chinese, and a whole bunch of other nationalities.
I was building the restaurant and some guy walked in and said, “I can’t wait for you to open it because I’ll be one of your clients. Now I am retired.”
I asked him what he used to do. “I was the one who set up the bands for the Rolling Stones.”
You will never know who comes here. Johnny Depp pops in here. He has houses here, too. There is even a well known US government official who lives here. There was a woman at my restaurant recently who used to sing on Broadway for 25 years.
San Miguel is an interesting place to be. If you’re visiting, you’ll never know what is behind a door, and if you own a business, you’ll never know who’s going to come in your door.
We were sitting on the terrace recently having coffee and somebody said, “Hey look at this guy. He was in the band Santana.” Also just recently, the producer of Santana came to my restaurant to check it out. There is a lot of big names that come to San Miguel.
(Johnny Depp [on the far left] in the movie Once Upon a Time in Mexico shot in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
MANUEL GRANADOS - MEDICAL SERVICE PANAMA, S.A. (MS PANAMA, S.A.)
Boquete is a little bit more expensive than David and other places here in Panama because of the expats living in Boquete. A nice dinner in Boquete at a nice restaurant with some wine could cost you nearly US $60 for a couple.
There are cheaper restaurants, too. Let’s say you just want to go in and want to have a traditional Panamanian breakfast. The cost would cost around $15 for two people. Lunch is about the same amount. This amount would be...
Boquete is a little bit more expensive than David and other places here in Panama because of the expats living in Boquete. A nice dinner in Boquete at a nice restaurant with some wine could cost you nearly US $60 for a couple.
There are cheaper restaurants, too. Let’s say you just want to go in and want to have a traditional Panamanian breakfast. The cost would cost around $15 for two people. Lunch is about the same amount. This amount would be for the “daily meal”, or what we call “comida del dia.”
(Fried corvina fish, salad and rice, a typical " blue plate special" in Panama, pictured.)
Portugal has fantastic Internet service. There are two major internet providers that operate here in Portugal and they are very good. They also provide the cable TV channels, which is part of the package along with landline phone.
The monthly subscription to all three services: cable, phone, and Internet costs only €48 (US $52 or £35). This is high-speed Internet. We get free local calls on the landline and cable TV with over 200 channels.
The...
Portugal has fantastic Internet service. There are two major internet providers that operate here in Portugal and they are very good. They also provide the cable TV channels, which is part of the package along with landline phone.
The monthly subscription to all three services: cable, phone, and Internet costs only €48 (US $52 or £35). This is high-speed Internet. We get free local calls on the landline and cable TV with over 200 channels.
The Internet service doesn’t normally go down unless there is a terrible storm. It could also depend on where you live. If you live in the center of the city, you don’t get power outages. Where I live, which is away from the center and by the coast of Sintra, if there is a heavy storm, the power goes down and hence you won’t have Internet, either.
How's the adventure travel and activities in and around Managua, Nicaragua?
Elizabeth Samayoa - Bosa Tours and Travel
In the department of Managua you have different options for adventure activities. First, in the center of the city, located in the Tiscapa Lagoon, you can cross the lagoon and jungle on a zipline and enjoy what is considered one of the best viewpoints in the city. The entrance fee is between US $15 - $20.
Other possible options are easy walks and hiking around the nearest nature reserves: Montibelli and...
In the department of Managua you have different options for adventure activities. First, in the center of the city, located in the Tiscapa Lagoon, you can cross the lagoon and jungle on a zipline and enjoy what is considered one of the best viewpoints in the city. The entrance fee is between US $15 - $20.
Other possible options are easy walks and hiking around the nearest nature reserves: Montibelli and Chocoyero. They are located only 30 minutes away from the city center. Both reserves are great option for bird watching.
If you prefer to have a more adventurous moment, you can go to our nearest beaches in the department of Managua. They are 45 minutes to 1 hour away from the capital city. Here you can surf all the time you want and rest in one of the close by hotels.
David Berger - Tradewinds Hospitality at Orchid Bay
Brand new cars cost about twice as much in Belize than they cost in the US. Everything is imported to Belize so the customs duty is high. Imported cars are rated by cylinders and the amount of gas it uses. If you bring in a four-cylinder pick-up truck that runs on diesel, it would cost lower duty than if you bring a V8 Expedition. Cars are so expensive here that it discourages people from having cars because even the used cars are pretty expensive. It is easier to buy cars here...
Brand new cars cost about twice as much in Belize than they cost in the US. Everything is imported to Belize so the customs duty is high. Imported cars are rated by cylinders and the amount of gas it uses. If you bring in a four-cylinder pick-up truck that runs on diesel, it would cost lower duty than if you bring a V8 Expedition. Cars are so expensive here that it discourages people from having cars because even the used cars are pretty expensive. It is easier to buy cars here but it costs more.
I do not have a car here in Belize but I have a boat. I used to have a car in the US but I sold it because it wasn’t the right car for here. I have access to use a car a lot but most of the time I just go by boat. I do my shopping by boat. I go to Corozal by boat, too.
(Transporting logs by boat, near Orchid Bay, Belize,pictured.)
In general, should I keep my US bank, brokerage, investment, IRA or retirement account if I move overseas?
Ross - Abroad We Go
There’s absolutely no reason to move your US brokerage account, investments, IRA, or retirement account if you retire overseas. You only need access to a computer or an ATM, so you shouldn’t have any problem getting to your accounts, especially if you’re living in the big cities.
It’s not a good idea to open bank accounts overseas because you get two possible IRS reporting issues, as well as other issues of that nature. I would recommend keeping...
There’s absolutely no reason to move your US brokerage account, investments, IRA, or retirement account if you retire overseas. You only need access to a computer or an ATM, so you shouldn’t have any problem getting to your accounts, especially if you’re living in the big cities.
It’s not a good idea to open bank accounts overseas because you get two possible IRS reporting issues, as well as other issues of that nature. I would recommend keeping your existing accounts open, but I would not recommend opening additional accounts overseas.
(The beautiful colonial gem of Cartagena, Colombia, pictured.)
I grew up in the United States, most recently from Northern California, but now in my 70’s I live in a village in Guatemala, five miles away from Antigua, a popular tourist destination and NOT typical of Guatemalan life. One of the things I believe has dramatically changed quality of life for this very poor country is plastic. Another, similar, is disposable diapers. And thirdly, cell phones. Here is why:
We have just had the most amazing weekend without having to go away, pay expensive hotels or drive for hours!
Saturday we took a trip to La Laguna in Las Lajas… we have wanted to go there for ages and had heard all about this stunning lake.
It was approximately 40 minutes’ drive heading from the entrance of Las Lajas and following the road all the way into the mountains… the scenery was breathtaking! Eventually you will come to a...
Panamá has always been on a global path, “pro mundi beneficio” (for the benefit of the world).
Since the 15th century, Panamá was the main route for gold from South America to Europe, mainly Spain. This is one of the reasons why Panamá was always the center of attacks by the pirates at that time seeking wealth, and the city of Panamá was ultimately burned, leaving only the famous ruins of “Panamá la Vieja” (Old Panamá). We also have other ruins of...