Best Places In The World To Retire

There’s petty crime here in Merida and in other places in the Yucatan like Cancun like anywhere else. But since 2008 Merida has been constantly rated, not only the safest state in Mexico, but it continually comes up as one of the safest cities in the world.

 

In Cancun, there are a lot more petty crimes.  And there might be some physical altercations in that area but when you read the report it’s usually not mugging or carjacking or anything...

There’s petty crime here in Merida and in other places in the Yucatan like Cancun like anywhere else. But since 2008 Merida has been constantly rated, not only the safest state in Mexico, but it continually comes up as one of the safest cities in the world.

 

In Cancun, there are a lot more petty crimes.  And there might be some physical altercations in that area but when you read the report it’s usually not mugging or carjacking or anything like that. It’s usually some in fighting of drunken students that are partying and take on the wrong person, especially if it’s a local. 

 

Americans and other expats are definitely not targeted for crime.  If you look at the news here, anywhere in the region, and you might even say throughout Mexico, the Gringos are not targeted more so than the local population. I think it’s just the opposite.  A professional thief or criminal would probably go out his way not to get involved with a Gringo just because of the repercussions that entails of not just having the police go after him for hurting a tourist. And if a Mexican kills a tourist, God forbid, not only you have the local police but you’re going to have the American FBI after you and they know that.  Any potential criminal here knows they will hunt you down until they find you. So most professional criminals avoid tourists completely. If you are a foreign national, they avoid you because it’s not worth the hassle to them.

 

I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California, and I’ve lived all over the place. I feel completely safe here in Merida. I have walked around many times in Merida and in some of the beach communities, late at night, after a get together, and I’ve never ever felt unsafe, not once. I know many of my friends and neighbors and fellow Gringos will say the same thing. Where else can you leave the bar at 2 in the morning and walk 5 or 10 blocks and not have to worry whatsoever that you’re going to be attacked or robbed?

 

(Merida, Mexico at night, pictured.)

Nicaragua has a lot of history. If you read about Nicaragua, you will find that it is a country that has experienced a lot of war.

 

A lot of people like to know about the recent history of Nicaragua. People like to know about Sandino, who is a popular figure in history. He is a campesino, or a peasant farmer, who stood up against the Somoza or the ruling family in the 1930s. The people didn’t like how the Somoza’s ruled in oppression so they...

Nicaragua has a lot of history. If you read about Nicaragua, you will find that it is a country that has experienced a lot of war.

 

A lot of people like to know about the recent history of Nicaragua. People like to know about Sandino, who is a popular figure in history. He is a campesino, or a peasant farmer, who stood up against the Somoza or the ruling family in the 1930s. The people didn’t like how the Somoza’s ruled in oppression so they worked together to remove them from power.

 

People also like to know about the cultural history of Nicaragua. Some people from Spain came to Nicaragua around the 1500s. El Güegüense is a local dance where people use masks and get dressed like people from Spain. This is the way the indigenous people from Nicaragua used to see people who came from Spain. They create costumes and gigantonas, which are mascots that are dressed as Spanish women. They dance to depict how the Spanish people arrived in Nicaragua in the 1500s.

 

Nicaragua’s history has a lot of civil war. Nicaraguans fought against each other because of power struggles and misunderstandings between people. When you don’t get to talk much, you go to war. That is one of the bad parts of this country. Historically, we don’t speak much but we go to war instead of talking. And we used to seek help from the outside instead of trying to deal with our own problems.

 

(Güegüense performers, Nicaragua, pictured.)

 

The form must be filed if the combined highest balances in your foreign financial accounts at any time during the calendar year exceed $10,000 US or more.  Foreign financial accounts include banks, foreign stock brokers, foreign pension plans, foreign gold storage places, etc.

 

You must also report all income earned on these accounts on your Form 1040 and fill out the proper information on Schedule B stating that you are required to file an FBAR form.

A really nice apartment, not necessarily on the beachfront, would rent for an average of US $1,000 to $1,600 for a 2-bedroom and 2-bathroom.  I have a 2-bedroom apartment that I know of that’s $1,200 and it’s really, really nice, in town, and in a good area. 

 

You can get cheaper rentals on Ambergris Caye if you’re willing to sacrifice location. I helped a friend to look for an apartment and they were in the range of US $700 to...

A really nice apartment, not necessarily on the beachfront, would rent for an average of US $1,000 to $1,600 for a 2-bedroom and 2-bathroom.  I have a 2-bedroom apartment that I know of that’s $1,200 and it’s really, really nice, in town, and in a good area. 

 

You can get cheaper rentals on Ambergris Caye if you’re willing to sacrifice location. I helped a friend to look for an apartment and they were in the range of US $700 to $800 for a 2-bedroom.   It was less because she would have to commute to town.

 

When you go a good distance from San Pedro, the only apartment rentals available are beachfront properties. It might get less expensive because you’re further away from town but then it starts getting a little bit more expensive because you’re on the beach. A lot of the developments south and north of San Pedro are mostly beachfront.  

 

(Open concept kitchen in Diamante Beachfront Suites, Ambergris Caye, Belize, pictured.)

Yes, there is diving, scuba and snorkeling in Portugal.

 

We have this little Portuguese island about an hour flight from the mainland called Azores that was selected last year by National Geographic as being among the top five richest sea wildlife areas to dive in the world. 

 

On the mainland of Portugal, there’s a wonderful place called Sesimbra about 40 to 50 minutes southeast of Lisbon.  Sesimbra is a protected...

Yes, there is diving, scuba and snorkeling in Portugal.

 

We have this little Portuguese island about an hour flight from the mainland called Azores that was selected last year by National Geographic as being among the top five richest sea wildlife areas to dive in the world. 

 

On the mainland of Portugal, there’s a wonderful place called Sesimbra about 40 to 50 minutes southeast of Lisbon.  Sesimbra is a protected land that is surrounded by really beautiful green mountains. No building or construction is allowed over there and fishing is allowed only 4 or 5 miles off the coast. So that means the area in between the land and about give miles to sea is the perfect diving place for snorkeling, diving, and everything else.

 

We also have diving schools here in Cascais and Estoril in the Lisbon area, but the waters are a bit darker than in Sesimbra.  The reason for that is because under the ocean when there are rocks the sea becomes darker and when there’s sand the sea becomes lighter. There’s a huge sandbank in Sesimbra, so therefore, the water is much more clear.

 

I’m 37 years old and I’ve lived always in front of the sea and I’ve been surfing since I was 10 or 11 years old. When I was young, I never felt the need to use a wetsuit, but as the years have been passing, I started to feel the water getting colder. Of course it’s not the water getting colder, it’s just me getting older. So in the winter, I use a 4/3-millimeter wetsuit for surfing or snorkeling or for when I go spear fishing. I use a 4/3-millimeter in winter and a 2/2-millimeter in the summer.  

 

(Diving off Sesimbra, Portugal, pictured.)