How's the nightlife and entertainment in and around San Miguel de Allende?
Kat Ballou
I’m an early riser so I don’t burn much oil at night. But San Miguel is no “sleepy” little town. It is just as lively and vibrant as most cities in Mexico
When you first come here, it’s a good idea to go to one of the gringo “Welcome” social meetings where you can get insiders’ info from those who “know.” I think there are two or three of them. Try them all. They are easy to find in the calendar section of the...
I’m an early riser so I don’t burn much oil at night. But San Miguel is no “sleepy” little town. It is just as lively and vibrant as most cities in Mexico
When you first come here, it’s a good idea to go to one of the gringo “Welcome” social meetings where you can get insiders’ info from those who “know.” I think there are two or three of them. Try them all. They are easy to find in the calendar section of the local papers.
Hank’s New Orleans Cafe & Oyster Bar is a popular hotspot for the local gringos. Its owner, Hank, is a gringo who ran restaurants in the USA before moving here. Friday nights are "dos por uno” (translated into “two for one); Happy Hour drinks and is packed with our local expats.
Personally, I enjoy sitting at one of the outdoor sidewalk tables at Centro Bar located in the Jardin. It's great for people watching. Musicians and Mariachi bands are all over the square. For 300 pesos (less than $20), the Mariachis will perform a number of Spanish classics for you table-side. 300 pesos for Mariachis might seem like a lot; but there are about 8 members in the group and that gets you about 20 minutes of songs. So for a little over 20 bucks, it seems fair enough.
On the weekends you are likely to see large parties of beautifully heeled men and woman pouring in and out of the Peroquia to celebrate a newly wed couple. From there, the entire party and Mariachi band will stroll, singing and dancing with cocktails in hand, down through the streets of the city.
There is also an upstairs patio bar in one corner of the Jardin called “Cielo”. From there, you can look down on all the happenings of the square without being in the middle of it. It is also the perfect spot to watch and photograph amazing sunsets.
(Looking down from a rooftop bar at the procession of people in the street in the town of San Miguel Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
There are many different types of markets in Belize. You would generally buy dry goods in one store, your produce from a fruit stand, your meat from the butcher and your bread from the baker. It is kind of “old school.”
The produce here is a lot more expensive than it is at home in Toronto, Canada. We also get non-genetically engineered food here. We get locally grown food and we they don’t use heavy pesticides here. We “eat in...
There are many different types of markets in Belize. You would generally buy dry goods in one store, your produce from a fruit stand, your meat from the butcher and your bread from the baker. It is kind of “old school.”
The produce here is a lot more expensive than it is at home in Toronto, Canada. We also get non-genetically engineered food here. We get locally grown food and we they don’t use heavy pesticides here. We “eat in season.” Right now we are in the mango season and avocado season.
(Avocado tree in Belize with ripe fruit, pcitured.)
How does the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion work?
Tabitha Paddock - Greenback Expat Tax Services
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) is a great tool that can be used to limit (or even eliminate) dual taxation while living abroad. With the FEIE, qualified expats can exclude over $97,000 (for 2013 tax year) of earned income from being taxed in the US!
In order the qualify for the FEIE you must pass one of two tests; either the Bona Fide Resident Test (live fully in the country and have no intentions of returning to the US) or the Physical Presence...
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) is a great tool that can be used to limit (or even eliminate) dual taxation while living abroad. With the FEIE, qualified expats can exclude over $97,000 (for 2013 tax year) of earned income from being taxed in the US!
In order the qualify for the FEIE you must pass one of two tests; either the Bona Fide Resident Test (live fully in the country and have no intentions of returning to the US) or the Physical Presence Test (living abroad for over 330 days in any 365 day period).
If you pass one of these tests, you can then exclude up to $97,600 from being taxed in the US (up to $195,200 for Married couples filing Jointly). Just fill out Form 2555 and attach it to your US Federal return.
Unfortunately, foreign income from sources such as dividends, interest and rental income are not included since this income is not “earned” in the IRS’s view. In addition, US based income from things such as pensions will not qualify for this exclusion because it was not earned inside a foreign country.
What type of government does Nicaragua have, and is the government in Nicaragua stable?
Carlos Roman Gutierrez Solis - Casa Granada Properties
The government of Nicaragua is currently stable. It is not the same government that it used to be back in the 80s and 90s. Government officials have started to change their mentality. Nicaraguans feel the stability and have higher confidence in the government.
Now, the government allows everyone to do business in Nicaragua. Business processes are more controlled, organized, and clean. People have become more comfortable to do business in Nicaragua and a lot of investors are now...
The government of Nicaragua is currently stable. It is not the same government that it used to be back in the 80s and 90s. Government officials have started to change their mentality. Nicaraguans feel the stability and have higher confidence in the government.
Now, the government allows everyone to do business in Nicaragua. Business processes are more controlled, organized, and clean. People have become more comfortable to do business in Nicaragua and a lot of investors are now coming to the country. Companies from Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Costa Rica are reviewing the possibilities of setting up businesses and investing in Nicaragua.
In my own company, there is now a mix between the kind of buyers I had back in 2008 to 2010 and the buyers I have today. We now have buyers who are Latinos, local Nicaraguans, Nicaraguans who have returned to the country, and locals partnering with expats. My business would not be able to do so well if the buyers were not comfortable with our government.
The market is now very different than it used to be and there is a bigger variety of buyers. There is high confidence within the business sector. The government now understands that they need to let the country move forward.
Current infrastructure development is unbelievable. New roads are being built everywhere. Places like the northern parts of Nicaragua used to be complicated to reach because of the lack of roads. Now, people can easily access Rio San Juan. Parks are also being improved and have more spaces to exercise.
The boom in Managua is unbelievable and there is new construction almost everywhere. This is an indication that buyers and investors feel comfortable with the Nicaraguan government.
The government is also not making the same noise like they used to. Nicaraguans would of course eventually want a new government, but the current government is doing a good job.
(Notice for an open house for Casa Granada Properties, Granada, Nicaragua, pictured. )
My birthday is on the 4th of April, and normally on the week of my birthday my present is to go fishing for a week. Last year, I caught a 200-kilo (441 pounds) tuna. In Portuguese we call the fish I caught the atum rabillo but in English I think it’s bluefin tuna. So an amateur like me caught a fish like that, which gives you an idea of how rich our waters are.
If you go fishing in the main cities—Lisbon or...
There is excellent fishing in Portugal.
My birthday is on the 4th of April, and normally on the week of my birthday my present is to go fishing for a week. Last year, I caught a 200-kilo (441 pounds) tuna. In Portuguese we call the fish I caught the atum rabillo but in English I think it’s bluefin tuna. So an amateur like me caught a fish like that, which gives you an idea of how rich our waters are.
If you go fishing in the main cities—Lisbon or Porto—you will see a lot of recreational fishing. There are a lot of little boats, which tend to scare the bigger fish but you always catch fish in Portugal.
Portugal is really well known for two things: soccer and fish. The fish we get is very, very good fish and very fresh fish. All the restaurants provide very, very fresh fish. Portugal is a really beautiful place to go fishing; very beautiful.
In the past the cost was ridiculously low to build any type of construction in Panamá. That is, until growth began to change the country. With thousands of people coming every day, prices have risen in every aspect, as would be the case for any modern and cosmopolitan city, or place.
There are thousands of construction projects taking place, both in the city of Panamá, as well...
Construction in Panamá
In the past the cost was ridiculously low to build any type of construction in Panamá. That is, until growth began to change the country. With thousands of people coming every day, prices have risen in every aspect, as would be the case for any modern and cosmopolitan city, or place.
There are thousands of construction projects taking place, both in the city of Panamá, as well as in the "interior" (countryside). With this much activity and demand for construction workers, we can say that, if you have an individual construction project, finding a construction worker is very difficult, because most of them prefer to work under major contracts city or beach buildings, resorts and residential complexes.
Construction materials are also an issue. The price can rise dramatically, and quickly. Adding to relative scarcity and higher prices are external issues like China requesting all the cement and other construction materials they can get.
In Panamá, construction permits are also very important. Getting approval can take a very long time, which could be an issue of frustration. Also, enforcement of permits is strict.
Unless, after asking for lots of references, you find a local Panamanian to build your private house, a good suggestion would be to find maybe a house or a farm already built, and then make renovations to suit you. Either that, or buy your property in a residential complex. It´s a lot easier.
My husband pulled our high-top white van with the dogs in the backseat into the Pemex, the ubiquitous gas stations of Baja California, Mexico. We were returning to the outskirts of La Paz, a busy little town that fronts a bay and is held in by the mountains. He spoke in Spanglish to the attendant about the price of gas as the van was serviced. I sat inside, drowsy from a day of walking along soft surf. From my side of the van, I watched a woman approach the car to the right of me....
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...
Only a little over and hour drive from Boquete there is a beautiful beach with something for everyone. Los Olas is also known as Playa La Barqueta. Here you will find dark volcanic sands, public access to the beach and a quaint bar that offers cold beers and beverages in cool shade with good views of the ocean. You can dine on fresh fish and seafood in the small cafe next door to the open air bar. This open air bar is a cool place to get a...
I’m an early riser so I don’t burn much oil at night. But San Miguel is no “sleepy” little town. It is just as lively and vibrant as most cities in Mexico
There are many different types of markets in Belize. You would generally buy dry goods in one store, your produce from a fruit stand, your meat from the butcher and your bread from the baker. It is kind of “old school.” 
The government of Nicaragua is currently stable. It is not the same government that it used to be back in the 80s and 90s. Government officials have started to change their mentality. Nicaraguans feel the stability and have higher confidence in the government.
There is excellent fishing in Portugal.
My husband pulled our high-top white van with the dogs in the backseat into the Pemex, the ubiquitous gas stations of Baja California, Mexico. We were returning to the outskirts of La Paz, a busy little town that fronts a bay and is held in by the mountains. He spoke in Spanglish to the attendant about the price of gas as the van was serviced. I sat inside, drowsy from a day of walking along soft surf. From my side of the van, I watched a woman approach the car to the right of me....
Panamá has always been on a global path, “pro mundi beneficio” (for the benefit of the world)..JPG)
Only a little over and hour drive from Boquete there is a beautiful beach with something for everyone. Los Olas is also known as Playa La Barqueta. Here you will find dark volcanic sands, public access to the beach and a quaint bar that offers cold beers and beverages in cool shade with good views of the ocean. You can dine on fresh fish and seafood in the small cafe next door to the open air bar. This open air bar is a cool place to get a...