Are there natural disasters like flooding, earthquakes, fire or hurricanes in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Santiago Hernandez - Chapala Med
There are no hurricanes in Chapala or Ajijic because we are located inland. Flooding has occurred on the streets but it is nothing that goes over your knees. However, the flood tends to be a nuisance because you cannot drive.
We experience earthquakes from time to time and we get some pretty significant earthquakes here. Here in Chapala and Ajijic, you wouldn’t worry about dying in an earthquake because most the buildings here are not more than two stories. I would...
There are no hurricanes in Chapala or Ajijic because we are located inland. Flooding has occurred on the streets but it is nothing that goes over your knees. However, the flood tends to be a nuisance because you cannot drive.
We experience earthquakes from time to time and we get some pretty significant earthquakes here. Here in Chapala and Ajijic, you wouldn’t worry about dying in an earthquake because most the buildings here are not more than two stories. I would be more concerned if I were in Guadalajara and there is an earthquake because there are more high-rise buildings over there. But in general, earthquakes have not caused that much of a problem here.
Relative to fire, the homes here in Mexico are not built like the homes in the US where there are a lot of materials that can burn. Most of the homes here are built with concrete. I haven’t seen many fires here in Chapala and Ajijic. In my observation, for every house fire the firefighters tend to five or six are car fires and they are also the ones who take care of animal control issues.
Overall, I have known of only two fires in Chapala since I have been here in 3 years. I don’t know of any brush fires here. What people might need a little getting used to initially, are the fires that farmers set to the bush and things around their fields. You could be driving along the highway, and no more than 5 to 10 feet away from the road, you will see a fire on the field, but it is a controlled fire, and nothing to be concerned about.
(Home with a rooftop patio and tile roof in Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)
The best reason to retire overseas is to have an adventure – to broaden your experience base, to try something new, and to be open to change, new cultures, etc. The most important reason is to feel like you need something different in your life. You want to change the quality of your life. That is without saying that the quality of your life may not have been good in the States or wherever you came from, but just to say that you want a different quality of life. A life...
The best reason to retire overseas is to have an adventure – to broaden your experience base, to try something new, and to be open to change, new cultures, etc. The most important reason is to feel like you need something different in your life. You want to change the quality of your life. That is without saying that the quality of your life may not have been good in the States or wherever you came from, but just to say that you want a different quality of life. A life that gives you another purpose and something that gives you a little more enthusiasm about life. You have to really want to retire overseas in order to try something different because you feel like it is going to enhance your life.
One of the best reasons to retire in Portugal is the safety. Where I live here in Portugal, I can go to the café or to the supermarket around the corner and I don’t have to lock my front door. The neighbors know each other and if anything happens, everybody watches for each other. In contrast, in England, everybody keeps to themselves. They don’t trust anybody because of the crime. We don’t have that here in Portugal because you know your neighbors. In England, you...
One of the best reasons to retire in Portugal is the safety. Where I live here in Portugal, I can go to the café or to the supermarket around the corner and I don’t have to lock my front door. The neighbors know each other and if anything happens, everybody watches for each other. In contrast, in England, everybody keeps to themselves. They don’t trust anybody because of the crime. We don’t have that here in Portugal because you know your neighbors. In England, you can live on the same street and not know your neighbor next door.
Another good reason to retire in Portugal is the lower cost of living. My daughter lives in England but she comes here four times a year and she is constantly amazed by the prices here in Portugal. It’s very cheap.
The quality and taste of food in Portugal is another factor for retiring here. Food here has a flavor. We have very good cuisine. The fish is unbelievable. Meat is very good as well. You only need to You just haves to know where to buy your food. Once you know that, you will have food that is very tasty.
Healthcare in Portugal is good. I would recommend the private health system here in Portugal because of the good quality and fast service. Relative to the US, healthcare I Portugal is extremely inexpensive and it’s possible to get insurance for a couple in good health, without pre-existing conditions for around €60 to €100 (US $65 or £44 to US $109 or £73) a month. If you have insurance and you go to see a doctor, it would cost €30 to €40 (US $33 or £22 to $44 or £29).
The weather is great in Portugal. During December, we have sunshine and the temperature is 20 degrees Celsius (68 Fahrenheit). That is winter, so it’s great. We are not on the Mediterranean but we are by the Atlantic Ocean so we have mild temperatures. We don’t get snow or frost. In the winter, the temperature goes down to about 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 Fahrenheit).
The lifestyle here in Portugal is very nice as well. People are very friendly. There are a lot of outdoor activities so you don’t spend too much time at home. You can definitely keep yourself busy by going to the beach, golfing, horseback riding, playing water sports, etc.
So to me, those are the best reasons to retire in Portugal; the safety, everything being cheaper here, the food, healthcare, great weather, and the wine. What else do you want in life?
Who are the people of Panama? Who lives in Panama?
Louis Seldon
Panama has many diverse cultures. This memorial identifies nine different cultures from all over the world that populated Panama probably starting with the Spanish Conquistadors and the Chinese who came to Panama to help build the Panama Railroad in the 1850 to transport '49ers from the Atlantic (Caribbean) side of the isthmus who arrived on ships to the Pacific side to continue their ship ride to the gold fields in California and Alaska. Later West Indians...
Panama has many diverse cultures. This memorial identifies nine different cultures from all over the world that populated Panama probably starting with the Spanish Conquistadors and the Chinese who came to Panama to help build the Panama Railroad in the 1850 to transport '49ers from the Atlantic (Caribbean) side of the isthmus who arrived on ships to the Pacific side to continue their ship ride to the gold fields in California and Alaska. Later West Indians and others came to Panama to help build the Panama Canal. This memorial is located in Amador near the Yacht Club & Country Inn & Suites / TGI Fridays. Don't forget a Sunday "trago" (senor beverage) at the Yacht Club at sunset. *Ü*
Well, when I meet people that are looking to relocate to Corozal, I ask them a few questions. What are you looking for? Do you want to be by the sea? Do you want to be isolated or do you want to have some neighbors? Do you want to live in a community? The answers all come back differently.
There is a community about ten minutes from here called Orchid Bay. These are some of my neighbors. Orchid Bay is growing at a steady pace and it is an expat community....
Well, when I meet people that are looking to relocate to Corozal, I ask them a few questions. What are you looking for? Do you want to be by the sea? Do you want to be isolated or do you want to have some neighbors? Do you want to live in a community? The answers all come back differently.
There is a community about ten minutes from here called Orchid Bay. These are some of my neighbors. Orchid Bay is growing at a steady pace and it is an expat community. There’s a restaurant in the center of it. The development is shaped in concentric circles. There’s a beach, and they have regular events. There are casitas for rent. A lot of expats have moved there. That’s a community. You have neighbors. There are people beside you. You’re not on your own there, although there are some locations in Orchid Bay that are a little bit back, sort of into the jungle a little bit. I would call them semi-private. Then there are other developments that are more isolated where your neighbors are a 5 to 10 minute walk away, but you can see them.
As for my immediate neighbors, I live in a Spanish fishing village so my neighbors are all hardworking fishermen. Most expats live in Orchid Bay, Consejo Shores or another developments around here. Mark Leonard’s development, Cerros Sands, has 4 or 5 homes. It’s private. It’s a small community.
My expat neighbors have social life. For example, at the Copper Bank Inn, every Saturday there is a dart tournament and 20 to 40 expats show up, depending on the season. That’s some of their social time. At the Trade Winds Restaurant in Orchid Bay, they have a soup night every Monday. That’s kind of a gathering point for social interactions. There’s community here that you can be part of.
There are other people who are finished with their work and career. Maybe they want to get away from the snow or a cold. There are some that think the government’s out to get them. There are some wild conspiracy theorists here. We have some characters in Corozal, that’s for sure. We have all different types of people. Some of them are just tired of the pace of life elsewhere. They’ve done the corporate thing and they want to slow down and have a place that’s a little quieter and more relaxed.
(Dart Dat at Copper Bank Inn, Corozal, Belize, pictured.)
Can I bring my dog or cat or other pets to Nicaragua?
Carolyn Membreño - León Travel Bureau
Yes, you can bring your pets to Nicaragua, and many people do. There are a couple of agencies that can help you and from my understanding, it is not a very difficult procedure at all.
It is also not painful or inconvenient for the animal. They have systems that are set up that make it very convenient to bring your pet into the country.
(Dogs on the beach in Nicaragua, pictured.)
Yes, you can bring your pets to Nicaragua, and many people do. There are a couple of agencies that can help you and from my understanding, it is not a very difficult procedure at all.
It is also not painful or inconvenient for the animal. They have systems that are set up that make it very convenient to bring your pet into the country.
Things I now know about driving in Panama! Finale!
If you had the chance to read the first part in my story, you will know I recently got my car towed by the Police! I have a full Panamanian Driver’s License, however, my original License had been previously stolen and I was using a photo copy, which I discovered the hard way, was not classed as a valid document!
After much ado…I made yet another trip to the Municipio...
We thank Daryl Ries for giving us the idea to have Jet Metier interview select contributors of Best Places who enliven our pages with their experiences and revelations. The conversation began with Daryl talking about a real estate expo she had attended just prior to their scheduled talk, and then continued with Daryl reviewing her life on four continents. In a chronological sleight of hand, we present the second part of the interview first, where Daryl speaks of her...
Another sunny and breezy day. It´s late in the day and I´m just now ready for lunch, waiting for my grilled tuna sandwich with a tall glass of fresh squeezed pineapple juice! After all, this is the famous “Tuna Coast” of Pacific Panama.
I certainly hope those reading this information about living in Panama can arrange a trip down soon. And see for themselves the beauty of the Azuero Peninsula, the tranquility of the town of Pedasi and the...
There are no hurricanes in Chapala or Ajijic because we are located inland. Flooding has occurred on the streets but it is nothing that goes over your knees. However, the flood tends to be a nuisance because you cannot drive. 
The best reason to retire overseas is to have an adventure – to broaden your experience base, to try something new, and to be open to change, new cultures, etc. The most important reason is to feel like you need something different in your life. You want to change the quality of your life. That is without saying that the quality of your life may not have been good in the States or wherever you came from, but just to say that you want a different quality of life. A life....jpg)
Panama has many diverse cultures. This memorial identifies nine different cultures from all over the world that populated Panama probably starting with the Spanish Conquistadors and the Chinese who came to Panama to help build the Panama Railroad in the 1850 to transport '49ers from the Atlantic (Caribbean) side of the isthmus who arrived on ships to the Pacific side to continue their ship ride to the gold fields in California and Alaska. (1).jpg)
Later West Indians....jpg)
Well, when I meet people that are looking to relocate to Corozal, I ask them a few questions. What are you looking for? Do you want to be by the sea? Do you want to be isolated or do you want to have some neighbors? Do you want to live in a community? The answers all come back differently. 
Yes, you can bring your pets to Nicaragua, and many people do. There are a couple of agencies that can help you and from my understanding, it is not a very difficult procedure at all.
Things I now know about driving in Panama! Finale! 
We thank Daryl Ries for giving us the idea to have Jet Metier interview select contributors of Best Places who enliven our pages with their experiences and revelations. The conversation began with Daryl talking about a real estate expo she had attended just prior to their scheduled talk, and then continued with Daryl reviewing her life on four continents. In a chronological sleight of hand, we present the second part of the interview first, where Daryl speaks of her...
I´m just now ready for lunch, waiting for my grilled tuna sandwich with a tall glass of fresh squeezed pineapple juice! After all, this is the famous “Tuna Coast” of Pacific Panama. 
