What's the food like in the markets in San Miguel de Allende?
Alexandra del Villar
There is always a lot of fresh food here in San Miguel de Allende. There is a lot of fruits, vegetables, and they’re not that expensive. It’s actually very cheap. You could buy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables here without spending too much money.
Buying food in Philadelphia, where I used to live, and buying food in San Miguel is completely different. I had a really had a hard time in Philly because I am born Mexican so I am used to...
There is always a lot of fresh food here in San Miguel de Allende. There is a lot of fruits, vegetables, and they’re not that expensive. It’s actually very cheap. You could buy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables here without spending too much money.
Buying food in Philadelphia, where I used to live, and buying food in San Miguel is completely different. I had a really had a hard time in Philly because I am born Mexican so I am used to having a lot of fruits and a lot of vegetables all year round and for a very reasonable price. When I went to Philly, I had to look for a farmer’s market, which was about an hour away from my house and it was very expensive. The fruits and vegetables that they sell were not as fresh, and not as sweet. They were totally different. In Mexico, some of our fruits and vegetables are also seasonal but we have the basic fruits and vegetables that you could find year round.
In San Miguel, we have both supermarket chains and farmer’s markets. We do have a couple of chains but the government does not let them come in very much because they don’t want to lose the sustainability of the locals. So we have three supermarket chains and everything else is very local. We have markets, some of which are outdoors and some of which are in an enclosed space. People in San Miguel like to support the locals more than the big chains. You can go to the markets every day if you like but if you are busy or if you’re working, you can go once a week, get what you need, and cook it at home.
The markets in San Miguel are much cheaper than in Philadelphia, where I used to live. The markets also have all the basic foods that Mexicans eat. With regard to the quality of meat, you will find a wide variety. You will find processed meat like in the States. You could also find organic meat, which you could definitely find easier here. Meat here in San Miguel won’t be as expensive as it is in the US because meat and chicken are being bred in places that are very close to San Miguel.
I researched a lot for the meat that I buy for my restaurant. The butcher shops have grass-fed chicken and grass-fed beef. That is the only place where I buy my filet mignon and it is excellent; top notch. The same goes for the chicken meat. For me, the filet mignon that you would get here in San Miguel is better than the meat that you will get in the supermarkets in the US. You would expect that the filet mignon here is really expensive but it’s not. It is substantially less than in the US. The meat here has very good quality and it is very affordable for most of the population of San Miguel.
(Fruit and vegetable stall in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
How's the biking in and around San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua?
Eugenio Cortez - Hacienda & Ecolodge Morgan´s Rock
Biking is very rustic in San Juan del Sur. There are trails, but there is no signage and no guidance. You literally have to know your way around or you will get lost.
Biking is available and it is very unique because you begin in San Juan del Sur, go through the dry forest and then the rain forest. Along the way, you get to see the wildlife, but you will see very few people on these trails, and most of the people you will see are from the area.
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Biking is very rustic in San Juan del Sur. There are trails, but there is no signage and no guidance. You literally have to know your way around or you will get lost.
Biking is available and it is very unique because you begin in San Juan del Sur, go through the dry forest and then the rain forest. Along the way, you get to see the wildlife, but you will see very few people on these trails, and most of the people you will see are from the area.
You have to be more fit for mountain biking as compared to street biking.
Adventure here (it’s not even tourism) is not very developed. You go on these trails because they are established roads or back roads, and they just happen to be good for biking, not because they're specifically for biking.
People take advantage of the good biking here in San Juan del Sur. Five, six, or seven people hop on their bikes and as a group, they go to these different treks. It’s not like that trek was made for biking, but it can be used for that.
That’s what I mean when I say that biking in San Juan del Sur is “rustic.” You don’t know what you’re gonna get. If it rained the day or night before, you should get ready for the good type of complete mayhem, like mud and rocks and the road that was good two weeks ago has trees in it that fell down. That unknown is why people love to bike.
I do not want to give the idea that biking is perfectly done, supervised, maintained, and is top of the line, but the whole disorganization is what makes it fun.
If you are a fan of biking, you will definitely love to bike here in San Juan del Sur because it’s nothing that you have experienced before. I know how they’re huge on safety and regulations in the US. Here, all of that is thrown out of the door. Nobody cares. When you go trail biking in San Juan del Sur, I will guarantee that you will fall down.
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?
Do I need a second passport if I retire, work, or live abroad?
Roy Cannon - Gestoria Cocle - main office in Penoneme
Short answer: NO
Panama does offer a passport to people who comply with a series of regulations. One is available almost immediately with an investment of $300,000 - which can be in property if desired. Generally people who have an indefinite visa that is non-Pensionado, and who have lived in Panama for five years, can apply for citizenship....which does not automatically revoke your US citizenship. There are a number of options that...
Short answer: NO
Panama does offer a passport to people who comply with a series of regulations. One is available almost immediately with an investment of $300,000 - which can be in property if desired. Generally people who have an indefinite visa that is non-Pensionado, and who have lived in Panama for five years, can apply for citizenship....which does not automatically revoke your US citizenship. There are a number of options that will lead to Panamanian nationality. You will need a lawyer who is experienced in this area to advise you.
There are advantages to having a second passport, for banking and travel purposes. (Don't get stuck in the Moscow airport without one.).
Yes, Panama has some wonderful special retirement benefits. I would suggest you request a definite answer from your lawyer in Panama who will be the one who has to get you the "Pensionado Visa" so that you can get the retirement benefits I will talk to you about below.
If you are already retired elsewhere..and can prove you receive at least $1,000 monthly from your retirement...a Panamanian lawyer can work with you to get you what we call a...
Yes, Panama has some wonderful special retirement benefits. I would suggest you request a definite answer from your lawyer in Panama who will be the one who has to get you the "Pensionado Visa" so that you can get the retirement benefits I will talk to you about below.
If you are already retired elsewhere..and can prove you receive at least $1,000 monthly from your retirement...a Panamanian lawyer can work with you to get you what we call a "Pensionado Visa". Once you have this you can get the same discounts that a Panamanian gets in Panama when he or she retires...which is discounts in:
Food at restaurants..not drinks
Medicines
Doctors
Airplane tickets you buy in Panama
Electrical, water, telephone bills
Movies, etc.
It is a wonderful program and you do "not" have to live in Panama the whole year for you to benefit from this program.
Ask a Panamanian lawyer so that he or she can explain how you can obtain the "Pensionado Visa" so that you can get all these special retirement benefits!
Jim Hardesty - TropicChoice Properties & Investments, Ltd.
Vehicles in Belize are more expensive than one would expect because of the high import duties imposed. The amount of the duty depends upon the vehicle and ranges from about 30% to as much as 90% for what is considered a luxury vehicle.
Vehicle age and number of cylinders are the main criteria used for determining the duty rate and the US Kelly Blue Book value is used for determining base value.
There is a large and...
Vehicles in Belize are more expensive than one would expect because of the high import duties imposed. The amount of the duty depends upon the vehicle and ranges from about 30% to as much as 90% for what is considered a luxury vehicle.
Vehicle age and number of cylinders are the main criteria used for determining the duty rate and the US Kelly Blue Book value is used for determining base value.
There is a large and active market in used cars, but it's a good idea to be very careful and have a mechanic check out any potential purchase since many cars have been thoroughly used and/or abused and cosmetic repairs have been made to cover up the wear and tear. Because of the import duty, even old, very used cars have a surprisingly high resale value. One can expect to pay between US$5,000 to $10,000 for a decent 10 year old, 4 cylinder SUV. SUV's and pick ups are the most popular and appropriate type of vehicles for Belize because of the varying condition of the roads.
Expats coming to Belize on the QRP program (qualified retired person) are allowed to bring a vehicle with them, duty free and to replace that vehicle every three years, again duty free. This is the least expensive way to have a good quality car in Belize. Shipping a car from Florida to Belize costs about US$900.
The advantage to buying a new car from a dealer in Belize is that it is the only way you will get warrantee coverage. Even if you bring a new car from the States, the warrantee will not be valid once you leave the US. Again, for QRP residents, the program allows the import duty on new vehicles purchased in Belize to be subtracted from the purchase price.
Almost on cue, just minutes after my wife Jet was finished with her massage on the beach in Mahahual, the wind picked up, and we and everyone else could notice that the squalls that earlier were further out and more separated were now consolidating and moving closer. Evidently not strangers to what would happen next, everyone but us folded up and headed for nearby shelter. Having a full itinerary, we got in our van, retraced the road back to the main highway, and made a left...
This little bird is a baby Panama Flycatcher. Mum and dad moved in above the light fitting in my kitchen in April 2012. I live on a little Caribbean island just off the coast of Panama in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro. This short tale is taken from my new book "Paradise Delayed", which is sub-titled "The pitfalls and pleasures (mainly the pitfalls) of Caribbean island life in the beautiful archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama". Life can be challenging and frustrating at times here,...
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 is always a lot of fresh food here in San Miguel de Allende. There is a lot of fruits, vegetables, and they’re not that expensive. It’s actually very cheap. You could buy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables here without spending too much money. 
duties imposed. The amount of the duty depends upon the vehicle and ranges from about 30% to as much as 90% for what is considered a luxury vehicle. 
Almost on cue, just minutes after my wife Jet was finished with her massage on the beach in Mahahual, the wind picked up, and we and everyone else could notice that the squalls that earlier were further out and more separated were now consolidating and moving closer. Evidently not strangers to what would happen next, everyone but us folded up and headed for nearby shelter. Having a full itinerary, we got in our van, retraced the road back to the main highway, and made a left...
This little bird is a baby Panama Flycatcher. Mum and dad moved in above the light fitting in my kitchen in April 2012. I live on a little Caribbean island just off the coast of Panama in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro. This short tale is taken from my new book "Paradise Delayed", which is sub-titled "The pitfalls and pleasures (mainly the pitfalls) of Caribbean island life in the beautiful archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama". Life can be challenging and frustrating at times here,...
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.