Although I've only been out to the coast between Manzanillo and Mazatlán, and here in Chapala and Ajijic, I would say the cost of clothes in Mexico is about the same as it is in Canada. Clothing in the US is much better priced than in Mexico and has way more variety.
I buy my clothes all over the place. If I'm going somewhere and I need a dress shirt, I'll get it here in Mexico. If I'm already in Canada or the US and I see some nice...
Although I've only been out to the coast between Manzanillo and Mazatlán, and here in Chapala and Ajijic, I would say the cost of clothes in Mexico is about the same as it is in Canada. Clothing in the US is much better priced than in Mexico and has way more variety.
I buy my clothes all over the place. If I'm going somewhere and I need a dress shirt, I'll get it here in Mexico. If I'm already in Canada or the US and I see some nice dress shirts and I know I'm going to need one, I'll buy it while I'm there. My wife goes to the US a lot, so sometimes I'm with her, and sometimes I go to Canada.
The quality of clothing is typically higher up North. Also, you're more likely to get a sale on something. If you want to just shop for sales you know when they are; the long weekends, the holiday sales, the off-season sales. In Mexico, it doesn't seem to matter. It's the same price all the time.
There is also Walmart here in Chapala and Ajijic that looks to be very similar to the Walmart in Canada, relative to the types of clothes and prices. In Chapala and Ajijic, there are not enough people to have high-end malls, but they have high-end malls in Guadalajara with high-end products and prices similar to the malls in the United States, like luxury brands.
There are also some mid-range department stores in Mexico such as Sears and Fábricas de Francia. The mid-range boutiques maybe are a little bit less prevalent. For example, I don't think there are any Gaps in Mexico or anything similar.
(Pictured: Jet Metier tries on a dress in Puebla from Chiapas. To see the YouTube, click here.)
What should I be most concerned about regarding retiring abroad?
Nelson Vega
One of the main things to be concerned about when retiring abroad (among other things) is health insurance. Often the health systems abroad are not even similar to those of your own country. However, with Latin America, specially Panama, as hot spots to retire, the change in public and private health has been huge over the last years. Panama is a medical tourism destination, and many health insurance companies now offer great plans for the best hospitals in Panama while also...
One of the main things to be concerned about when retiring abroad (among other things) is health insurance. Often the health systems abroad are not even similar to those of your own country. However, with Latin America, specially Panama, as hot spots to retire, the change in public and private health has been huge over the last years. Panama is a medical tourism destination, and many health insurance companies now offer great plans for the best hospitals in Panama while also including options to be covered back at your home country or for when you travel as well.
After you get health insurance covered, then you will need to worry about adjusting to language, different customs of the new city or town where you are going to move, things to do, etc. In the end the discovery of all those new things is what will make moving abroad exciting, and there will always be a way to make the most of it.
How's the standard of living in the Panama City, Panama suburb of Fort Clayton / Clayton?
Anne Gordon de Barrigón - Whale Watching Panama/Emberá Village Tours
The standard of living in Clayton is good and is on the higher end. Clayton is very clean and it is a nice neighborhood. There are lots of green areas, lots of parks, and lots of space between the houses. There is a new little market area with some little restaurants, a health food stor, and a bakery. Clayton is an upper middle class to upper class neighborhood.
The standard of living in Clayton is good and is on the higher end. Clayton is very clean and it is a nice neighborhood. There are lots of green areas, lots of parks, and lots of space between the houses. There is a new little market area with some little restaurants, a health food stor, and a bakery. Clayton is an upper middle class to upper class neighborhood.
If you are moving your things to Portugal, it is best not to bring your electrical appliances because we have a different voltage here in Portugal than in the US. We use 220 voltage here, which is the same as in England.
You don’t really have to bring a lot of your stuff here because you can purchase everything here in the Lisbon area. You can find nice furniture, wonderful linen, wonderful china, etc. so you don’t need anything else. The same is true for the whole...
If you are moving your things to Portugal, it is best not to bring your electrical appliances because we have a different voltage here in Portugal than in the US. We use 220 voltage here, which is the same as in England.
You don’t really have to bring a lot of your stuff here because you can purchase everything here in the Lisbon area. You can find nice furniture, wonderful linen, wonderful china, etc. so you don’t need anything else. The same is true for the whole country of Portugal.
It costs pretty much the same in Portugal as in England to buy things. England is a bigger country so it has a lot more variety and a lot more competition. Here in Portugal, the Swedish have opened up a new chain for us called IKEA. They are here now and everybody shops in IKEA. The prices are pretty much competitive here.
If you want to buy some Portuguese furniture, you will find it a bit more expensive but it is because it is of higher quality and of good craftsmanship. When I moved back here from England, I didn’t bring my stuff over. I sold them in England and just bought everything new here in Portugal.
What are the best and worst things about living and retiring in Managua, Nicaragua?
Mike Cobb - ECI Development
The best things about living in Nicaragua are the warm friendly people, fresh organic foods, and the beauty of the beaches and cloud forests. The worst thing is the parking attendants who have never driven a car instructing you how to park.
(Cloud forest in Mombacho, Nicaragua, pictured.)
The best things about living in Nicaragua are the warm friendly people, fresh organic foods, and the beauty of the beaches and cloud forests. The worst thing is the parking attendants who have never driven a car instructing you how to park.
What is the typical Belize church like? What is the religion of Belize?
Rubi Young - Altamira Residences
Here in Belize, we have a variety of religions but majority of the people here are Catholics. There are people who belong to different religions such as he Adventists and Anglicans and they are all accepted. People here in Belize know how to respect another person’s religious belief.
There are some differences between the religions here in Belize. As an example, Catholics go to church on Sundays. They eat pork, shrimp, and they even drink...
Here in Belize, we have a variety of religions but majority of the people here are Catholics. There are people who belong to different religions such as he Adventists and Anglicans and they are all accepted. People here in Belize know how to respect another person’s religious belief.
There are some differences between the religions here in Belize. As an example, Catholics go to church on Sundays. They eat pork, shrimp, and they even drink alcohol. Adventists, on the other hand, observe the Sabbath so they go to church on Saturdays. They also believe in God and in Jesus Christ but they do not worship the Virgin Mary. Adventists have a different culture. You can tell by the way they dress. They do not work, cook, sell, or buy on Saturdays, either. They prepare everything on Friday. People here in Belize know how to respect one another’s religions. Regardless of their religions, people remain friends with each other.
(Belize Adventist Junior College logo, Corozal, Belize, pictured.)
Boquete is located in the cool mountains just 45 minutes north of David, (the largest city in Chiriqui Province in the Republic of Panama.) The trade winds blow through the valley and keep pollution to a minimum. The air is fresh and it is wonderful to breath deeply, very relaxing for us.
We arrived on December 12, 2012 ready for our adventure. We rented a car in Panama City and drove to David, it took about 6 hours or so. Our first night we spent in Volcan,...
Dreams can easily reached, if you work towards them. In the beginning, don't set long term goals; always start with near-term ones. Work on a day-to-day basis with ordinary facts, and soon you will realize that your dream is closer than you think.
When we are young, we hardly think about the future; we think we have a long time still ahead. But one day, we realize we are not so young, and time has gone...
This province is situated on the border with Colombia, and the center is La Palma. Weather is around 70° to 87°. It´s also known as “Tapón del Darién”, because of its extensive and prime mountainous rainforest and jungle. Its geography, with lots of high volume rivers like the “Chucunaque” and “Tuira”, heavy jungle, national park and waterfalls, do not permit the...