What's the dress code in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico? What clothes do they wear in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Joan Silver
When we go out to dinner with friends in Chapala and Ajijic, we enjoy getting dressed up. During the day, the dress code is a little bit more casual. It’s important to wear walking shoes because of the cobblestone streets. If we go out to dinner in Chapala and Ajijic or Guadalajara, men and women like to get dressed up. If you see a gentleman sitting at a table nearby wearing shorts and a baseball cap, he's definitely not Mexican. The dress code for men in Chapala and Ajijic...
When we go out to dinner with friends in Chapala and Ajijic, we enjoy getting dressed up. During the day, the dress code is a little bit more casual. It’s important to wear walking shoes because of the cobblestone streets. If we go out to dinner in Chapala and Ajijic or Guadalajara, men and women like to get dressed up. If you see a gentleman sitting at a table nearby wearing shorts and a baseball cap, he's definitely not Mexican. The dress code for men in Chapala and Ajijic is slacks and shirt. The men don’t wear t-shirts or muscle shirts and shorts like most expats. The women are often in dresses, sometimes in slacks as well, but nicely dressed. Even the poor people and the workers in Chapala and Ajijic are dressed properly.
Although some expats do not follow the dress code in Chapala and Ajijic, they're always accepted. They're not turned away at the door if they don’t have a jacket and tie. We don't have restaurants in Chapala and Ajijic where people wear a certain dress code to be respected.
(Business owner Barbara Golden at her real estate office, Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)
How bad are the mosquitoes and other bugs and insects in Managua, Nicaragua?
Mike Quinn - Farmstay El Portón Verde
Mosquitos (called zancudos locally) and insects in general can be abundant in Nicaragua; certainly Managua is no different in that respect. However, it is not like some places in North America where a veritable cloud of insects forms around you anytime you slow down or stop moving. That's not to say that the bugs are not an issue at all, they definitely can be, and you should plan on taking precautions. You definitely will want to prevent mosquito bites, as they carry...
Mosquitos (called zancudos locally) and insects in general can be abundant in Nicaragua; certainly Managua is no different in that respect. However, it is not like some places in North America where a veritable cloud of insects forms around you anytime you slow down or stop moving. That's not to say that the bugs are not an issue at all, they definitely can be, and you should plan on taking precautions. You definitely will want to prevent mosquito bites, as they carry serious diseases like dengue and malaria.
The insects are much more prevalent in the rainy season from May-October. Zancudos flourish anywhere there are puddles, marshy areas, rice fields, etc. The mosquitoes are also a problem in some urban areas that have stagnant water in discarded items like old tires where the insects can lay eggs and hatch larvae.
The species of mosquitoes that are active in the evening and night can carry malaria, while those that are active in the daytime can carry dengue. Neither of which you will want any part of, take my word for it!
The name of the game is prevention, as in cover up your arms and legs with long sleeves and long pants to stop the mosquitos from being able to bite at your exposed skin. This is especially important when the mosquitoes are more active, dusk and dawn mostly. Proper clothing and avoiding being outside at the peak times works much better then any bug spray.
The other preventive measures have to do with your lodging. The best situation is to have a room with screened windows and doors, the next best is to sleep using a mosquito net. It won't hurt to do both if you are really concerned. Directing a fan to blow insects away from your body as you sleep is also a good idea. Some people use mosquito spirals as a sort of an incense to keep away the bugs, but in my experience, they just release a toxic smoke that causes more harm to the individuals than the insects.
As far as other insects, the big two that people worry about (for good reason...) are spiders and scorpions. These too exist in relative abundance in any tropical country and Nicaragua is no exception. Spiders generally do not seek out human victims, and an easy way to avoid them is to make sure to shake out your shoes before you put them on. Scorpions are a bit more of a worry as they tend to hide out in dark places, woodpiles, and other forgotten corners. The bites can be serious for those subject to anaphylactic shock. For the rest of us, a slight numbing of the lips and tongue might occur.
The other insect that is nasty, but you are very unlikely to be in contact with, is the Chagas bug, locally known as chinche. They are usually found in very unkempt and falling down buildings, usually made of adobe. These bugs climb on your face, bite you, then, (and here is the nasty part...) they defecate in the wound. A small percentage of those bitten get the Chagas disease, which involves swelling, fever, and a reappearance in a few years. The way to prevent this is to not stay in old crumbling adobe houses.
How much does it cost to go to the movies in Portugal?
Carol Bartlett Ribeiro - Carol Bartlett Ribeiro, Property Consultant
If you’re retired or a senior citizen, the cost to go to the movies in Portugal is €4 (about $4.20 / £2.80). If you are not a retired person, it would cost you €5 (about $5.30 / £3.50).
Sometimes we have concerts here directly from the Royal Opera or from the ballet for €10 (about $10.60 / £7.00), whereas in England you’d pay £45 (around $64 / €68.) for it.
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If you’re retired or a senior citizen, the cost to go to the movies in Portugal is €4 (about $4.20 / £2.80). If you are not a retired person, it would cost you €5 (about $5.30 / £3.50).
Sometimes we have concerts here directly from the Royal Opera or from the ballet for €10 (about $10.60 / £7.00), whereas in England you’d pay £45 (around $64 / €68.) for it.
We’re very fortunate because the language of the film will always stay in the language of the country of origin, and they’ll have titles. So all the movies for English-speakers, whether they are from the States or from England are all in English with subtitles. The same is true for all the movies on television as well.
(The movie poster for Lisbon, starring Ray Milland in 1956, pictured.)
The question "Are the doctors in Boquete good?" is actually a very good question and speaks to the heart of the health care system, not just here in Panama but throughout the world.
When you think about the local doctors in Boquete, think about a small town doctor’s office in the US back in the 1950’s. The doctors work out of private clinics (usually in the same place they live) and they really are the first line of...
The question "Are the doctors in Boquete good?" is actually a very good question and speaks to the heart of the health care system, not just here in Panama but throughout the world.
When you think about the local doctors in Boquete, think about a small town doctor’s office in the US back in the 1950’s. The doctors work out of private clinics (usually in the same place they live) and they really are the first line of medical care for most people. They are general practitioners and are good at the small ailments that we all experience in our day-to-day lives. They are extremely good at treating things like colds, flus, respiratory ailments, stomach problems, bone breaks and muscle strains. These issues account for 80% to 90% of the reasons we visit doctors.
Like most things here in Panama, for the expat community the language barrier is a major consideration when choosing a doctor. If you can’t communicate with your doctor it’s going to be difficult for him or her to diagnose your problem. Fortunately, in Boquete we have at least two very good doctors who speak and understand English well enough for most expats to explain what ails them. Dr. Chen and Dr. Sue both work out of their private clinics near downtown Boquete. My wife had a minor medical problem recently and on the advice of many of our friends we visited Dr. Sue’s office. I can honestly say that Dr. Sue is one of the best general practitioners that I have ever met. She is empathetic, a good listener, takes time to really discuss the problem and then goes over her diagnosis and treatment in clear detail so the patient leaves with a specific course of action. Doctors all over the world tend to be less than sympathetic (it’s the nature of the business) but Dr. Sue is the rare exception.
This brings me to discuss the general medical system in Panama. For minor ailments, the local doctor is the first choice. As the issue becomes more complex and harder to diagnose, the next step is to visit one of the two main hospitals in David (a city about 40 minutes away) – Hospital Chiriqui or Mae Lewis Hospital. Both of these facilities have a larger medical staff, a list of specialists and testing equipment and labs to perform more complex tests and procedures. If there is still an issue or a very complex medical problem, most people go to Panama City to visit one of the larger hospitals like Punta Pacifica or Punta Paitilla. These hospitals have state of the art medical equipment, well trained specialists and surgical facilities to handle almost any problem. Finally, if the problem is still too complicated (or too expensive) expats will generally go back to their home countries to seek medical attention. Canada and the UK have national health care and the US has Medicare for people over 65 (most of the expats who live in Boquete fit that age group).
It’s important to understand that in Panama the patient is responsible for their own medical records. Personally, I like this system. What this means is that if your doctor orders a blood test, an X-ray, an MRI, ultrasound or any of a variety of procedures, you (as the patient) are responsible for picking up the results and taking them to your doctor. The doctor will review the results, take a note, then hand them back to you. You keep these records on file and are responsible for their safe keeping. This does a couple of things. First off, it reduces the cost and administration burden for the doctor and this saves money (he or she doesn’t need to maintain thousands of personal medical records). Secondly, this allows you, the patient, to take the test results to any doctor or hospital you choose, whether it’s in Panama or back home. To me, this is the ultimate in personal medical freedom.
In summary, the medical care in Panama is good but you have to understand the various limitations of the system and take responsibility for your own health care.
Do I still have to file my US income taxes if I retire, work or just live abroad?
Roy Cannon - Gestoria Cocle - main office in Penoneme
Absolutely, you belong to the IRS as long as you hold a US Passport.
If your world wide income falls below the reporting minimum, you are not obliged to file, although this is recommended for a couple of reasons.
You will be required to file a report listing bank and security accounts in any year where the total value exceeds $10,000, even if you are not required to file an income tax return.
If you work abroad, you may be able to claim an "Earned Income Exclusion" on your wages, but not...
Absolutely, you belong to the IRS as long as you hold a US Passport.
If your world wide income falls below the reporting minimum, you are not obliged to file, although this is recommended for a couple of reasons.
You will be required to file a report listing bank and security accounts in any year where the total value exceeds $10,000, even if you are not required to file an income tax return.
If you work abroad, you may be able to claim an "Earned Income Exclusion" on your wages, but not on bank account interest, rental income or other income that is not "earned" by "working".
Other countries are more understanding than the American IRS
It seems that everything I do gives me opportunities for new friendships. Even on my first trip to Mexico, as a high school student, I made friends. I would ask questions and the conversations would start. At that time, my Spanish was almost non-existent but it did not matter. Mexico has a tradition of hospitality and the majority of the people that you meet will welcome you. It is even better if you try a few words in Spanish....
I hate to be a copy-cat but I have a bird story too. My wife (Eneida) has a small house she rents and one day she returned to our condo, after working in the garden of her house, with a small cardboard box. “Guess what this is”, she said. She opened the lid and there, nestled in some paper towel was a tiny, almost necked baby bird. Its eyes weren’t even open yet and she explained it fell out of a nest in a bush she was trimming and she didn’t know what else to do with it,...
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...
When we go out to dinner with friends in Chapala and Ajijic, we enjoy getting dressed up. During the day, the dress code is a little bit more casual. It’s important to wear walking shoes because of the cobblestone streets. If we go out to dinner in Chapala and Ajijic or Guadalajara, men and women like to get dressed up. If you see a gentleman sitting at a table nearby wearing shorts and a baseball cap, he's definitely not Mexican. The dress code for men in Chapala and Ajijic...
If you’re retired or a senior citizen, the cost to go to the movies in Portugal is €4 (about $4.20 / £2.80). If you are not a retired person, it would cost you €5 (about $5.30 / £3.50). 
It seems that everything I do gives me opportunities for new friendships. Even on my first trip to Mexico, as a high school student, I made friends. I would ask questions and the conversations would start. At that time, my Spanish was almost non-existent but it did not matter. Mexico has a tradition of hospitality and the majority of the people that you meet will welcome you. It is even better if you try a few words in Spanish....
Panamá has always been on a global path, “pro mundi beneficio” (for the benefit of the world).