What's the crime rate against Americans and other expats in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?
Chuck Bolotin - Best Mexico Movers
Americans and other expats are not targeted for crime in the Ajijic / Lake Chapala area any more than anyone else acting the same way, and perhaps even less.
For example, if you leave your cell phone on a park bench unattended, it won't make a difference if you are a Mexican, a Canadian, or an American; it probably won't be there when you return.
However, there are at least two groups who try to see to it that crimes against expats and other Americans in...
Americans and other expats are not targeted for crime in the Ajijic / Lake Chapala area any more than anyone else acting the same way, and perhaps even less.
For example, if you leave your cell phone on a park bench unattended, it won't make a difference if you are a Mexican, a Canadian, or an American; it probably won't be there when you return.
However, there are at least two groups who try to see to it that crimes against expats and other Americans in the Ajijic / Lake Chapala area are as low as possible:
Anyone who gains from having expats in the area. This includes anyone who is employed by an expat and anyone who works at a business that sells to expats. It also includes the government and tourist interests, which work very hard to make the area safe for their benefactors.
Organized crime. While at first thought, this may seem odd, it's not if you think about it for a bit more. For example, drug dealers do not benefit if an expat is the victim of a crime; quite the opposite. All the groups of people mentioned in the bullet above are hurt if expats leave the area, so they work actively to make sure it doesn't happen. Also, if the crime is serious enough, the US or Canadian government may get involved. None of this is good for "business." In fact, what you will hear about is that, if an expat is the victim of a crime by a low-level thief, it is many times the organized crime group that takes action against the thief.
So, please don't worry that you'll be targeted. Quite the opposite is true.
Pictured: Jet Metier enjoying herself in Ajijic Plaza. To see the video, click the picture or here.
What's the language most often spoken in Algarve? Can I get by if I just speak English?
Luis Teixeira da Silva - Algarve Senior Living
Sad to say, I have English friends who have been in the Algarve for 22 years who don’t speak a word of Portuguese or hardly a word in Portuguese. So sadly, the answer is yes, you can get by in the Algarve by just speaking English.
The Algarve is the most popular tourist region in Portugal. It receives somewhere between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 arrivals a year and the Algarve has the population of only 300,000. So there is a lot of influx of people...
Sad to say, I have English friends who have been in the Algarve for 22 years who don’t speak a word of Portuguese or hardly a word in Portuguese. So sadly, the answer is yes, you can get by in the Algarve by just speaking English.
The Algarve is the most popular tourist region in Portugal. It receives somewhere between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 arrivals a year and the Algarve has the population of only 300,000. So there is a lot of influx of people into the area and, of course, what this means is that the most common language of communication is English. English can be used to communicate with Dutch, Norwegians, Americans, Canadians, Australians, English, and even with Germans. And so English is the de facto international language in use in the Algarve in conversations involving foreign people.
We have many foreign people who start off learning Portuguese but the Portuguese people go out of their way to speak English and so what the foreigners find is that sometimes it is difficult to practice their Portuguese because the Portuguese people in their anxiety to be helpful start speaking English. And so most people kind of then become embarrassed and they revert to English because the Portuguese speak so much better English than the foreigners speak Portuguese.
It would be helpful to speak some Portuguese because it is part of understanding the culture. So it’s always useful to be able to say something more than just “hello” and “goodbye.” But the truth is that there are some people who for cultural and other reasons have not necessarily made the effort or found that they needed to make the effort to learn Portuguese. They can simply get by on English and do everything that they need to do—go to the doctor, go to the supermarket, go to the club, etc., and they can get away perfectly with just speaking English.
(Lennart Eriksson [far right], Swedish Olympian visited Algarve Senior Living property in Portugal, pictured.)
So you think you can give up the American lifestyle for a slower, more rustic place to live? It is easy enough to think about leaving it all behind due to the current political situation in the USA and high cost of living. Just chucking it all and move to another country seems plausible, but is it? Is it because you are lonely? Not a good plan.
What do you do? I suggest you do some research first. The cost of living is an important category....
So you think you can give up the American lifestyle for a slower, more rustic place to live? It is easy enough to think about leaving it all behind due to the current political situation in the USA and high cost of living. Just chucking it all and move to another country seems plausible, but is it? Is it because you are lonely? Not a good plan.
What do you do? I suggest you do some research first. The cost of living is an important category. Healthcare is another very important matter. The political status of a foreign nation is also at the top of the list. You may want to consider the climate, diseases, transportation, entertainment, business opportunities, events and sports or activities. The flight time and distance from your homeland are concerns to consider.
If you need many people in your life perhaps you want to rethink leaving that security blanket. You will be mostly on your own in a country where the language is different, as well as customs.
It costs money to move to a foreign country, so check out the costs before you decide it is what you want to do. Do some online searches about air fares, shipping businesses, postal companies. You will find mail is an issue. Getting a cell phone is easy, but having reliable electric service is iffy, at best. Water is not a big deal in Panama. (However we always boil our drinking water. No problem; just a precaution.)
You can rent a car with full insurance for about $60 USD a day, catch a cab or take a bus for much less than in the USA.
Small communities seem to have a Catholic Church or a Seventh Day Adventist Church. A few communities have a Church of Christ or Christian church, but not like in the USA; very small and mostly in Spanish.
All legal documents must be in Spanish. You cannot use any English document here as a legal document. All documents regarding visas must be certified, signed and apostilled by the US Department of State and translated into Spanish. It is recommended to use an attorney. Be careful and check their credentials.
There are language schools, but remember the language, the customs and laws are different. Getting service is different, and waiting is part of the deal.
Are you ready to be away from all that you know and love? Can you enjoy life at a slower pace and not hold the grandchildren near your heart except once a year when you go home? Do you mind waiting, seeing military police on the highways, seeing a security office in every store and business? When you may find many things in Panama that are difficult to deal with, it is important to smile, put that American temper under control and be calm.
Personally we love it in Panama. We respect the people and enjoy the expats. We drive and walk, ride buses, and take cabs. It is different but it feels like home and we do love it very much.
There is much to consider. I suggest you thoroughly check out this site and make sure you get as much information as possible before coming to Panama to live. You will not find instant gratification here or anywhere. There is always a downside to everything. I suggest you do not runaway from where you are, but look into and study where you want to be.
Is the electricity reliable in Granada, Nicaragua? Are there blackouts or brownouts in Granada, Nicaragua?
Esmerelda Vargas - Schuvar Tours
Blackouts or brownouts happen in Granada, Nicaragua (and for that matter, al of Central America) but they don’t happen every day. During a typical year, we experience about four or five blackouts. It’s not too much and it takes only between 2 and 4 hours in general for the power to come back on.
I had a generator about 10 years ago because back then, we had blackouts almost every day. Blackouts don’t happen as frequently any...
Blackouts or brownouts happen in Granada, Nicaragua (and for that matter, al of Central America) but they don’t happen every day. During a typical year, we experience about four or five blackouts. It’s not too much and it takes only between 2 and 4 hours in general for the power to come back on.
I had a generator about 10 years ago because back then, we had blackouts almost every day. Blackouts don’t happen as frequently any more, so, while I still have the generator, I don’t use it. I normally just wait until the electricity comes back on.
What's the dress code in Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan? What clothes do they wear in Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan?
Gwido Mar - Grupo Mar Realty Ltd.
The dress code in the Cayo District, Belize is anything from casual to what you would wear on the beach. For ladies, the fashion is flip-flops, shorts, and tank tops. For guys maybe it’s shorts, flip-flops, maybe just a t-shirt.
This is all if you’re not working, of course. That's for both locals and expats. If they're not at work or a special occasion, the dress code is just casual like they're at the beach. Of course if they're working, the clothing will...
The dress code in the Cayo District, Belize is anything from casual to what you would wear on the beach. For ladies, the fashion is flip-flops, shorts, and tank tops. For guys maybe it’s shorts, flip-flops, maybe just a t-shirt.
This is all if you’re not working, of course. That's for both locals and expats. If they're not at work or a special occasion, the dress code is just casual like they're at the beach. Of course if they're working, the clothing will be a little bit formal for locals. For example, if they work at any of the government offices, a bank, or an insurance company, they actually where a uniform—either that, or formal attire.
The expats are always pretty much in their flip-flops and sandals and shorts. This is because most of them come from North America and they just want to relax, maybe it's a little warm for them, so of course they won't be wearing jeans or hiking boots or tennis shoes. So they just relax. They live here. They go to town, they go the market, no need to dress up. This is all except for when there's a party or a function.
I've seen people who maybe go to weddings or maybe go to a Rotary Club meeting who dress nicely. I've seen guys who wear long trousers tucked in a shirt with collar, whether it's a long sleeve or a short sleeve and a belt. They may choose to just wear dress shoes or in some cases I've seen guys wear leather boots, like cowboy boots. It looks nice. If they are not wearing proper dress trousers they wear them like a jeans, but tucked in, so it looks good.
If the occasion is semi-formal, they ladies may wear something like jeans and a bandana shirt tucked in. If they're not, they're wearing a dress, with high heels.
How's the nightlife and entertainment in and around the Panama City, Panama area of Casco Viejo?
Melissa Lange - Panama Relocation Tours
The nightlife in Casco Viejo (aka Casco Antiguo) is some of the most authentic in Panama City, Panama. There is a Cuban Salsa Salon at the entrance to the neighborhood called Havana Club where you can come early to partake in salsa lessons. There is live music in several different cafes and bars around Casco Viejo, and huskers that play music on the street. It has a decidedly Bohemian feel for those that are looking for something a little more romantic than night clubs...
The nightlife in Casco Viejo (aka Casco Antiguo) is some of the most authentic in Panama City, Panama. There is a Cuban Salsa Salon at the entrance to the neighborhood called Havana Club where you can come early to partake in salsa lessons. There is live music in several different cafes and bars around Casco Viejo, and huskers that play music on the street. It has a decidedly Bohemian feel for those that are looking for something a little more romantic than night clubs with deafening bass and scantily clad women.
This and the follow-up are untypical but may interest some who would not consider moving to the 'other side of the World'.
NEW ZEALAND
I'd worked for the UK defense department for 15 years and soon after disillusionment set in badly there appeared a recruitment team from Aotearoa (New Zealand). Lo and behold, they picked me for free emigration, family, lock stock and barrel! Now, I had never flown, nor even left the UK so there was much...
Americans like the fastest route from point A to Point B. I find that truly boring. Unless there is some schedule to be kept I much prefer the back roads to get around. My reasons are simple; I like to be on the less traveled road. I enjoy less traffic, fewer potholes, no hurry. I love taking pictures and seeing real people doing what they do best, being themselves!
Another reason at this time to take a scenic drive is to miss the massive...
Since my arrival in Panama I have made many business connections, some of whom are in Costa Rica. It was finally time to make a trip across the border to meet some folks and tackle the dreaded border crossing that many expats experience frequently for different reasons. Having researched the immigration requirements and talked to many who have made the crossing, I expected things to be somewhat different, and not in a good way. To my surprise, the trip was uneventful and...
Americans and other expats are not targeted for crime in the Ajijic / Lake Chapala area any more than anyone else acting the same way, and perhaps even less. .png)
Sad to say, I have English friends who have been in the Algarve for 22 years who don’t speak a word of Portuguese or hardly a word in Portuguese. So sadly, the answer is yes, you can get by in the Algarve by just speaking English. 
Blackouts or brownouts happen in Granada, Nicaragua (and for that matter, al of Central America) but they don’t happen every day. During a typical year, we experience about four or five blackouts. It’s not too much and it takes only between 2 and 4 hours in general for the power to come back on. 
The dress code in the Cayo District, Belize is anything from casual to what you would wear on the beach. For ladies, the fashion is flip-flops, shorts, and tank tops. For guys maybe it’s shorts, flip-flops, maybe just a t-shirt.
Americans like the fastest route from point A to Point B. I find that truly boring. Unless there is some schedule to be kept I much prefer the back roads to get around. My reasons are simple; I like to be on the less traveled road. I enjoy less traffic, fewer potholes, no hurry. I love taking pictures and seeing real people doing what they do best, being themselves! 
Since my arrival in Panama I have made many business connections, some of whom are in Costa Rica. It was finally time to make a trip across the border to meet some folks and tackle the dreaded border crossing that many expats experience frequently for different reasons. Having researched the immigration requirements and talked to many who have made the crossing, I expected things to be somewhat different, and not in a good way. To my surprise, the trip was uneventful and...
