What is the culture of Los Cabos - La Paz, Mexico?
John K. Glaab - the settlement company®
The culture of Los Cabos and La Paz has changed tremendously in the last 15 years. Unfortunately, unlike in Michoacán, where I live part of the year (on the mainland of Mexico), the Spaniards and disease killed so many of the Indian population in the Baja Peninsula that we don’t have the heritage and cultural history that you would have, for example, in the state of Michoacán, where the Purepecha Indians are still walking down the streets in their native costumes....
The culture of Los Cabos and La Paz has changed tremendously in the last 15 years. Unfortunately, unlike in Michoacán, where I live part of the year (on the mainland of Mexico), the Spaniards and disease killed so many of the Indian population in the Baja Peninsula that we don’t have the heritage and cultural history that you would have, for example, in the state of Michoacán, where the Purepecha Indians are still walking down the streets in their native costumes. Unfortunately, we have lost a lot of that culture here in Los Cabos and La Paz. You will not see the native influence here that you would see in other places in Mexico like Oaxaca or in Michoacán. There are other examples all over Mexico of indigenous people, who have survived and their culture lives on and on.
Holy Week, in the town in Michoacán where I live part of the year, is a really cultural festival. The month of September, which is the month of independence, is a whole month long fiesta. There are also some things here that go on but it is not native Mexican culture that you would see in other parts of Mexico. It is much more Americanized because Baja was so sparsely populated until recently and a lot of the people who came here were either foreigners or people from other parts of Mexico. We don’t have a lot of indigenous culture for these people to assimilate into because the newcomers just overwhelmed whatever little is still left of the indigenous culture here.
How corrupt are the police in Nicaragua? Do I need to bribe the police in Nicaragua?
Mike Cobb - ECI Development
I have lived in Nicaragua for 11 years and have never paid a bribe. If you break the law, take the ticket and pay the fine. Bribery corrupts two people, the giver and the taker. I don’t want to be corrupted. As a libertarian, however, I believe it’s a personal choice, although the perpetuation of corruption does hurt everyone in society at some level or in some small way.
I have lived in Nicaragua for 11 years and have never paid a bribe. If you break the law, take the ticket and pay the fine. Bribery corrupts two people, the giver and the taker. I don’t want to be corrupted. As a libertarian, however, I believe it’s a personal choice, although the perpetuation of corruption does hurt everyone in society at some level or in some small way.
To rent a small apartment in Panama City, you should budget around US$1,000 and upwards. Typically, that would be a one bedroom + living room with one full bathroom and a guest bathroom. The location would be San Francisco, for example. You would probably have a small balcony, with a city view. You would have only one parking space. Some agents will tell you there are additional guest parking spaces, but this is lie, because as a tenant you would not be considered a guest! As a rule of...
To rent a small apartment in Panama City, you should budget around US$1,000 and upwards. Typically, that would be a one bedroom + living room with one full bathroom and a guest bathroom. The location would be San Francisco, for example. You would probably have a small balcony, with a city view. You would have only one parking space. Some agents will tell you there are additional guest parking spaces, but this is lie, because as a tenant you would not be considered a guest! As a rule of thumb, you would need to rent a three-bedroom if you require two parking spaces. At that price level, the building would be modern, located in a safe neighborhood, with access controlled by a security guard and provided with a pool and a gym. The apartment would be unfurnished, but equipped with lighting, appliances and air conditioners. The monthly building administration fee is usually paid by the landlord. Water and gas are usually included in the rent. However you would have to subscribe the electrical supply contract in your name, as well as phone, Internet and cable TV. Please keep in mind that every ad you see online or classifieds is intended for a duration of 12 months renewable - unless expressly indicated otherwise. Therefore, don't waste time investigating if the owner would rent you the apartment for 3 o 6 months. You do not have to pay a cent to your agent, as commissions are paid by the owners. It's not a bad idea to be assisted (at no cost) by an agent (preferably with a license number and a business card) since you will be required to sign a lease - in Spanish.... there are no standard leases, like in the US, so beware of the fine print!
Do I lower my US, UK or other income tax liabilities if I retire or work in Portugal?
Luis Rodrigues - Gouveia Pereira, Costa Freitas & Associates, Law Firm, RL
If you move your residency to Portugal, under Portuguese law you are liable to pay taxes in Portugal. Portugal has signed treaties to prevent double taxation with 71 countries (including most European Countries, United States and Canada) that assure its citizens and residents the protection against being taxed in more than one country.
If you move your residency to Portugal you may be entitled to benefit from the Non Habitual Resident Regime that allows you to obtain tax...
If you move your residency to Portugal, under Portuguese law you are liable to pay taxes in Portugal. Portugal has signed treaties to prevent double taxation with 71 countries (including most European Countries, United States and Canada) that assure its citizens and residents the protection against being taxed in more than one country.
If you move your residency to Portugal you may be entitled to benefit from the Non Habitual Resident Regime that allows you to obtain tax exemptions on several types of income earned aboard such as pension income, dividends, interests, etc.
I cannot expand on the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion available to US taxpayers as I am not expert in US tax regulations. If you are a US taxpayer I recommend that you ask your tax expert about the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, and how it could be combined with the Portuguese Non Habitual Resident Regime in order to give you the best outcome.
(View of the rooftops and the seaside from The Blue Boutique Hostel and Suites, Estoril, Portugal, pictured.)
Can I buy good clothes in Cayo, Belize, including San Ignacio and Belmopan?
Wendy Miller - RE/MAX Property Center South
The Market in Santa Elena / Cayo and Belmopan are two of the largest markets we have in Belize, with a wide range of products to offer to customers at a very affordable price. They even have vendors selling clothes, animals and food. In Santa Elena / Cayo the Market is right up as you enter the town on a small wooden bridge on the left hand side. In Belmopan the market is right next to the bus terminal on the left hand side as well.
The busiest day for the market is...
The Market in Santa Elena / Cayo and Belmopan are two of the largest markets we have in Belize, with a wide range of products to offer to customers at a very affordable price. They even have vendors selling clothes, animals and food. In Santa Elena / Cayo the Market is right up as you enter the town on a small wooden bridge on the left hand side. In Belmopan the market is right next to the bus terminal on the left hand side as well.
The busiest day for the market is Thursday and Friday. On those days it is always clustered and pretty hard to get around.
It is best to buy at a market to me because you get a larger quantity of produce. When it comes to vegetables and fruits for the dollar and also for other products you can get them at a better price.
The working hours for the market when it should be up and fully functional are around eight o’clock AM to five thirty PM. It is a really nice experience to visit the markets here in Belize.
(Squash, tomatoes and peppers at a farmer's market, Cayo District, Belize, pictured.)
BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO RETIRE...PANAMA IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST!
Panama is not a place to come to die - Panama is a place to come and start living and enjoying life. You work all your life, and now you deserve to start living it. Panama offers an environment that stimulates you in so many ways, not only financially but also spiritually!
The high quality of living for a modest price available in Panama City was the subject...
BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD TO RETIRE...PANAMA IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THE BEST!
Panama is not a place to come to die - Panama is a place to come and start living and enjoying life. You work all your life, and now you deserve to start living it. Panama offers an environment that stimulates you in so many ways, not only financially but also spiritually!
The high quality of living for a modest price available in Panama City was the subject of a news report on CNN a couple of weeks ago. Using the Economist Intelligence Unit's report, Panama was the "shining star". Panama City is listed as the most affordable capital city in the Americas, with a "plethora of top-quality, luxury experiences for cut prices". In the report, Panama`s "fastest growing economy in Latin America", and free 30-day travel insurance for tourists arriving at Tocumen International Airport were the main subjects.
Panama is fast becoming one of the world´s top retirement destinations and also a world class tourist location. With a US-style infrastructure, Panama offers an easy transition particularly for US retirees.
So why is Panama gaining in popularity among retirees, investors, and part-time expatriates? Not only because of increased publicity. Panama has more amenities, lower costs and lower crime rates than many other traditional retirement locations. In fact Panama´s advantages are unrivaled. Apart from tax advantages and privacy advantages, consider the following:
Panama has a stable government and a growing economy
The US dollar is the legal tender. Panama has a stable economy that has been based upon the US dollar since 1904
Residents pay no tax on foreign earned income.
Foreigners can buy and own property in Panama with the same rights and protections as Panamanian citizens.
PENSIONADO PROGRAM (retiree incentive program), the best in the world, is not necessarily age-related and the benefits are considerable. It is considered to be the best retirement program in the world.
English is widely spoken
The US presence in the country for many years has lead to a US style infrastructure with a number of familiar names and businesses.
Panama has a number of US-standard health care facilities and services with many US-trained English-speaking doctors available. Very good hospitals, including a John Hopkins Hospital.
Panama has a reliable communications system with fiber optic telephone lines and much of the country has ADSL internet
Panama is one of the best offshore havens in the world
The cost of living in Panama is lower than the US and much lower than Western Europe.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, PANAMA IS BEAUTIFUL!
Come to Panama to visit and you can see for yourself! You will love it!
We were looking forward to visiting Puebla again, so as one of our few extravagances while returning to Lake Chapala as quickly as possible, we booked two nights at the hotel in Puebla we had enjoyed so much. Staying there an extra night would also make it possible for us to see a bit of the city.
Starting in Cordoba, Puebla is less than three hours by car, but what a breathtakingly scenic three hours it is! Even before leaving Cordoba, we could see towering snowcapped...
Good food is like good sex – most people don’t need it every day, but life becomes drab and colorless when it disappears entirely. Here Panama ranks low (on the food index, not the sex index). Most meals in Panama, whether at home or in restaurants, consist of white rice and beans with a bit of leathery meat or chicken. Fried foods are also popular – especially hojaldra (fried bread), tortillas and other things made of corn -- with predictable results for the national body...
This is the way to spend a weekend in February! Why fight the cold and the snow? Nicaragua has such great weather in January and February!!
Saturday morning we decided to do a little exploring, so we jumped in the car and headed south about 25 miles from Managua to the town of Diriamba. After stopping at a local fruit stand for some fresh mandarinas and a ripe pineapple we checked out a local coffee farm.