Having purchased a new condo in the Vallarta area, I was astounded at how difficult it was to fully furnish a condo. There are only a few options for furniture in the area, and most are overpriced due to Vallarta being a seasonal area. Add to that you need a vehicle, need to know how to drive in Mexico, where to go, what materials to avoid when buying furniture, who to trust, how to handle the...
Buy your furniture in Puerto Vallarta online!
Having purchased a new condo in the Vallarta area, I was astounded at how difficult it was to fully furnish a condo. There are only a few options for furniture in the area, and most are overpriced due to Vallarta being a seasonal area. Add to that you need a vehicle, need to know how to drive in Mexico, where to go, what materials to avoid when buying furniture, who to trust, how to handle the deliveries. You get the idea...
Most folks do not have a budget for an interior designer or they would prefer to spend their money on furniture, not for a service. Regardless, they still want stylish and comfortable furniture.
The solution? Buy furniture online. From sectionals, sofa beds, wall beds to outdoor furniture, dining room furniture, and more! A good online supplier will have gone to the the manufacturers throughout Mexico and inspected their items, checked the quality of their manufacturing, warranties and service. They will use companies that honor warranties if there is a problem. And they will even take care of the logistics of getting items shipped to your home in Mexico. So why go through all the hassle and expense of in person shopping when you can do all your shopping from your home in the US and Canada?
And, what makes it even more helpful - a good online store will also share tips on everything home related - where to buy the best sheets in Mexico, who to call if you need your marble floors waxed, how to set up a Mexican bank account and more.
How many Americans, Canadians and other expats live in the Panama City, Panama area of San Francisco?
Lourdes Townshend
Expats in San Francisco, in the city of Panamá
San Francisco (also known as San Francisco de la Caleta) is today, the most interesting place that Panamanians and foreigners seek to visit and live. And the reason? San Francisco has it all.
Being one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Panamá, San Francisco has experienced tremendous growth in the past several years. What was once a family-oriented place with nice...
Expats in San Francisco, in the city of Panamá
San Francisco (also known as San Francisco de la Caleta) is today, the most interesting place that Panamanians and foreigners seek to visit and live. And the reason? San Francisco has it all.
Being one of the oldest neighborhoods in the city of Panamá, San Francisco has experienced tremendous growth in the past several years. What was once a family-oriented place with nice single-family homes on big lots with trees everywhere is now a modern cosmopolitan place where everyone wants to be.
San Francisco used to have the only fine golf club in the area, which was used every New Year to host the most elegant "Egg Nut" lunch party to entertain members and guests. During the military era that Panamá experienced from 1968 through 1989, this club, located in the upper class "Altos del Golf" ("Golf Club Heights", which is a continuation of San Francisco) was changed to a community park, which I believe is around 45+ acres or so, offering a public place where you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fresh fruit and vegetable frosties and juices made while you wait.
At the present time, in addition to housing the Center for San Francisco Senior Citizens Association, the park is the main place residents use for jogging, walking, swimming, yoga, exercise, and many walkathons and local and international events, some of them sponsored by the First Lady's Office. The park itself is run and administered by the First Lady's Office, and is kept in excellent condition.
Based on all these reasons, the San Francisco area of the city of Panamá attracts many people, with its hundreds of high-rise buildings, tens and tens of all kinds of restaurants and "cafés" (coffee shops), 5 modern supermarkets, 2 super modern malls (just few kilometers away...the Multi Plaza and Mullti Centro), schools (including a modern Jewish Institute), walk-in health clinics, pharmacies, shops, hardware stores, organic stores, 2 modern hospitals in the neighborhood: Hospital Panamá Pacífico (which is affiliated with John Hopkins), and San Fernando. Also, just a few minutes away is Hospital Paitilla, another fine hospital.
In addition, the San Francisco area of the city of Panamá offers things for all budgets, which is one of the reasons why expats really enjoy living in San Francisco. How many expats live here? It is very difficult to say, because there is no official census on this matter, but one thing is for sure.....they come by the thousands from all over the world and speaking many languages, experiencing each one of them the most pleasant life and culture, and interacting with locals. This is all in addition to San Francisco being a very particular place because you can visit the famous "Torre de Panamá la Vieja" (Old Panamá Tower), and the ruins of the city that was burned by the pirates in the 15th century, with an attractive visitor's center where you can get all kinds of Panamanian art & crafts.
You can get to San Francisco by taxi, metro bus, car, walking, or connecting by the Metro, as well as by the "Hop On - Hop Off" bus. But anyway you get here, it is worthwhile to go.
How's the horseback riding in and around Nicaragua?
Dr. Carlos Alemán - Centro de Diseño Denta (Clínica Dental)
Horseback riding is very popular in Nicaragua. We have the hipicas, which is a parade of horses. The main states have a specific date for when they do their Hipica. In Managua, on August 1st every year, the whole city stops and people with 3,000 to 4,000 horses come and parade on the streets of Managua.
The same thing is done in other states. We also have it in Granada, Estelí, Diriamba and other places. Each year more people come and join the...
Horseback riding is very popular in Nicaragua. We have the hipicas, which is a parade of horses. The main states have a specific date for when they do their Hipica. In Managua, on August 1st every year, the whole city stops and people with 3,000 to 4,000 horses come and parade on the streets of Managua.
The same thing is done in other states. We also have it in Granada, Estelí, Diriamba and other places. Each year more people come and join the Hipica.
People come out on the streets waiting for the Hipica to come on their horses. While they are waiting, there is music, food, and drinks so the people spend the whole afternoon or even the whole day out on the streets. You will see lots of very big horses and very expensive ones being paraded during the Hipicas.
How are the homes in Portugal different than in the US, Canada or the UK?
Ana Ferraz
The construction of homes in Portugal is very different than homes in England because homes in Portugal are built with bricks and tiles. Homes here are not very as well insulated as in England because of the difference in the weather. Portuguese use a lot of ceramic tiling, large terraces, and big windows. Central heating was just introduced in Portugal in the last 10 years. Air-conditioning is not very common because it is not needed unless you are in Lisbon since Lisbon is hotter than...
The construction of homes in Portugal is very different than homes in England because homes in Portugal are built with bricks and tiles. Homes here are not very as well insulated as in England because of the difference in the weather. Portuguese use a lot of ceramic tiling, large terraces, and big windows. Central heating was just introduced in Portugal in the last 10 years. Air-conditioning is not very common because it is not needed unless you are in Lisbon since Lisbon is hotter than in Cascais.
The architecture here in Portugal is different than in England because it is more Mediterranean. We use tiles and white walls. We usually have large living areas and bedrooms. We have big windows and French doors that open up to big terraces. There are terraces in the bedroom.
The construction of older homes here in Portugal is even more rustic; it’s more Portuguese. The way they do the tiles and the windows and doors these days are different. Most builders here now use aluminum and double-glazed glass.
What are the construction standards in Ambergris Caye?
David Drummond - Georgetown Trust
If I were to compare the construction standards in Ambergris Caye to the construction standards in North America five or six years ago, I would say that the construction standards here were a little lax.
However, the Belize government has now tightened up and they now have a building committee. You are now going to see some electrical requirements and other requirements throughout the construction of a home. There is a very high level of building standards...
If I were to compare the construction standards in Ambergris Caye to the construction standards in North America five or six years ago, I would say that the construction standards here were a little lax.
However, the Belize government has now tightened up and they now have a building committee. You are now going to see some electrical requirements and other requirements throughout the construction of a home. There is a very high level of building standards in Belize now. They will tell you if you need safe switches near your water faucet. They will tell you if anything needs to be changed or added. Those requirements are pretty standard now here Belize. They may not put light switches in every spot that you would put them, but they will be built to the best standards. There will be an electrical outlet in every 7 feet within a 15-foot room and it should be at least 16 inches off the ground, for example. Anything of those usual details that you would get in North America is pretty common practice here in Belize.
In general, the building codes in Belize are coming up to what I would expect in the US, but it is the detail that you need to put attention to. As an example, make sure that the light switch to the room you are in is the first one you flip on and not the one in the kitchen. Paying attention to detail is very important.
They now typically have government inspectors come out to check the house you are building. There is also an inspection for the water. The standard of construction in Belize also depends on your location within the country. If you are in a very rural setting, it is less likely that they are going to come out to inspect, but if you are in Ambergris Caye, yes, someone is going to come to make sure that you are doing the electrical and the plumbing properly.
(San Pedro Harbor with view of Wet Willie's on Ambergris Caye, Belize, pictured.)
What are the things I'll be most happily surprised by when moving or retiring abroad?
Allen Rosen - Chiriqui Coastal Real Estate
Move to Panama and you will discover that:
It is not necessary to be frantically busy 18 hours a day. There are places like Panama where people learn to slow down, relax and smell the roses. You can still be a valuable human being even if you no longer get 400 phone calls and email messages a day. Slow down! Enjoy life!
That new BMW? You don't need it. And no one here cares, anyway. Buy an old SUV with 4 wheel drive and spend the money you...
Move to Panama and you will discover that:
It is not necessary to be frantically busy 18 hours a day. There are places like Panama where people learn to slow down, relax and smell the roses. You can still be a valuable human being even if you no longer get 400 phone calls and email messages a day. Slow down! Enjoy life!
That new BMW? You don't need it. And no one here cares, anyway. Buy an old SUV with 4 wheel drive and spend the money you save on trips around this beautiful country.
Sunshine is good for the soul. Panama has lots of it. Places like London, Vancouver
and Portland don't. Leave your miserable weather behind and come to Panama, where there is always lots of sun (except in October).
In Panama, the government doesn't allow insurance to be written for individuals over 62. That makes health care an important issue. Yes, it is cheaper than in the USA. However, the type of insurance available with MS Chiriqui Hospital in David has changed! (David is the closest large city to Boquete. The picture to the right is of the author, Linda Jensen.)
When we originally signed up for coverage we paid $147 per month and it had a term...
This is our second Christmas in Boquete. Our first Christmas was just three weeks after we arrived in Panama. We are now enjoying our second Christmas with some of the many new friends we
have made this year in Boquete.
Arne and I spent the first Christmas with our landlord and his friends.
We have been to a couple of small holiday events.
Parties are all over the place, festive decorations are
Jet Metier was going to meet Rich Novak and his wife and business partner Janet in Panama, but Jet developed a “funny tummy” and had to beg off. More than a year later, as an avid listener to Rich’s radio program in podcast form, Jet wanted to turn the tables on “Your Man in Panama” and interview him.
Instead, Rich took the initiative and contacted Jet to report on what was new to the landscape in the environs of Coronado, Panama, the jewel in...
Buy your furniture in Puerto Vallarta online! 
Horseback riding is very popular in Nicaragua. We have the hipicas, which is a parade of horses. The main states have a specific date for when they do their Hipica. In Managua, on August 1st every year, the whole city stops and people with 3,000 to 4,000 horses come and parade on the streets of Managua. 
The construction of homes in Portugal is very different than homes in England because homes in Portugal are built with bricks and tiles. Homes here are not very as well insulated as in England because of the difference in the weather. Portuguese use a lot of ceramic tiling, large terraces, and big windows. Central heating was just introduced in Portugal in the last 10 years. Air-conditioning is not very common because it is not needed unless you are in Lisbon since Lisbon is hotter than...
If I were to compare the construction standards in Ambergris Caye to the construction standards in North America five or six years ago, I would say that the construction standards here were a little lax. (1).JPG)
In Panama, the government doesn't allow insurance to be written for individuals over 62. That makes health care an important issue. Yes, it is cheaper than in the USA. However, the type of insurance available with MS Chiriqui Hospital in David has changed! (David is the closest large city to Boquete. The picture to the right is of the author, Linda Jensen.) 
and his wife and business partner Janet in Panama, but Jet developed a “funny tummy” and had to beg off. More than a year later, as an avid listener to Rich’s radio program in podcast form, Jet wanted to turn the tables on “Your Man in Panama” and interview him. 
