Is the electricity reliable in Puerto Vallarta? Are there blackouts or brownouts in Puerto Vallarta?
Paul Mayer - Vallarta Food Tours
The electricity in Puerto Vallarta is reliable, but, like anywhere in Mexico, it’s a little expensive, so we try not to use air conditioning. We don’t really get blackouts or brownouts in Puerto Vallarta, except maybe in the summer when there’s a huge rainstorm. Within Puerto Vallarta, there aren’t not too many issues with electricity. Outside of Puerto Vallarta in the surrounding areas, they have blackouts that last for 20 minutes.
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The electricity in Puerto Vallarta is reliable, but, like anywhere in Mexico, it’s a little expensive, so we try not to use air conditioning. We don’t really get blackouts or brownouts in Puerto Vallarta, except maybe in the summer when there’s a huge rainstorm. Within Puerto Vallarta, there aren’t not too many issues with electricity. Outside of Puerto Vallarta in the surrounding areas, they have blackouts that last for 20 minutes.
I’ve lived in Puerto Vallarta for seven years, and in those seven years, I haven’t experienced any significant blackouts and brownouts. We’ve had a couple of 30-minute blackouts, but that’s it.
We do have surge suppressors for electrical storms that occur in summer. I would definitely recommend having surge suppressors for TV’s and computers during the summer.
(Vallarta Food Tour samples the night time food stalls, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, pictured.)
Do I need a second passport if I retire, work, or live abroad?
Jay Butler - Asset Protection Services of America
We know of no country which requires a person to obtain a second passport to retire or work abroad.
However it would be prudent to point out that retiring abroad (meaning the ability to reside in another country) does not in-and-of-itself grant you the right to work in that country should you so wish to do so. Although working abroad may somewhat contradict the point of retiring abroad, you may get a little bored over time or find the need to...
We know of no country which requires a person to obtain a second passport to retire or work abroad.
However it would be prudent to point out that retiring abroad (meaning the ability to reside in another country) does not in-and-of-itself grant you the right to work in that country should you so wish to do so. Although working abroad may somewhat contradict the point of retiring abroad, you may get a little bored over time or find the need to create additional income should your retirement budget prove insufficient in satisfying your desired lifestyle.
For example, Belize offers a "Qualified Retired Persons Program" which, upon approval of meeting their annual $24,000 per year retirement income qualification, allows foreigners to reside (retire) in their country. The same program also offers an optional "work visa" for applicants willing to pay the additional application fees. So, this is an illustration of how a second passport is not required to retire or work abroad and furthers the answer by distinguishing the ability to retire and the ability to work in a foreign country.
So, although the immediate answer to this question is direct and straight forward, I would caution readers to be aware of the difference between a residency or retirement permit and a work visa. Be sure to seek legal advice with regards to the laws of the country wherein you have an interest to retire or work abroad.
Additionally, if you choose to live in a country which currently offers any dual-citizenship programs by means of naturalization or investment, you should be conscious of the laws in your home country too. Some retirement benefits may require you to maintain residency in your home jurisdiction and certain government pensions forbid residing outside the country for extensive periods of time - usually determined to be in excess of 180 days.
Lastly, although you do not need a second passport to reside or work abroad, you still need to ensure your current passport is valid in your home country whenever traveling, retiring or working abroad. Many countries will not even grant entry into their country if your current passport has less than 6 months time remaining to expiration. Whenever possible, it is a good idea to renew your passport as soon as you have entered the last 12 months of its validity. If you are retiring or working abroad you will, at the very least, need to have one current passport issued from your home country.
Is there religious freedom and religious tolerance in Nicaragua?
Jewel Hoff - Tierra de los Suenos
There is 100% religious freedom and tolerance in Nicaragua.
I believe they passed that law in ’96 that guaranteed complete religious freedom. I mean, we don’t have a huge Muslim population here, perhaps about 500. We have Evangelical, Mormons, Catholic, Protestant, everything—it’s total freedom of religion
In addition to the law, Nicaraguans are very tolerant of other religions.
(Catholic church during...
There is 100% religious freedom and tolerance in Nicaragua.
I believe they passed that law in ’96 that guaranteed complete religious freedom. I mean, we don’t have a huge Muslim population here, perhaps about 500. We have Evangelical, Mormons, Catholic, Protestant, everything—it’s total freedom of religion
In addition to the law, Nicaraguans are very tolerant of other religions.
(Catholic church during Lent in Somoto, Nicaragua, pictured.)
Luis Rodrigues - Gouveia Pereira, Costa Freitas & Associates, Law Firm, RL
The Portuguese Constitution assures the principle of private ownership of assets regardless of the nationality of the owner. Thus there is no risk of confiscation by the Government authorities. Please note that the Constitution prevails over any law that exists in the country and can only be changed with a qualified majority in the Parliament which is hard to obtain and will (based on the last 40 years of democracy) always require the two main parties (which are both moderate parties) to...
The Portuguese Constitution assures the principle of private ownership of assets regardless of the nationality of the owner. Thus there is no risk of confiscation by the Government authorities. Please note that the Constitution prevails over any law that exists in the country and can only be changed with a qualified majority in the Parliament which is hard to obtain and will (based on the last 40 years of democracy) always require the two main parties (which are both moderate parties) to approve it.
Besides the protection afforded by the Portuguese Constitution, there is also the European Union rules and the European Union Courts that would also stop this from occurring, as it violates all rules and principles that are in place.
This is not a risk in Portugal as it would mean a complete revolution in the political scenario and in the population’s mentality as there is a tradition of private ownership in Portugal since the day of its foundation back in the year of 1143.
The only legal and possible reason for the Government to assume the ownership of private assets in Portugal is in cases of expropriation for public interest (for example, private land that is required to be transferred to the government for the construction of a highway) in which case the expropriation law would be applied which will allow the owner to receive a fair compensation for its assets calculated on market value prices and supervised by a court judge.
Regarding banks, there were banks that failed during this crisis as in most of other European countries. Nevertheless, the process of bailout made by the Portuguese Government and the European Union did not affect the deposits that existed in those banks.
(The Couros River near Guimarães, a town that precedes the settlement of Portugal, pictured.)
How much does it cost for a housekeeper or maid in Boquete, Panama?
Moises Montero Randino - Montero Randino - Attorneys at Law
According to our recently approved law the past December 30th 2013, the minimum wage for a housekeeper in the Boquete Region is USD $225 / month.
The salary you pay may range from $225 to $350 or more per month depending on the tasks performed. For example, if the housekeeper is taking care of a baby or performing eldercare, the cost would go to the higher end of the scale described here.
According to our recently approved law the past December 30th 2013, the minimum wage for a housekeeper in the Boquete Region is USD $225 / month.
The salary you pay may range from $225 to $350 or more per month depending on the tasks performed. For example, if the housekeeper is taking care of a baby or performing eldercare, the cost would go to the higher end of the scale described here.
Boquete mornings greet us with cool, fresh air. Except during the rainy season the morning clouds melt away fast and the sky becomes a beautiful jewel tone blue. The little humming birds come to greet us as we sip coffee in the cool morning air on our patio.
Our patio is private and it is our sanctuary from stress. It is almost always 72 degrees, offers shade, keeps the rain and mist off us as we sit there during the prettiest part of the...
Get ready for the delays, the costs, fees and cumbersome legal system of Panama. Here you find it wise to use an attorney for all kinds of transactions. However it isn't just the attorney you deal with, it is bureaucracy mumbo-jumbo and administrators! Many are like the angry, underpaid, middle managers of other places. They have a little power, so they love to abuse it!
I interviewed a young attorney that is just starting out. The government sets the...
This is a small town that you do not find in the regular tourism books or maps. It´s the town of CERMEÑO, located left, and about 15 minutes of Capira. If you´re looking for a quiet place to visit, surrounded by trees and birds, and friendly people, do not miss this place. The little town, with it´s church and little houses is worth being seen. There are no hotels or restaurants, but you´ll see some very nice "fincas" (or weekend houses). There are facilities outside the...