How's the hiking and camping in and around San Miguel de Allende?
Ian T. Clement - Clement and Associates
The hiking in San Miguel de Allende is wonderful. There are parts of town where it’s a hike, and you can also go out of town. Hiking is a pleasure in San Miguel de Allende- there are endless trails that you can take, with different levels of difficulty.
Our family never camps in San Miguel de Allende because we have a cabin in the woods in the state Michoacán that’s just south of here, so if we want to go camping we drive there....
The hiking in San Miguel de Allende is wonderful. There are parts of town where it’s a hike, and you can also go out of town. Hiking is a pleasure in San Miguel de Allende- there are endless trails that you can take, with different levels of difficulty.
Our family never camps in San Miguel de Allende because we have a cabin in the woods in the state Michoacán that’s just south of here, so if we want to go camping we drive there. It’s different. It’s alpine.
It’s a less common thing in San Miguel de Allende than in the States to just go up into the hills and set up your tent, but I certainly see a lot of those KOA places. There’s actually one outside of town. I don’t think camping is a Mexican thing, but I remember when I was a kid, my brother and I had that American thing of sleepovers, and that wasn’t a common thing in Mexico either.
We have our place in Lake Pátzcuaro, three hours from San Miguel de Allende. I certainly see a lot of people- Europeans and Mexicans, who are into camping in Lake Pátzcuaro. They have all the gear, and are obviously going there to go do their thing. If people here in San Miguel de Allende really want to go up to a beautiful lake where there are pine trees, they will go to Lake Pátzcuaro.
Compared to the rest of Central America, we have the cheapest food here in Nicaragua, but we have the highest energy cost. I know it sounds odd but that’s how it is. Cheap labor is the name of the game here in Nicaragua. The average monthly salary in Nicaragua is US $250, which is why everything is so cheap.
You will find lobster, salmon, and caviar in any given supermarket. The cost, compared to the cost of food in the US, would be...
Compared to the rest of Central America, we have the cheapest food here in Nicaragua, but we have the highest energy cost. I know it sounds odd but that’s how it is. Cheap labor is the name of the game here in Nicaragua. The average monthly salary in Nicaragua is US $250, which is why everything is so cheap.
You will find lobster, salmon, and caviar in any given supermarket. The cost, compared to the cost of food in the US, would be about half the price. A dozen eggs cost about $2.40, rice is $.30 cents to $.40 cents per pound, chicken is $1.20 per pound, and the best quality meat (export quality) is about $4 per pound.
Are there any English-speaking churches in Portugal?
Juan Matias - BLUE Boutique Hostel & SUITES
Yes, there are English-speaking churches in Portugal; Anglican, Orthodox, Catholic, etc. There are quite a few. I have one just 200 meters from my house, which is in a higher end area with a good amount of expats.
For the rest of Portugal, English-speaking churches they tend to be scarce but if you’re close to the main cities—Porto, Lisbon, Algarve, you will not have a problem. If you go inland to a farm in the mountains, it’s going to be...
Yes, there are English-speaking churches in Portugal; Anglican, Orthodox, Catholic, etc. There are quite a few. I have one just 200 meters from my house, which is in a higher end area with a good amount of expats.
For the rest of Portugal, English-speaking churches they tend to be scarce but if you’re close to the main cities—Porto, Lisbon, Algarve, you will not have a problem. If you go inland to a farm in the mountains, it’s going to be more difficult.
What is the cost for health insurance in Belize and how does it work?
Shannon Davies - El Rey Hotel / Belize Travel Services
I have insurance coverage for myself, my husband and our child, and we pay around US $150 per month. Our health insurance covers up to 80% or our medical costs.
Whenever I go to a private hospital in Belize City, the consultation bill usually is around US $30 and out of that $30, I end up paying $2.50. I had a surgery for the removal of painful internal scar tissue (adhesions) after getting a C-section. The surgery cost around US $5,500 and I only paid around US $1,000 with my...
I have insurance coverage for myself, my husband and our child, and we pay around US $150 per month. Our health insurance covers up to 80% or our medical costs.
Whenever I go to a private hospital in Belize City, the consultation bill usually is around US $30 and out of that $30, I end up paying $2.50. I had a surgery for the removal of painful internal scar tissue (adhesions) after getting a C-section. The surgery cost around US $5,500 and I only paid around US $1,000 with my policy. I was in the hospital for only two days because it was an endoscopic surgery.
How's the ecotourism in and around Bastimentos, Panama?
kevin obrien - BarefootPanama
Most people wouldn't call building a resort in a once untouched national park "ecotourism", but what they built is 'better' for tourists.
I used to go to Red Frog beach when there was nothing on there except for red frogs and a beach. Now that they have cut down part of the red frogs' habitats and built up the beach, more people have easier access. A lot more people go there now and are coming to Panama in general.
In the past, you would have to...
Most people wouldn't call building a resort in a once untouched national park "ecotourism", but what they built is 'better' for tourists.
I used to go to Red Frog beach when there was nothing on there except for red frogs and a beach. Now that they have cut down part of the red frogs' habitats and built up the beach, more people have easier access. A lot more people go there now and are coming to Panama in general.
In the past, you would have to hike a little trail to get to the other side of the island and onto the beach. It was just a deserted beach and that was pretty spectacular. Now, you pull into the marina, you take a truck over the new road to the beach, and you can listen to loud music and play volleyball with lots of other people. Therefore, it depends on how you look at things. Is it ecotourism if you cut through a national park? Well that can be debated.
Personally, I find that cutting down the habitat of the red frog to build the beach development was not a great thing to do but it is better for Panama. If you like the name Red Frog but you didn't care about the animal, then go ahead have some beers and play volleyball, it's a top destination in Bocas and Panama.
In the period of less than half a day, our senses and emotions had experienced quite a workout. In the morning, we were on a ferry in the Sea of Cortez, headed towards Mazatlan. In Mazatlan, we were treated to an entirely new concept: jungle in an urban setting. From there, we had found the toll road, breezed through green and wooded highland farmland, and then gradually descended into a profusion of jungle, not only on the sides of the road, but overhead, as we glided...
January 2014, I arrived in the early afternoon in Managua airport via United Airlines. After the huge and tedious Houston Airport, the small Nicaraguan airport was a relief. Customs stamped my passport and I paid the $10 fee.
I had reserved a so-called “resort” online for one night in Managua, as well as the Budget car rental. (I am deliberately omitting the name of this hotel for reasons that will become clear soon. I will say, however,...
I titled this "My Part Time Life in Volcan" because unfortunately I can only live part of the year in Panama. I'm still in my working years in the US and I still haven't figured out how to totally check out and live in Panama full time. It isn't for a lack of trying. Thus far I am able to work in the US for about 9 months and then take 3 months off, with as much of this time in Panama as feasible, depending on the year.
The hiking in San Miguel de Allende is wonderful. There are parts of town where it’s a hike, and you can also go out of town. Hiking is a pleasure in San Miguel de Allende- there are endless trails that you can take, with different levels of difficulty. 
Yes, there are English-speaking churches in Portugal; Anglican, Orthodox, Catholic, etc. There are quite a few. I have one just 200 meters from my house, which is in a higher end area with a good amount of expats. 
In the period of less than half a day, our senses and emotions had experienced quite a workout. In the morning, we were on a ferry in the Sea of Cortez, headed towards Mazatlan. In Mazatlan, we were treated to an entirely new concept: jungle in an urban setting. From there, we had found the toll road, breezed through green and wooded highland farmland, and then gradually descended into a profusion of jungle, not only on the sides of the road, but overhead, as we glided...
January 2014, I arrived in the early afternoon in Managua airport via United Airlines. After the huge and tedious Houston Airport, the small Nicaraguan airport was a relief. Customs stamped my passport and I paid the $10 fee.