In Ajijic, the biggest festival of the year is the Festival of Saint Andrew (San Andres), which is the patron saint of the main church in Ajijic. They have a 9-day celebration that all happens during the week of the American Thanksgiving....In Ajijic, the biggest festival of the year is the Festival of Saint Andrew (San Andres), which is the patron saint of the main church in Ajijic. They have a 9-day celebration that all happens during the week of the American Thanksgiving. They do special events for Easter, Christmas, etc. The event that caters to locals and expats alike is the Festival del Globos, which is the balloon festival. They use handmade paper balloons during this festival. People spend months making these tissue-paper balloons. Then they light up fire on a wax ring and the balloons fill up with hot air and float off at the end of the night. That’s one of my favorite festivals here.
You would pay a gardener in Belize about US $15 - $20 per day, which is what I pay my gardener to come once a week here in the Cayo District. (It would cost more on Ambergris Caye to get a gardener than it would here in Cayo.) Our gardener works from 7 AM until 4 PM, which is a regular working day. They do a good job, because I only choose gardeners who do a good job. You would pay a gardener in Belize about US $15 - $20 per day, which is what I pay my gardener to come once a week here in the Cayo District. (It would cost more on Ambergris Caye to get a gardener than it would here in Cayo.) Our gardener works from 7 AM until 4 PM, which is a regular working day. They do a good job, because I only choose gardeners who do a good job. 
It is not safe to drink the water in Boquete if you are not used to it because it is not filtered. It is not safe to drink the water in Boquete if you are not used to it because it is not filtered. 
In Portugal, people tend to eat out more than probably most countries in Europe because that is the lifestyle here. I have lunch near my office here and I get a 3-course meal for about €7 (US $8 or £5.20). In Portugal, people tend to eat out more than probably most countries in Europe because that is the lifestyle here. I have lunch near my office here and I get a 3-course meal for about €7 (US $8 or £5.20). One of the ways I make my living is on the Panama Expat circuit as an advisor or guest speaker. One of my favorite lines is, “If you want to get in trouble, you have to work at it in Panama.” In my almost 19 years here, I have been robbed twice. Each was basically my fault since I didn't follow my own advice.
This little bird is a baby Panama Flycatcher. Mum and dad moved in above the light fitting in my kitchen in April 2012. I live on a little Caribbean island just off the coast of Panama in the archipelago of Bocas del Toro. This short tale is taken from my new book "Paradise Delayed", which is sub-titled "The pitfalls and pleasures (mainly the pitfalls) of Caribbean island life in the beautiful archipelago of Bocas del Toro, Panama". Life can be challenging and frustrating at times here,...
