What's the dress code in San Miguel de Allende? What clothes do they wear in San Miguel de Allende?
Maria Mazarro - Kika's Botique
Most people in San Miguel de Allende wear casual clothes. Women wear very loose clothes and Mexicans wear Mexican clothing, too. I do design my own clothes and we sell them at my boutique.
I used to have a boutique in Playa del Carmen where it was always very hot so I made hippie chic, loose clothes, which I still sell here. You can wear them either in an elegant way or a casual way.
Most of my clients are retirees. They...
Most people in San Miguel de Allende wear casual clothes. Women wear very loose clothes and Mexicans wear Mexican clothing, too. I do design my own clothes and we sell them at my boutique.
I used to have a boutique in Playa del Carmen where it was always very hot so I made hippie chic, loose clothes, which I still sell here. You can wear them either in an elegant way or a casual way.
Most of my clients are retirees. They don’t want to wear tight clothes. They are looking for clothes that would cover their arms and clothes that don’t show too much but looks nice at the same time. Those are the kinds of clothes that sell the best in San Miguel de Allende.
There are also opportunities to dress up nicely here in San Miguel de Allende. There are galleries that hold openings so people go there dressed up.
(Clothing display at Kika's Boutique, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, pictured.)
How much stuff you should move to Belize depends on how much “stuff” you need. Some folks bring down only a few suitcases while others ship down their entire house (well, everything except the frame!).
You’ll find most folks in Belize live very simply. You can find your basics (furniture, electronics, appliances, etc.) in country, although the prices may be a bit more expensive. Take with you whatever you think you’ll miss just in case...
How much stuff you should move to Belize depends on how much “stuff” you need. Some folks bring down only a few suitcases while others ship down their entire house (well, everything except the frame!).
You’ll find most folks in Belize live very simply. You can find your basics (furniture, electronics, appliances, etc.) in country, although the prices may be a bit more expensive. Take with you whatever you think you’ll miss just in case you can’t find an exact replica at the stores in Belize.
Is there good fishing in and around Bastimentos, Panama?
Anne-Michelle Wand - United Country Bocas del Toro
Is there good fishing in and around Bastimentos? Just ask my husband! He goes fishing at least twice a week in and around Bastimentos, Panama with or without friends. At least every other time he goes, he comes back with Spanish mackerel, tuna, snapper, or wahoo.
Since he started fishing, we rarely buy fish at the local fish market. He started after I bought him a half day fishing tour with the best fisherman in Bocas for his birthday. That was...
Is there good fishing in and around Bastimentos? Just ask my husband! He goes fishing at least twice a week in and around Bastimentos, Panama with or without friends. At least every other time he goes, he comes back with Spanish mackerel, tuna, snapper, or wahoo.
Since he started fishing, we rarely buy fish at the local fish market. He started after I bought him a half day fishing tour with the best fisherman in Bocas for his birthday. That was two years ago and the rest is history.
Can I receive my Social Security checks or benefits abroad, as an expat, outside the US and if so, how?
Alan Filliger - Alana la Casa del Arte
You can receive your Social Security check benefits in Panama. I feel the best way is through direct deposit into your Panama bank account. It is easy, safe and reliable. I can only receive Social security via direct deposit in Panama. All other benefits need to come by wire transfer or a mailed check. I use a mail service out of Miami, Florida which sends my mail to a location close to where I live. Mail Boxes, etc. seems to be good...
You can receive your Social Security check benefits in Panama. I feel the best way is through direct deposit into your Panama bank account. It is easy, safe and reliable. I can only receive Social security via direct deposit in Panama. All other benefits need to come by wire transfer or a mailed check. I use a mail service out of Miami, Florida which sends my mail to a location close to where I live. Mail Boxes, etc. seems to be good and reliable in Panama.
There are several specialty furniture stores in the Algarve. There are also furniture stores in the big malls but what you could also do in Algarve is order furniture from the northern part of Portugal, which is one of the best-known areas for the manufacture of furniture using local woods.
There is place in the north of Portugal called Paços de Ferreira, which is essentially the furniture capital of Portugal. Often, people who want furniture made...
There are several specialty furniture stores in the Algarve. There are also furniture stores in the big malls but what you could also do in Algarve is order furniture from the northern part of Portugal, which is one of the best-known areas for the manufacture of furniture using local woods.
There is place in the north of Portugal called Paços de Ferreira, which is essentially the furniture capital of Portugal. Often, people who want furniture made from certain types of woods would have pieces made to order from Paços de Ferreira and have them shipped down to the Algarve.
We have a good amount of quality furniture in Portugal. The quality is very good and the pricing is incredibly great compared to international standards. If I were in Latin America and getting some local hardwood made by a local person, I am pretty certain that I could get it cheaper there but if you were moving to a country and wanted local handmade furniture out of cherry or oak, you would find the price and quality very good here in Portugal.
If you want ready-made furniture from popular brands, we do have IKEA, which is being built near Loulé, so for all those who want a modern, Northern European look, they can go to IKEA. At the moment, the closest IKEA would be in Spain, in Seville or in Lisbon, which is the capital of Portugal. Aside from furniture, you would also find stores that sell rugs, carpets, and accessory stores. There is one accessory store that we like going to because it is high end but not excessively expensive. It’s called A Loja Gato Preto, which literally translates to “the shop of the black cat”. They have some very nice home décor pieces.
(Hampshire dressing table available at the Furniture Store, an English company with an outlet in the Algarve, Portugal, pictured.)
Yes, there are English speaking doctors in Nicaragua but most of course speak Spanish as their first language. Many of the doctors I have seen during my 10 years living in Nicaragua do require me to speak in Spanish at least a little bit to get my point across. There are plenty of forums and groups that can direct you to a doctor or dentist who can speak English well.
My family has had great success with Vivian Pellas Metropolitano Hospital...
Yes, there are English speaking doctors in Nicaragua but most of course speak Spanish as their first language. Many of the doctors I have seen during my 10 years living in Nicaragua do require me to speak in Spanish at least a little bit to get my point across. There are plenty of forums and groups that can direct you to a doctor or dentist who can speak English well.
My family has had great success with Vivian Pellas Metropolitano Hospital in Managua. Managua is the capital of Nicaragua. The hospital feels similar to a hospital you would find in the United States and for the most part the service you receive there may be better. A private hospital setting and at an affordable cost. They do have health care plans but we have always paid out of pocket.
My first son was born at Vivian Pellas Hospital with Dr. Walter Mendieta and assisted by Pediatrician Dr. Fernando Silva. Both spoke a fair amount of English. Great bed side manner too. I also had an appendectomy several years later and it was done laparoscopically with another amazing surgeon Dr. Abdula. Both experiences were positive and affordable. The doctors call personally to check on you as well. Very surprising to me.
We live in San Juan del Sur, which is a two hour drive to Managua but for good health care it is worth the drive.
So, YES! English speaking doctors can be found in Nicaragua and I must add that in my experience the majority of doctors at Vivian Pellas Hospital are qualified and caring as well.
I came to San Miguel in 2011 to do a presentation to a group of dentists who belong to the local dental association and fell in love with the people (the indigenous Mexicans), so I returned to the USA and decided to retire and come back to live in San Miguel.
My initial plans were to retire to San Tropez in the South of France, but fate has a way of planning dreams and for some reason not revealed clearly to me, I decided to move to San Miguel de...
The first neighbor we met was Moises. He looked to me like a gangster at first glance, and I believe he wants the people around here to think so as well. He usually wears pointed-toe cowboy boots and a black leather jacket with some sparkly studs in a few places. There has been a fashion going for some time where people show their prosperity by having gold caps put on their front teeth. I mistakenly thought they had had dental repairs and had elected the gold caps; I couldn’t figure out...
I have lived in four countries, Spain, Ireland, United States and Panama. My advice when moving abroad is to make sure you can adjust your self to the new culture and traditions of the country you are going to live in. Do some research, learn about the customs and traditions. Be open minded, be prepared to learn new things. Be positive, I strongly recommend you to mingle with the locals.