International Living

Best Beaches For My Buck

December 7th, 2007

Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Belize, Mexico, Bahamas, Guadeloupe and Martinique, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama. What do all these places have in common? They are on International Living’s list as the 10 Places Your Dollar Buys a Lot of Beach. Whether you enjoy kayaking, scuba diving or just lying around in the sun, we got the round up on where you can get a great place in the sun for under $100,000.

Posted in International Living, IL Postcards, Panama, Nicaragua, Mexico, Your Own Second Home in the Sun, Real Estate, Latin America, Costa Rica | 5 Comments »

Varanasi Funeral Pyre

November 16th, 2007

Varanasi is the spiritual hub of India. The Hindus believe that the Ganges is holy and see it as a privilege to bathe, pray, and conduct funeral pyres on its banks.

A holy man, wrapped in a white linen cloth, immersed himself in the Ganges–spinning around, chanting, disappearing under the water at times and returning pointing his joined hands toward the burning body.

I asked who was being burned. “Oh, he was an old man, good friend of mine, good man, next life he will have big house and many sons.”

To read more on the Varanasi funeral pyre and to learn more about India sign up for International Living Postcards –your daily escape.

Posted in International Living | 2 Comments »

Seats still available at the Global Business Opportunities Workshop

November 7th, 2007

The Global Business Opportunites Workshop starts on Monday, November 12, 2007 at the Curtis Hotel in Denver, CO.

For more information click here.

For last minute registrations, email events@internationalliving.com, call +1 410 233 2688 or toll free +1 866 381 8446 or click here.

Posted in International Living | 3 Comments »

Worst Floods on Record in Mexico

November 2nd, 2007

Rescuers on Friday worked on saving hundreds of thousands of people trapped by the worst floods on record in Mexico’s southern state of Tabasco.

The oil-rich state is 80 percent underwater, and 850 towns have been flooded.

President Felipe Calderon urged Mexicans to donate aid to flood victims. “The situation is extraordinarily grave: This is one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the country,” President Felipe Calderon said in a televised address Thursday night.

The water rose again Thursday in the state capital of Villahermosa, which was flooded Wednesday after the Grijalva River burst its banks.

Soldiers and state authorities had placed more than 700,000 sand bags along the rivers to prevent flooding, but the water rose above the barriers.

Military troops organized the evacuation of the Villahermosa city center overnight after hundreds of Villahermosa residents refused to leave their flooded homes amid reports of looting in the city.

Posted in Mexico | 5 Comments »

Rumors, rumors, rumors

October 30th, 2007

In Yesterday’s IL Postcard, Jessica Ramesch, discusses two circulating rumors regarding the new legislation for visas in Panama.

The first rumor, the new legislation conflicts with verbiage in existing laws and the second rumor, citizens of certain countries are allowed to stay for 90 days, not just 30.

Jessica gets to the bottom of both rumors and gives us the truth about the Panama tourism visa.

And for more on Panama, check out IL’s Panama Inside r.

Posted in International Living, IL Postcards, Panama, Panama Alerts | 1 Comment »

IL has a new website

October 26th, 2007

Check out International Living’s new website. It has been completely redesigned and even more new features and content will be added soon.

Posted in International Living | No Comments »

The Best Mexican Restaurant

October 24th, 2007

In yesterday’s IL Postcard Susan Haskins gives a mention to her favorite restaurant in lovely Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Below is a quick excerpt.

In Puerto Vallarta for the International Living Live and Prosper in Mexico Seminar recently, we tried a variety of great restaurants–there’s an endless number to choose from. If you are seeking the real thing and a genuine Mexican restaurant experience you won’t forget, try El Arrayán.

For more on the best Mexican restaurant in Puerto Vallarta and for more information on Mexico visit our countries page.

Posted in International Living, IL Postcards, Mexico, Latin America, Mexico Alerts | No Comments »

Chios, Greece: Step Back in Time

October 24th, 2007

Chios is a working island that gets few foreign tourists. Half live in Chios Town, which is chaotic during the day. This area has 21 cobbled-street mastic villages. Used as whitening toothpaste by Ancient Greeks, mastic is a gum from the resin of mastic trees. Two outstandingly photogenic mastic villages are Pyrgi and Mesta. Black, brown, white. Almost all buildings are decorated with xysta–geometric motifs scraped out after plastering walls with cement and black volcanic sand. There’s a marked path through the mastic groves from Mesta to Olympi village.

P.S. Crossing from Lesbos to Chios takes three hours (12 euro ($17) with Nel Lines) and taxi from the port to Hotel Diana costs 3 euro ($4.25).

For Steenie’s complete article on Chios. And for more on Greece and other international destinations sign-up for IL Postcards.

Posted in International Living, IL Postcards, Europe | 2 Comments »

Hot Springs Do Not Approach

October 18th, 2007

Red pools, streams, and little rivers. In Greek and English, a notice warns that the waters hereabouts are unsuitable for freelance dips:

ATTENTION DANGER!!!
HOT SPRING YOU DO NOT APPROACH

Bubbling up through volcanic rock, these springs can reach temperatures close to 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Polichnitos claims to have Europe’s hottest springs, but a number of places around the island have small thermal spa bathhouses.

Near the tourist resorts of Molyvos/Petra in northern Lesbos, Eftalou’s hot springs are another busy spot. These are the island’s only thermal baths to allow mixed bathing.

The thermal water gets cooled before reaching the baths, but 108 degrees Fahrenheit still feels sweltering.

For more on Polichnitos and Steenie’s adventures read Steenie Gets Boiled Alive.

Looking for more on Greece and other great locations? Sign up for International Living Postcards–your daily escape.

Posted in International Living, IL Postcards, Europe | 7 Comments »

What Do These 7 Experts Know About Your Dream Home in Paradise?

October 18th, 2007

In countries like Panama, Mexico, Uruguay, New Zealand, and Ecuador, it’s still possible to find luxury homes—complete with an ocean view, cable TV, high-speed wireless internet access, air-conditioning, and a swimming pool—within close proximity to modern grocery stores, hospitals, and shopping malls for a small, small fraction of comparable properties in the U.S.

The only challenge is…it can be a difficult, frustrating, and expensive journey to find homes like these without the right information and the right help.

That’s why, in seven days, at the Ultimate Event II in Panama City, we’re gathering a panel of experts who have already paved the way…they’ll reveal exactly how you can find your dream home overseas and the easiest, fastest and least expensive way to do it. Take a peek at some of the speakers below and you’ll realize why this is one event you can’t afford to miss…

Kathleen Peddicord has been editor and publisher of International Living for 22 years. Nine years ago, she moved with her family from the East Coast of the U.S. to the southeast coast of Ireland to open the offices of Agora Ireland Publishing. Then, three years ago, she relocated her family and the business again, this time part-time, to Paris. She has divided her time these past three years between Waterford, Paris, and Panama City. In addition, Kathleen has opened regional offices for International Living in countries offering the greatest advantages to the expat retiree and investor, including Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico, Ecuador, Honduras, Argentina, and France. Through these offices, she has built a network of local contacts and resources for the would-be American abroad.

Kathleen has traveled to more than 45 countries and currently holds real estate investments in more than a dozen. She speaks and writes often on the topics of investing in foreign real estate markets and living and retiring abroad and has appeared, speaking on these subjects on radio and TV. At the Ultimate Event II, Kathie will show you how to shortcut your new life in Paradise and talk about the Top 20 places to consider for living overseas…

Lee A. Harrison, Contributing Editor, came to International Living after a 30-year career in the U.S. electric power industry in many diverse locations. Taking advantage of a post-merger early retirement offer, he left in 2001 at age 49 and moved to Cuenca, Ecuador. He recently relocated to Punta del Este in Uruguay and is currently working as our Latin America Roving Editor, spending about 50% of his time on the road this year. At the Ultimate Event II, Lee will reveal his top three favorite spots for living, retiring, and investing in South America.

Steenie Harvey has been writing for International Living for the past 14 years. The magazine’s “roving Euro Editor,” she travels every month—not just to Europe, but also further afield. In the last year she has investigated real estate in Thailand, Austria, Spain, Scotland, the Greek island of Crete, Poland, Switzerland, and the French West Indies. When she’s not on the road, Steenie lives in County Roscommon, Ireland. At the Ultimate Event II, Steenie will tell you about some of Europe and Southeast Asia’s best places to live, and Europe’s best property picks.

Suzan Haskins & Dan Prescher, International Living—Mexico. For more than four years now, Suzan and Dan have been exploring and researching lifestyle and investment opportunities in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico on behalf of International Living. To share their experiences, and to inform others about how to safely and securely buy Mexican leisure, investment or retirement property, they developed www.MexicoInsider.com and www.LatinAmericaInsider.com. At the Ultimate Event II, they’ll share their expertise and experience on living, retiring, and investing as an American expat in Mexico, Ecuador, Panama and Nicaragua.

Jessica Ramesch, Editor of Panama Insider, is no stranger to “international living,” she has called the U.S., India, and Panama home, and speaks English, Spanish, French, Italian, and some Portuguese. Jessica enjoys writing, traveling, learning new things, and digging in to great food. At the Ultimate Event II, you’ll find out from Jessica why Panama could be the location for your dream home.

Maria Savage, European Consultant for International Living, was born in Rifle, Colorado. She attended the University of San Francisco majoring in Political Science with an emphasis in European Studies and a minor in Theology. After college she moved to Paris, France to improve her French and explore Europe. She has travelled throughout Europe including England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece and of course France. Maria joined the International Living team last year as our European consultant. At the Ultimate Event II, Maria will share her thoughts on what it’s like for a North American to live in Europe and where you can still find and affordable home.

They’re ready and waiting to share their wealth of experience, tips and strategies with you to help you find your dream home in paradise. Don’t put off your dreams for one more day…register for the Ultimate Event II now.

For more information, click here.

P.S. Reserve your place at the Ultimate Event today and be in with a chance to win a Pathfinder Panama Real Estate Tour following the Ultimate Event. We’ve got 10 Panama City real estate tours, 5 Panama Beach tours and 1 Highlands tour of Boquete and Volcan to give away. The draw will take place during the Ultimate Event.

Posted in Real Estate, Events | 3 Comments »