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International Living Daily Postcards
A More Leisurely Lifestyle in Colonial GuatemalaPosted on June 19, 2013 by Tara Tiedemann
I’m making my way down the cobblestones of Arch Street, on my way to meet friends for a glass of wine. As I arrive, the bells of the 17th-century cathedral ring in the hour
A 6-Month Escape to BelizePosted on June 18, 2013 by Domini Hedderman
Life was good in the States. We had a big house, two cars, and a community of friends in our Pennsylvania hometown
The World’s Best-Paying Gig?Posted on June 17, 2013 by John Forde
In case you don’t know—and some don’t—copywriting means writing ad copy. The headlines. The print ads you see. Billboards. TV ads. And sales letters.
Can You Fail at Being an Expat?Posted on June 16, 2013 by Dan Prescher
Finally I understood what he was getting at. Many people… even many expats… think that moving abroad is a one-way proposition.
Starting a Cookery Business in ItalyPosted on June 15, 2013 by Marcie Miller
Few places on Earth ignite the romantic senses like Italy—it’s a country people dream of visiting, and once they do, they dream of returning.
Punta del Este, Uruguay: Like Venice Beach… Only BetterPosted on June 13, 2013 by Suzan Haskins
To borrow a phrase from rock group REM, Punta del Este and the Uruguayan coast is, “the end of the world as we know it.” Dig your toes into the silky sand..
I Escaped to Paris, Thanks to This Earn-Anywhere IncomePosted on June 12, 2013 by Barbara Diggs
Last week, I had one of those moments when I realized how fortunate I am to have the life and career that I do. I am a freelance copywriter living Paris, which means that not only do I live in one the most beautiful cities in the world, I have the flexibility to actually enjoy it and my life here.
The World’s Best Health Care PlanPosted on June 11, 2013 by David Hammond
If you fall in love with Uruguay, as I did, one thing you’ll appreciate is the high-quality, affordable health care. In Uruguay, medical equipment is modern and doctors highly trained. There are two medical schools in Montevideo, but many senior doctors in Uruguay were trained in the United States, Germany, and Brazil.
These Farms Could Grow Your WealthPosted on June 10, 2013 by Juan Federico Fischer
The case for owning farmland as a strategy to safely grow or preserve your nest egg has never been stronger. Increasing populations and wealth in emerging economies is the primary driver
Costa Rica’s Traditional Small Town LifePosted on June 9, 2013 by Jason Holland
I’m a city boy through and through. When I moved recently to Escazú, a suburb of Costa Rica’s capital San José, I figured I’d be enmeshed in urban culture. This is, after all, the biggest city in the country, and the surrounding area is home to three-quarters of the country’s citizens.
The Latin American Country with a European FlavorPosted on June 7, 2013 by David Hammond
Since becoming an expat, my behavior has changed. I don’t greet friends with a handshake anymore; I kiss them on the cheek.
Costa Rica: A Permanent Vacation LifestylePosted on June 6, 2013 by Erin Morris
I’m sitting in a few inches of water, eagerly anticipating the next big wave. When it comes, it’s far stronger than I expected it to be. I’m slapped in the face, knocked off my rear and whipped around by its power
Laid-Back, Costa Rican Life…Posted on June 5, 2013 by Erica Mills
Imagine, for a moment, waking up to the sun bursting through a canopy of leaves… the song of tropical birds the only sound piercing the stillness of the morning air….
Slow Down in Costa Rica…Posted on June 4, 2013 by Marika Ripke
I love Costa Rica’s easygoing pace of life. It’s a place where people can’t help but slow down.
“Everyone Thought We Were Crazy to Move to Costa Rica…”Posted on June 3, 2013 by Jason Holland
It was hard to tell over the phone. But I think my mother was in tears when I broke the news that we were moving to Costa Rica. Most of our friends were shocked.
A Vacation Home in Ireland… From Just $45,000Posted on June 1, 2013 by Ronan McMahon
Real estate values have fallen so far in Ireland…that today, $27,000 puts you in the game. (Spend that much and you get a traditional-style, semi-detached cottage in need of some modernization.) Spend a little over $45,000 and you won’t have the hassle of home improvements. That amount gets you a modern condo.
A Photo Tour of Granada, NicaraguaPosted on May 30, 2013 by Dan Prescher
If it’s Spanish Colonial charm you’re after, you can’t do much better than Granada, Nicaragua. The place is steeped in it.
Health Care in Ecuador: A Top Haven for Quality Care OverseasPosted on May 29, 2013 by Edd Staton
Patty and Mike Grimm have been in Ecuador for nearly three years. During that time, “we have pretty much covered the gamut of medical care, including dentistry, eye exams and glasses, emergency rooms, colonoscopy, mammogram, gallbladder removal, treatment for ulcers (endoscopes), and serious back treatments,” says Mike.
Starting Over at 35 in Costa RicaPosted on May 28, 2013 by Brett Schroeder
I checked out of the traditional career path—the “rat race”—about 10 years ago at the age of 35. On the surface, life in Texas was great for me. I’d graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in journalism and worked in the advertising business as an account executive (a “suit”) for about 10 years.
Costa Rica: The Price is Right for These Amazing ViewsPosted on May 26, 2013 by Jason Holland
When you live in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone, the beach and the blue Pacific become a focal point. Surfers and beach combers hit the shore.
Quick Guide to Colonial NicaraguaPosted on May 24, 2013 by Suzan Haskins
Locals who live in Granada, Nicaragua, are used to tourists—maybe now more than ever, especially since The New York Times recently named Nicaragua #3 on its list of “Places to Go in 2013.” It’s not hard to understand what makes Granada so popular. Less than an hour after landing at Nicaragua’s international airport in Managua…
Small Town Life in Atenas, Costa Rica’s Central ValleyPosted on May 23, 2013 by Jason Holland
“I knew when it was time to retire we’d move to the tropics. I was bored with the predictability of life in the U.S….the politics…the franchises,” says 70-year-old Roberta Laidman.
The Happiest Expats I Know in EcuadorPosted on May 22, 2013 by John Curran
Perhaps the happiest expat couple I’ve met in Ecuador came here with what fit in their suitcases and only two things that didn’t—a guitar and a fiddle.
Still Affordable: The Best Views in Costa RicaPosted on May 21, 2013 by Jason Holland
When you live in Costa Rica’s Southern Zone, the beach and the blue Pacific become a focal point.
Wine: Growing Money in ArgentinaPosted on May 20, 2013 by David English
You’ve probably heard the old joke that the best way to make $10 million in the wine industry is to start with $20 million. But these days in Argentina, nothing could be further from the truth. Unlike other winemaking nations, Argentina is now exporting almost all the wine it can produce. Brazil, the United States, Canada and England are favorite destinations…
All You Need on Your Doorstep: Costa Rica’s Central ValleyPosted on May 19, 2013 by Jason Holland
Expats have been flocking to the Central Valley for decades. Despite the name, it is actually a high-altitude plateau—above 3,000 feet—that is surrounded by tall mountains. In the middle you have Costa Rica’s capital, San Jose.
A Guide to Cuenca’s Best NeighborhoodsPosted on May 17, 2013 by Edd Staton
For many reasons, Cuenca, Ecuador earns top billing as one of the world’s top expat destinations. The cost of living is low—three-course lunches start at $2.50—the weather is great, usually around 65 to 70 F during the day, and it’s never too cold or hot.
A Relaxed Pace of Life in a Tropical, Colonial CityPosted on May 16, 2013 by Helen Korengold
The restaurant, Villas Mombacho, overlooks the lake and the views are of the many little islands and the local fishermen at work. Distant volcanoes fill the horizon and my friends and I are surrounded by palm trees and flowers.
Americans Have Overlooked This Beach GemPosted on May 15, 2013 by John Clites
From the Via Costeira (Coastal Way), I descend the dirt path to the beach. Kicking off my sneakers, I jog barefoot south toward the breakwater
A Beach to Yourself on Costa Rica’s Pacific CoastPosted on May 14, 2013 by Jason Holland
I’m from Florida, where a day at the beach means fighting for parking—often for an outrageous fee—struggling to find a bare patch of sand, and spending the day listening to loud music and shouting kids.
The Five Places Everyone Should Visit in BelizePosted on May 13, 2013 by Suzan Haskins
Belize has a lot going for it. For a tiny country, it packs a big wallop when it comes to charm and scenery. For the would-be expat—especially if you’re looking for real value—there are many places that deserve your attention. Places where you can live the laid-back, Caribbean lifestyle of your dreams.
Work on a Caribbean Island?Posted on May 12, 2013 by Domini Hedderman
Since moving to Belize full-time in 2012, empty nesters Christine Cotten and her husband Tom ease into their day. Morning time for them on Ambergris Caye starts with a coffee on the pier in front of their beachfront condo, watching the sun rise, golden and glowing, in a purple sky.
How to Retire at 41 to Costa RicaPosted on May 11, 2013 by Domini Hedderman
Their vacations in tropical places left Denice and Robert Key wishing for more out of life and thinking, “What if…?” The couple had traveled throughout the Caribbean and Mexico when they were younger, and they could never quite escape the itch to retire early and move to a warm, exotic destination—something completely different from their Colorado home.
Beach-Town Life, Belize (from $55,000)Posted on May 10, 2013 by Margaret Summerfield
We’d finished dinner almost an hour earlier. But we were still in the restaurant. Our host was back after a few weeks away and it seemed the whole town wanted to catch up.
Simple, Laid-Back, Caribbean LifePosted on May 8, 2013 by Elizabeth Wright
So there we were, my husband David and I, retired in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, we had a lovely home in a great development and spent our time remodeling, doing volunteer work, and getting on with our lives.
The Freedom to Do Things Your Way in BelizePosted on May 7, 2013 by Erica Mills
For such a small country, Belize packs a big punch in terms of what it offers expats. It tops IL’s list for ease of integration, with expats reporting that they fit easily into the local community there.
A Round-the-World Trip… for Less Than $420Posted on May 6, 2013 by John Joe Worrall
Steve Kamb left his native Oregon last year on a round-the-world trip starting in Los Angeles. Over the course of the next 10 months, Steve spent time in Sydney, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dublin, Madrid, and Buenos Aires
Insider’s Guide to Living in Boquete, PanamaPosted on May 4, 2013 by Jessica Ramesch
When I hear people talk about Boquete, in Panama’s Highlands, I’m reminded of the parable of Plato’s Cave. In that allegory, people sit in a cave watching shadows going by from outside.
What Life as an English Teacher in Thailand is Really LikePosted on May 3, 2013 by Chris Clancy
Work doesn’t start until nearly 8.00 a.m. but I’m an early riser so I like to get up around 6.00 a.m. I’m greeted by the sun shining in my window.
“We Have Luxuries in Nicaragua We Could Never Afford Back Home”Posted on May 1, 2013 by Jason Holland
When Roberto, 63, and his wife Réjane Rojas retired in 2002, they were looking for a retirement destination with warm weather, a low cost of living that would allow them to live well on their savings and pension, and easy access to both North and South America. “We visited most of the Central American countries before we decided on Nicaragua.”
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I love to travel and have been side-tracked for the past ten years raising twin girls, but once they are grown, I plan to start travel writing and exploring again. In the meantime, IL keeps my dream alive and allows me to look forward to the day I will search for my retirement piece of …
