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The city of Menton on France’s Côte d’Azur is said to have the best weather in France. Temperatures are always a couple of degrees warmer than neighbouring resorts on the Riviera. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Menton’s micro-climate lured royal visitors like Empress Eugénie, Queen Victoria, and Edward VII, and wealthy foreigners who stayed Read more...: The Chic History of Menton, The Pearl of France
Playa charmed me on that first trip. I've gone back countless times since. Each time, I'm amazed by what's changed: New restaurants, new hotels, new businesses, new faces. And what hasn't changed: The beaches, the high quality of life, the instant appeal of Playa.
I’m in Lagos, on the western edge of the Algarve, continuing my search for a new base. I’m homeless…rootless…with a couple of suitcases and a husband in tow. I’ve already crossed off Faro and Albufeira. Lagos is more my style, but will it stack up as a more permanent stop? Let’s see… Mornings here start Read more...: Calculating Risk and Reward in Real Estate
I was chased by a lunatic yesterday. Lunatic might not be the right word. A man with an obsession might be closer to the mark. One that he felt obliged to share with the world at large… “So much sexier now!” was what he first shouted at me. Heads turned, to see what floor show Read more...: My Real Estate Trip in Lagos, Portugal
After more than a decade in Panama, I’m back in Europe, looking for a new base. I still love Panama. The reasons why I chose it as a base back in 2007 are still the same. It’s an amazing, internationalized destination, with a lively and fun capital city, a global perspective and a strategic location Read more...: Three Things I Miss About Panama
I came across this old building in Albufeira on a walk a few days ago. It’s got a plaque high up on the left that says Chalet Santa Rita 1938. It’s a beautiful building, but it’s empty, a ghost of the past. It’s sandwiched awkwardly between two big hotels, and its history seems to be Read more...: A Ghost from the Past in Albufeira, Portugal
After almost 14 years in Latin America…where I scouted highland towns in Ecuador…checked out coastal resorts in Chile…tried to chase down the next hot spot in the Caribbean…I’m in southern Europe, looking for a new base and any real estate opportunities I come across. I’m in Albufeira, on Portugal’s Algarve coast, as I write. Faro, Read more...: Albufeira: The Algarve’s Wild Card
You’re looking at buying a condo in Latin America…perhaps in Panama City or in Medellín, Colombia. Your agent has shown you a brand-new, two-bed condo in a glitzy high-rise block. It’s got a gourmet kitchen and a spa-like master bathroom. But you know from your research that the older building right next door has two-bed Read more...: The Upsides (and 2 Major Downsides) of Buying an Older Condo
My point is, be more open when you're considering what property to buy. Just because something has been used as office space for generations doesn't mean it has to stay that way.
Ronan gave me a few pointers for my trip to Portugal. The best spots for real estate, the contacts to meet, the places he thought I’d like. He signed off with a mention of the country’s famous custard tarts (pastel de nata). They’re really addictive, he warned me. One is never enough. Personally, I can Read more...: My Biggest Discovery in Faro (And it Wasn’t Real Estate)