May 2013
A lager beer, a bit of lime juice, and ice in a salt-rimmed glass. It's a concoction invented in Mexico, where they add tabasco, Worcestershire sauce, and other ingredients as well. It's called the michelada.
Country Insider Websites Archives
Starting Over in Ecuador in Our 40s
Two years ago Rob Hamm and Tracey Krause along with their two children relocated from Winnipeg to Cotacachi, Ecuador. Their goal as a family was to experience a new culture, travel, and learn a new language—which they've successfully done. But, there was a catch. Rob and Tracey are only in their 40s and still needed to earn an income to support their family.
Scandinavians Aren’t the Only Ones to Fall in Love with Boquete, Panama…
Standing on a bridge over the Calderas River, watching it bubble and tumble down the valley, it's easy to see why the Swedes and Swiss who arrived in this sheltered spot in the early 20th century felt so immediately at home. Pure mountain air and forest-green hillsides are something you expect of Scandinavia or the Alpine foothills...not tropical little Panama.
Off-the-Beaten Track Homes in Costa Rica…From $80,000
Of all the places I've visited in Costa Rica, the Nicoya Peninsula is the one that feels most like the frontier. It's a somewhat isolated region, with mile after mile of untouched coastline along the blue Pacific, craggy hills, vast cattle farms in the interior, and mazes of what are often dirt roads running through forests and fields. It's also one of the world's Blue Zones, where researchers have found that locals live longer on average due to a combination of diet, climate, and lifestyle.
May 2013
The same applies to shopping at the city's ever-expanding malls. At large installations like Albrook Mall, I can buy cute jeans for $5 (I kid you not) at local shops. But it seems like all the popular name brands are here, as well, from Guess to Zara.
A Booming Business on the Beach in Costa Rica
Brothers Khalil and Abasi Chapman—and friend Rocky Leming—first landed in Costa Rica in 2005. At the time they worked in the restaurant and bar industry in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and heard rumors of the impressive surf down in Costa Rica. They headed south for a vacation somewhere on the Caribbean Coast...but ended up finding a new home.
An Added (Secret) Bonus of Living in Ecuador
There's a lot to love about Ecuador—the amazing biodiversity; great weather; the low cost of living. And in the larger cities like Cuenca, where I live, the excellent medical care and cultural amenities are an added bonus. I've been kept up to date on the miserable winter in the States through Skype conversations with my two children. Right now I'm looking out the window at blue skies and am looking forward to yet another day with temperatures in the 70s.
Why We Couldn’t Retire in Ecuador
When Gary and Kathryn Kelly, both in their 50s, moved to Ecuador from Sargent, Texas, in 2011, they expected this would be where they spent their retirement years. They bought a house at Punta Carnero Beach, about 10 minutes' drive from the popular Ecuador beach resort town of Salinas, and began refurbishing it.
How the Seymours Retired at 41 and 44 in Costa Rica
Opening a business, moving to a small town, changing careers, heading out on the road in an RV...they considered all these options. But once they started reading about retiring overseas, it seemed the way to go. And Costa Rica quickly rose to the top of their list of destinations because it's an easy flight back to Dallas and there's good infrastructure, healthcare, and Internet access. And the climate where they live in the Central Valley is perfect year-round.
This is Why People are Moving to Ecuador
I can't give you one good reason why Americans and Canadians are coming in droves to Ecuador...because there are dozens of very good reasons. There are so many that I can't list them all here...but based on a recent trip there, I can tell you what some of the best reasons to live in Ecuador are.