On one of my first visits to Panama, nearly 30 years ago, a longtime friend who was living in Panama City at the time invited me to take a drive with him.

“I’m going to show you the best this city has to offer,” he promised.

We drove down Avenida Balboa, beyond the central zone of the modern city, turned left, and passed a brightly painted Chinese-style arch very much out of place in this Latino barrio.

But what lay beyond that bit of Asia was even more surprising.

We drove into a treasure trove of architectural history.

In every direction I looked I was treated to rows of structures left behind by the Spanish, the French, and the Americans who’d hung their hats in this part of the world over the preceding few centuries.

Like the arch, everything in this zone was crumbling and peeling, cracked and faded. The street gutters were thick with litter, and small barefooted children ran and played in the narrow brick-paved roadways all around.

Latin music blared from open windows. Women lounged and rocked in open doorways, chatting and tending to their near-naked babies.

Many buildings were more piles of stones and bricks than structures.

But if you looked beyond the garbage and the rubble… beyond the crumbling plaster and the peeling paint… beyond the chaos of the modern-day scene… you glimpsed something special…

Something that exists in only a short list of places our whole world over…

Block upon block of classic colonial-style buildings with shuttered windows, balconies on every level overlooking the streets below, ornate iron work, turned wood, and façades of the kind you see in the pages of coffee-table books but rarely in real life.

This was Casco Viejo, Panama City’s Old Town.

The better I’ve gotten to know this spot over the past three decades, the more infatuated I’ve become.

Casco is separate from the rest of Panama City, positioned on a small rocky peninsula in the Bay of Panama surrounded by reefs and the sea. It’s a naturally well-protected spot, difficult for enemy ships and attackers to approach.

The Spanish chose the location and fortified it with ramparts and cannons to safeguard the gold and silver shipments transiting through Panama from South America. This was a critical point along the trade route back to Spain.

A lot of money passed through this place centuries ago, and the conquistadors managing its flow used some to create an extraordinary legacy.

The centuries-old roadways paved with brick take you past hundreds of glorious colonial structures and, as well, a well-laid-out series of plazas, each with its own church. Casco Viejo boasts eight historic churches in all, including Iglesia San Felipe Neri, the oldest in the city, dating to 1688.

Casco Viejo’s Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria la Antigua.

Aside from its parks, including the Cinta Costera, this is, in my view, the only part of Panama City suitable for meandering. That’s intentional. This ancient quarter is laid out like a classic European city, on a grid around those welcoming squares and their shady trees.

When I saw Casco for the first time, it took considerable imagination to see the potential beneath the grime and the garbage. Most of the one-, two-, and three-hundred-year-old buildings were, at the time, crowded with a dozen or more inhabitants each, some legal, most not.

“Mark my words, Kathleen,” my tour guide on the day told me. “In 10 years, this enclave will be unrecognizable from what you see today. A renaissance is under way.”

Roger was right, on one hand. Yes, indeed, I was seeing Casco at the start of its rebirth. Forward-thinking investors were beginning to take notice.

First, though, before the zone could be revitalized, the squatters had to be removed. They were relocated over time to affordable housing provided by the Panama government.

Then the infrastructure had to be improved… the security issues addressed.

I was among the earliest investors in Casco. With partners, I bought a French-colonial building known as Casa Remon. It’s still there… just off the main plaza and around the corner from the Panama Canal Museum. You’ll know it by its green shutters.

I renovated Casa Remon into an office for me and three apartments for rental, and I was in residence often over the several years to follow. It gave me a front-row seat for Casco’s rebirth.

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While Roger’s prediction that Casco Viejo would be reborn was on the money, his timing was optimistic. The renaissance took longer than most anticipated, but the result is everything long imagined.

Most of the buildings have now been rehabbed with great attention to original detail. Some have been converted to private homes, others to apartments, office buildings, art galleries, shops, restaurants, and night spots.

Al-fresco dining and rooftop decks are de rigueur. Casco Viejo today is the hottest ticket not only in the Panamanian capital but across the region.

I’d love to show it to you.

I’ll be leading a small group on a private tour immediately following my Live And Invest In Panama Conference in January.

Here’s everything you need to know to join the fun.

Until next time,

The post At Last appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

As a reader of these dispatches, you’ll likely have heard of Boquete.

In 2010, the AARP named it the world’s top retirement haven.

By that time, I’d been showcasing Boquete’s charms for more than a decade.

However, I wasn’t the first to recognize the potential of this hidden valley. First was a fellow retire overseas pioneer.

Sam Taliaferro was an American entrepreneur searching for a new and better life overseas. He had a clear vision of the paradise he sought.

Sam wanted to restart his life somewhere beautiful and serene… peaceful and safe…

Somewhere offering broad vistas and wide-open spaces… that was supported by a welcoming community… and backed by top-notch infrastructure and world-class health care.

Yes, Sam wanted it all.

And he found it in Boquete.

Sam reached out to me just after he’d identified this remarkable spot he believed could deliver on his ultimate lifestyle. He wanted to share his discovery with others also dreaming of a better life in retirement.

Sam had been introduced to Boquete by his Panamanian bride. She’d enjoyed years of family holidays in this mountain idyll. The beautiful spot was a best-kept secret. No one outside Panama, including me, had ever heard of it.

When Sam toured me around Boquete for the first time, I understood why he was so enthusiastic about his find. This place was special… a hidden gem of wildflower-covered hillsides, waterfalls, creeks, and valleys…

Boquete was Mother Nature at her best and utterly undisturbed.

It was also Panama, meaning long-term stability and safe haven… the best infrastructure and health care in the region, improving all the time… and no currency risk.

However, in truth, Sam and I both were a bit forward-thinking in our original recommendation.

Back in 1999 when I saw Boquete for the first time, it was a humble village. It had all the raw materials of the world’s best place to retire… but it was thin on comfort and convenience.

Fast forward to today and Boquete has come of age. It is everything you could ask for in a retirement destination.

Today Boquete is home to one of the world’s biggest communities of expats and foreign retirees. These are welcoming folks. Living here you’d never want for English-speaking company.

In addition, Boquete offers fresh spring-like weather year-round. Down at sea level, Panama is hot and steamy. Up here in the highlands it’s eternally pleasant… even cool enough some evenings for a fire. Some homes come with fireplaces.

The countryside is lush and green in this land of rainbows…

And the cost of living is low… remarkably low given the lifestyle on offer…

For life here today is fully appointed. Boquete village boasts restaurants of nearly every nationality, nightlife, massage studios, beauty salons… along with grocery stores and medical clinics…

This region also produces some of the best coffee on earth, including the famous geisha bean, grown in beautiful fields all around.

It’s a nature-lover’s dream and an outdoorsman’s playground. You could spend your days hiking the lush highlands, rafting on the river, spotting wildlife, fishing…

Plus, you’re only around 30 minutes from David, Panama’s second-largest city, where you’ll find everything you’d expect to find in a large city back home.

You’re also just 50 minutes from the Pacific coast and its beaches.

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Boquete has grown up to offer everything you could want for your retirement lifestyle…

With one glaring exception.

Quality housing has been very hard to come by… and luxury housing has been non-existent…

Until now.

In this tranquil paradise, a luxury-standard project, boasting a slew of five-star amenities, by Panama’s most respected and established developer is well underway. I sent my real estate scout Sophia Titley there recently to check on progress…

Thanks to our decades-long personal relationship with the developer, we’ve been able to negotiate for Live And Invest Overseas readers to have their pick of the best inventory every step of the way. Phase I has already opened its doors, celebrating its grand opening just last week.

Now, we’ve secured access to the newest phase of the resort, giving you the chance to get in before the full vision is built out.

And that’s not all…

We’ve arranged for a massive discount of up to $12k for my readers… along with a VIP invitation to visit in person.

To gain access to all the details, you need to join us next week, on Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 11 a.m. ET, for our Ultimate Retirement Haven Spotlight Event when America’s #1 overseas property expert Lief Simon, together with our contact on the ground in Panama, will walk you through this one-of-a-kind opportunity.

Simply click here to register at no cost and obligation free.

Until next time,

The post A Look Inside A Luxe Home In The World’s #1 Expat Haven appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

The Azuero Peninsula is mostly known for its beaches and its carnaval celebrations in Las Tablas.

The east coast is pretty popular amongst locals and expats… But if you ask a Panamanian if they’ve ever heard of Torio on the west coast of Veraguas, the answer will probably be no.

Despite this, the west coast of Veraguas is slowly becoming known to expats from all over the world and from different walks of life, including Ralph and Nataliya… a Canadian couple who traded the long, cold winters and hustle and bustle of life up north to live out a dream.

They now own the only luxury hotel in Torio—The Casa Blanca Inn.

This is their story…

Geraldine Gonzalez: What brought you to this part of Panama?

Ralph: I actually discovered it by accident…

My parents were turning the age of retirement, and they went to Florida and didn’t like it. I Googled it, and Panama came up as one of the top three retirement destinations in the world.

It was the closest of the options to Toronto and had direct flights. Plus, it had the U.S. dollar, security, economy, and all the other pluses that Panama has going for it.

So I planned a trip with my parents for a 15-day relocation tour with a rental car, GPS, and an itinerary with five stops from Pedasí to Volcán and Boquete… all over.

Torio was not on the schedule, but we had to stop in Santiago for two days on our way to Boquete. I looked at the GPS, saw the ocean, and decided to take a drive…

This part of Panama is beautiful for its ocean sunsets. I fell in love with it but continued the itinerary.

When I asked why Torio wasn’t part of the itinerary, I was told that it wasn’t developed and there was nothing to see there.

But on the contrary, I saw it as a good opportunity to come to this area because when it’s less developed, the price is better than other areas, and it also gives you the opportunity to do business because there’s less competition.

I saw there were a lot of hostels and small places to stay but nothing when it came to luxury, so I saw that as my opening.

My parents didn’t end up moving to Panama, but I did. I bought a piece of property for my luxury hotel.

Geraldine: Has language been a problem for you?

Ralph: I’m still learning. Ninety-nine percent of the Panamanians that come to the hotel speak English, and they always want to practice. Though I want to practice my Spanish, I always put my guests first. My 10-year-old son goes to the local school and is learning Spanish, so he’s my teacher.

Geraldine: Where’s this area headed?

Ralph: A new gas station opened in Torio a few months ago, and there are plans for a new grocery store.

As those things develop, it’ll have a snowfall effect. More people will come, more amenities will come, and in the long term, it’ll be better for everybody.

There’s talk about a pharmacy and clinic, maybe coming next year. Ever since the new road went through, a lot of things have been improving.

We had fiber optic internet, but it wasn’t really fast. Last week, I heard that there’s going to be a new high-speed fiber optic system.

Everything is being upgraded.

When we first moved here, there wasn’t any internet. Now the internet has enabled a younger demographic who can work remotely to come down.

Geraldine: When you’re not busy running the hotel, what activities do you enjoy doing here?

Nataliya: Because we have the space, the restaurant, and the dining capacity, we have events. We do private events (anniversaries, birthdays, etc., can be booked here).

But on our own, we do fundraising about once a month. We have an all-day breakfast event where we donate a portion of the money to the Spay Neuter Clinic.

We’re also working on doing a yoga and health retreat where we offer organic, natural teas, cleaning dietary foods and programs and educate people about the benefits of eating natural local fruits and vegetables.

Back in Canada, Ralph had a greenhouse business, so we’ve brought some of those ideas over here. We’ve spent the last 7 years planting over 300 different fruit trees that have many therapeutic benefits.

We also do a free finca tour of our property with trees and a greenhouse. We even have a desert rose bonsai greenhouse.

Geraldine: What do you dislike about living here?

Ralph: Everybody has their individual likes and dislikes.

For me, I wouldn’t say that I dislike it, but I think it would be better if there were a little bit more people in the area.

When it’s a small-town community, people tend to get into each other’s business, and there’s gossip involved.

But when there’s a certain level of population, there’s no time for miniscule things like that because there are just too many things to do.

Also, when there’s a bigger population, you have a more diverse selection of restaurants, grocery stores, and amenities.

Right now, the population is a bit small, and we don’t have these amenities yet. But I can see that already starting to change…

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Geraldine: Have you experienced any type of crime in your time here?

Nataliya: There is small, petty theft, but personally, we have many people that work for us in construction and workers around us all the time… our gate is unlocked, and nobody ever takes anything.

But we attribute that to the fact that we don’t have a superiority complex. I hate to say this, but there are some foreigners that come here and show that complex like they’re better than everyone else, and treat people badly… that’s just asking for trouble.

You have to treat everyone the same, with the same level of respect. The locals and the foreigners, they like us, and if it comes down to stealing, they’re not going to take anything from us because we treat everyone with respect.

Geraldine: What are your favorite things about living here?

Ralph and Nataliya: Nature, quietness, clean air, ocean breeze… the community overall is very nice; the Panamanians and the expats alike are very friendly.

And it’s safe… the first few nights I didn’t sleep too well because I didn’t know how secure the area was, but after a while, I realized it’s safer in Torio than in Toronto and felt totally at ease.

We’ve created what feels like family with the people around us. Our maids have kids, and we’re always giving them homemade baking, leftovers, or whatever our son is not using… decent clothes, decent toys, and good food.

We just tend to share with everybody, and that’s reciprocated. We have a maid who knew that Ralph liked traditional Panamanian corn tortillas, so she made them from scratch and brought them.

We didn’t expect it… it gives us a feeling of unity, like a big family.

Sincerely,

The post Toronto To Torio: How This Couple Built A New Home In Panama appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

I recently sat down with Dennelle Taylor Nizoux, an American expat who has been living in Montpellier for 15 years now.

One of the fastest-growing cities in France, particularly in southern France, Montpellier is becoming an increasingly popular option for foreigners looking for a new life in France.

This university city offers a superb, laid-back lifestyle, culture, great connectivity, year-round sunshine, and mild seasons—without the big price tag of places like Nice or Paris.

Dennelle founded Renestance real estate services in 2015, and has since helped countless international buyers navigate the French property market and get settled in the region.

I was eager for her to share her insider knowledge: what it’s really like to buy here, what surprises people, what ideal costs look like, who really belongs in Montpellier—and who doesn’t…

Kat: Let’s start with your story—how did you end up in Montpellier?

Dennelle: I was a student in Provence in college, so I got to know a little bit of the south of France and the Mediterranean area.

It never really felt like home to me, so I kind of wrote off the Mediterranean part of the south of France.

Later, my U.S. company transferred me to Paris, and I lived there for 10 years and met my French husband, who is from Normandy.

By coincidence, his best friend from Normandy moved to Montpellier in 2001. We would take the train down to visit him, and he and his wife had their first baby the same year we had ours.

We kept going down to visit them, and every time we had to take the TGV back to Paris, it just got harder and harder to leave Montpellier.

The more we saw of Montpellier, the more we liked the vibe. It’s low-key, easygoing, open-minded, and has an indoor-outdoor lifestyle. I was born and raised in Southern California, and it felt a bit like home.

We were living the grind in Paris with two small children, doing the métro, boulot, dodo (metro, work, sleep), as they say. It felt like living to work, whereas our friends in Montpellier got off work at 5 p.m., grabbed the kids, a bottle of rosé, and headed to the beach to enjoy life.

I thought, “This is what I want.”

We moved down here in 2010 with our kids, who are grown now.

Kat: For somebody who’s never been to Montpellier, how would you describe it as a city for living?

Dennelle: It ticks a lot of boxes.

It’s walkable; you don’t need to get in the car for everything. We’ve got five tram lines that are free for residents.

It’s also near the beach—only about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away.

There’s lots of hiking and easy access to nature. Within 20 or 30 minutes of downtown, you could be hiking in the hills or mountains.

It’s also a very young, dynamic city because of the universities, and that brings a lot of culture.

We have a lot of artists and writers, and anybody who’s attracted to the arts can usually find what they’re looking for in Montpellier. We even have two opera houses.

It’s a very well-rounded city, but also, as they say in French, à taille humaine—human scale. It’s still manageable. I think it’s around 500,000 people now, including the metropolitan area. So it doesn’t feel too big, but it still has everything you might be looking for.

Kat: Right, as a university town, would you say that students are the main demographic? Is this also a city where French people tend to retire, or is retirement more concentrated in the villages around Montpellier?

Dennelle: Yes, there’s definitely a population of retirees here.

During Covid we had a lot of Parisians and French people from colder or less favorable climates come down to Montpellier because they could work remotely. There have always been people who wanted to retire to the south of France within France, but now we also have more remote workers here.

I think the villages can be attractive to retirees, particularly areas outside Montpellier—more countryside locations around places like Béziers.

You can get more for your money, and you’re not reliant on the job market.

Kat: You’ve experienced different parts of France, and I’m curious about your husband’s perspective since he’s from Normandy. Was there ever a pull to go north instead of south?

Obviously, the weather is the biggest difference, but aside from that was that ever a debate between the two of you?

Dennelle: He was perfectly fine with the weather in Paris—it was similar to what he grew up with.

But once we started spending more time in Montpellier, he really saw the appeal of being able to be outside most of the year.

We actually kept our apartment in Paris for probably the first 10 years we were in Montpellier because we weren’t sure if we were going to stay.

But pretty quickly, we both realized that waking up and seeing a blue sky every day changes everything.

Honestly, I think he was probably sold on it faster than I was.

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Kat: All right, let’s get into the property market. We’ve talked a bit about the lifestyle and who fits in this city.

You’ve been working in real estate down here for how long now?

Dennelle: Almost a decade now…

I started Renestance as a full-service relocation agency officially in 2015, and then I got my degree in real estate and immobilier in 2017. We’ve been dedicated buyer’s agents since 2017.

Kat: And you’ve been on the ground here for so long, you’ve seen how the market has changed… So, what is the market like right now?

Dennelle: Well, Montpellier has been one of the fastest—if not the fastest—growing cities in France for at least 20 years.

It was already growing quickly when we moved down here.

And, like I said, there was a bump during Covid, when a lot of people came because they could work remotely, so growth has been steady.

In terms of price per square meter, Montpellier is still about half the price of Nice and some of the other destinations in the south of France, while offering many of the same advantages in terms of climate and lifestyle.

It’s also a fantastic travel hub.

Property values have appreciated steadily over time, and with good reason.

Bonne route,

The post Discover The “Other” South Of France—Without The Riviera Price appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Paris, France

Paris oozes culture and history, for access to the historical, architectural, and social heart of Western culture, there is simply no better location.

Replete with bookstores, antique shops, wine cellars, pretty parks, well-tended gardens, and old buildings, this city is a treat for all the senses. You’d be hard pressed to find more history, culture, and character per square meter anywhere else in the world.

Paris is enjoyable in all seasons and any weather. What difference if it’s raining or dry, January frigid or August hot, when you can retreat on a whim to a café for an espresso or verre de vin? Sidewalk heaters mean you can sit outside at your favorite spot and enjoy the passing show year-round.

More practically speaking, Paris is also the epitome of convenience. A visit to the bank, to the dry cleaners, to the greengrocer, the cobbler, the hardware store, all of these shops and services and, really, any other you could name or need will be found within a 15-minute walk of your home. In central Paris, you don’t have to go far for anything…

Paris is an expensive city… that’s a fact. Property prices both for owning and renting are sky high for very little space.

But Paris can be more affordable than most people imagine…

Many fringe costs are much lower than in the United States, electricity and gas, for example, are much cheaper in France. Internet, cable, and phone packages are likewise cheap—less than half the cost of current Comcast rates. Excellent food is produced locally and is reasonably priced—that cheese you paid a premium for as an import in the States is just the local brand here.

Your essential costs can be reasonable, but there is a limitless supply of non-essential expenses that may be hard to resist! Perhaps the one indulgence that is highly affordable is wine—a good bottle can be had easily for less than €8, if you’re really pinching pennies, you can find not-so-good bottles for under a couple of euro.

Senior discounts are not as common as student or youth discounts in France. Nevertheless, there are notable rate reductions on the SNCF trains (generally about 25% off or more with a Senior Card) and some museums offer discounts for over 60s.

The health care in France is arguably the best in the world and, if you’re a member of French Social Security (that is, you’re paying into the system), most of the cost of this extraordinary health care is covered. Living in Paris, you’ll have access to the best medical care in the country.

Paris offers the best of both worlds for expat residents in France: The ability to toggle between an Anglophone home-away-from-home and la vrai (the true) France. Aside from the sheer numbers, the organization of the expat community is impressive. Few foreign cities have as strong and as established an Anglophone expat community as Paris.

Gascony, France

Nestled in the sedate southwestern corner of France, between Bordeaux and the Pyrenees, this peaceful region is one of the least known destinations in France.

The picturesque villages, many of which have earned the title of Le Plus Belles Villes de France (the prettiest towns of France), resemble those of fairytales.

Some of our favorite towns here include Fourcès, known for its weekly produce market and annual flower fair… Lupiac, hometown of the legendary d’Artagnan of the Musketeers… La Romieu, said to have been saved from the plague by a young girl’s illegal cat, now reveres felines for this reason…

Lectoure, one of the larger towns offering shopping, restaurants, and art galleries… and Auch, the department’s capital, more cosmopolitan and the closest thing to a city in the region…

This part of France can be easily affordable, especially if you live like a local and make use of the local markets, which sell affordable local goods and produce. A monthly budget of $2,000 will suffice here.

Gascony gets four distinct seasons, including cool, wet winters and warm, relatively wet summers. Mild Atlantic winds have a nullifying effect on the temperature, so extremes are rare. That said, you may see a bit of snow here during winter—about three or four days per year.

You’ll need to learn French to live here and integrate well, but because the country has been welcoming British, Irish, and Dutch tourists for so long, many in the service industry of cities or larger towns speak some English.

Gascony is a sprawling region encompassing several towns and villages of different sizes… You’d be perfectly safe in any of these. It’s highly unlikely that crime would affect your life living in Gascony.

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La Rochelle

La Rochelle is a medieval port town in southwestern France, just north of Bordeaux and about a three-hour train ride from Paris. A favorite holiday spot for the French, it’s said to have the third-highest quality of life in France.

Known for seafood and sunny weather, day-to-day life here is vibrant and active. The beaches are a major draw, offering boating, fishing, and even surfing. Most days see folks of all ages enjoying the salty sea air—grocery shopping at the historic market, playing cards or board games in the park, taking a bike ride, hitting the beach, or simply enjoying a crisp glass of local white wine next to the harbor. Oysters are the first (and often second and third) item on every menu.

The town is completely accessible by foot or bike, and much of the historical center is pedestrianized. Bike lanes and buses crisscross the city, and boats, buses, and trains take you to any place near or far, making a car unnecessary for most residents.

This laid-back city offers a wealth of history, an active arts scene, and fabulous shopping prospects, and it’s not an expensive place to live. A monthly budget of $2,500 to $3,000 will suffice here… but keep in mind, this is a top-tier city that was rated the third-best in France for quality of life. It’s a coastal city with mild weather, meaning you’ll always be close to the sea…

Rent, variable by location and property size, ranges from $850 to $1,600 per month. Dining out at French restaurants serving fresh seafood can run you $40 to $75 for two. Groceries, including fresh produce, are fantastically affordable.

Two things that will come cheaper in France than the U.S. or Canada are transportation and health care. Both are well-organized with solid infrastructure and come at almost negligible costs.

Sincerely, 
The Editors Of Live And Invest Overseas

The post 3 Of France’s Best Expat Havens appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Deauville, known as the Parisian Riviera and the “Saint-Tropez Normande,” is one of the most famous getaways from Paris…

Located on Normandy’s Côte Fleurie (Flowered Coast), and the closest beach to France’s capital at just two hours away by car or train, Deauville has long drawn the most distinguished and flashiest of European society from France’s capital…

Josephine Baker walked her pet cheetah down Deauville’s beach promenade…

She spent time there with one of my favorite artists, French-Dutch painter Kees van Dongen, who lived there with his son and said the town “fit him like a glove.”

The late Queen Elizabeth II was allowed to drive her car down the planks of the same boardwalk, where vehicles are ordinarily strictly forbidden.

It inspired Ian Fleming’s “Casino Royale”…

Tom and Daisy honeymooned here in “The Great Gatsby”…

Marcel Proust, Agatha Christie, and Noël Coward all used it as a setting, too…

And it was the birthplace of Coco Chanel’s career in clothing, she even opened her second shop in Deauville.

Thanks to the American Film Festival that has taken place here every year since 1975, the town is just as familiar with more contemporary celebrities… George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Harrison Ford have all spent plenty of time here, along with hosts of other American movie stars.

Yves Saint Laurent had a house here, as does Gérard Depardieu and many other French celebrities, socialites, and politicians.

Needless to say, this town was made for pleasure seeking and being seen…

In fact, that’s literally true.

Boasting the so-called queen of the Normandy beaches, the area was targeted for major development in the 1860s by Napoleon’s brother-in-law. He put in a rail line direct from Paris, and had the casino and hippodrome built (the region was already well-known as prime horse country).

With these investments came grand hotels, upscale restaurants, an enormous casino, famous art galleries, a major spa, and seaside promenade and tables were installed.

By 1910, the town was rich and attracted the rich. Luxury boutiques on every corner, record sales in all industries, yachts in the harbor…

When the airport was built in 1931, the town’s reputation went international.

Nowadays, Deauville is just as much a darling to the wealthy, but it’s within reach of us mere mortals, as well… the train from Paris costs less than €20, and the town has plenty of affordable hotels and Airbnb options for visitors.

Living here, the lifestyle would be laid-back and refined.

All the best shopping that you’d expect in Paris is available here, but also the produce market, where you can join locals in shopping for organic produce, meat, eggs, dairy, and flowers.

The eating out options here are excellent, but not many. This is a small town (population about 3,500), and they mostly cater to tourists with money, so eating out can paint you into a bit of a corner. In the middle of town, you’ll have to fork over to lift a fork… prices are on par with Paris’.

But with great seafood, especially shellfish, and farm-fresh dairy and produce coming in every day, any foodie would be happy here.

One of my favorite autumn dishes in France is poêlée de champignons, pan fried mushrooms, and the one I had here was the best I’ve ever had (prepared with diced foie gras and raspberries).

The beach that initially attracted the Napoleonic dynasty is as much a draw as it has ever been, and with good reason. I’ve seen a lot of beaches in my day… and this was possibly the widest beach I’ve ever visited.

To get from the boardwalk to the sea takes a few minutes’ walk on the beach. It’s famous for its multi-colored umbrellas tied in a specific way in summer.

The beach is packed with sunbathers and swimmers in summer. But in winter when the tourists have gone, the vast beach is practically empty but for a few locals walking dogs and riders exercising their thoroughbreds early in the morning.

In summer, the town brings in not just beach lovers, but also music lovers attending the local jazz festival and boaters visiting for regattas or the local sailing.

In fall, the Paris-Deauville rally brings classic cars to the city, when the streets become overtaken with exquisite vintage autos.

And as I mentioned, this is horse country. The area was long-known for quality horse breeding operations, which led it to be a popular racing town. Deauville is sister cities with Lexington, Kentucky, and Kildare, Ireland, two other global horse centers, with the goal of uniting the cities in their love of thoroughbreds and the horse industry.

The prestigious local studs attract some of the world’s wealthiest and best-known breeders, and the Hippodrome Deauville-La Touques and associated training facility is one of the largest, most famous, and most highly regarded in Europe. Called the “Four Seasons Racetrack,” the track hosts high profile events year-round.

The other local track offers courses for jumping, steeplechase, obstacle courses, and trotting courses—the only multidisciplinary course in Normandy.

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It’s a family-friendly track, offering just as many amenities to the not-so-horse-minded visitor, including an exhibition space, many restaurants and bars, free daycare, pony and donkey rides for kids, carriage and mini-car rentals, and more. Clairefontaine track also hosts theme days, good fun for all.

The local polo club is a hub for entertainment and networking, as well, with tennis and polo matches held year-round.

While the French aren’t avid golfers, there are several golf courses here, all of them very well acclaimed—even a mini-golf course next to the beach.

The main local museum, Les Franciscaines, converted from a former convent, is more a community center than traditional museum, and it’s a hub for local families. Part library, lounge, education center, games venue, kitchen, and much more, it’s always busy with folks of all ages enjoying all it has to offer.

The attached café has a few options for snacks, but the dining room also features cooking appliances of all kinds, that all guests are welcome to use—bring something to toast or microwave and enjoy it in the beautiful atrium.

But despite all the finery and the glitzy events, Deauville somehow manages to feel quaint… not overwhelming or exclusive. Another writer described it as “understated elegance.”

A cute local tradition has most houses ornamenting their rooves with small clay animals, sometimes posed in vignettes: a cat chasing pigeons away, an owl eyeing a mouse.

The Hotel Barrière, the grand hotel that dominates a main square near the beach has a many-gabled roof covered in not just animals, but mermaids, jockeys, and more.

While it’s not very well known to North Americans, Deauville is a wonderful option for a new life in Normandy, offering all the chic and convenience of Paris with a small-town feel.

Bonne route,

The post A Jet-Setter’s Playground On The Parisian Riviera appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

France is a country of superlatives, from the world’s best food and wine, art and fashion to the most beautiful, most romantic city and best overall quality of life on Earth. Most people want to live in France.

France is tops in more practical ways, as well. The country boasts the world’s best health care and some of the most developed infrastructure anywhere.

Indeed, for many, la vie française is the good life defined, and the best news is that it can be more accessible than you might imagine…

Some of the best France has to offer comes free. Picnics in the Luxembourg Gardens, long walks along the Seine, afternoons lost among the cobblestones of the Latin Quarter… these things cost not a sou.

Most museums, including the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, forgo admission fees one day a month.

The Metro will transport you from restaurant to nightclub or from museum to café for less than $2, and even the chicest Parisians don’t mind using it for transport around their city.

Paris is a never-ending feast of gallery openings, special performances, exhibitions, and celebrations, many available for little cost. You can join conversation groups, discussion groups, book clubs, and even cooking classes for free. You can enjoy prix-fixe meals for $25 or less, and you can spend hours in a café, seeing and being seen, for the price of but a single café au lait.

The more practical necessities of life don’t come free, but, again, they are more affordable than you might imagine.

France boasts perhaps the world’s best infrastructure, and it’s a bargain. You can purchase a Cable TV, internet, and phone plan for $50 that allows for free calls to anywhere in Europe and North America.

Public transportation (the Metro, the bus, and the RER train system) are likewise likely less costly than comparable services wherever you’re living now.

Plus,France is remarkably geographically diverse, from sophisticated urban centers to quaint rural villages, sparkling beachside towns, and Alpine mountain settings.

You could settle in Occitanie and embrace the best of country life in the south of France. This region boasts historic and romantic cities and towns, varied outdoor recreation opportunities, and more than 300 sunny days a year.

It’s affordable, too, unlike Provence, its more famous counterpart in the south of France.

You could try out life in Morbihan, a mostly rural department on the southern coast of Brittany—uncharted land for most non-French tourists and residents.

Life here is centered around the Gulf of Morbihan and its endless corners of coastline worthy of exploration.

Morbihan, Brittany, France.

The expat community in Morbihan is small, but if you’re proficient in French, it’s an excellent base for cultured and sophisticated coastal living.

Annecy, a mountain town also known as the Pearl of the French Alps, would make for a phenomenal home base. The centuries-old town is like Disneyland come to life.

Annecy, France.

In summer, life revolves around the crystal-blue lake at the city’s center; in winter, the focus is the snowy Alpine peaks all around. Annecy appeals to nature lovers, museum aficionados, foodies, adrenaline junkies, and fashionistas all at the same time.

Or you could call ground zero of refined Western culture your home by setting yourself up in Paris.

With hundreds of museums and galleries, one of the liveliest café cultures and the most-revered cuisine in the world, plus space to breathe in sprawling parks and woodlands, Paris can be the ultimate retire-overseas dream.

Life in Paris is filled with simple pleasures…

Learn The Language… Or Not

In parts of France with a heavy tourist presence, including Paris, you can count on finding someone who speaks English, meaning you don’t have to learn to speak French if you don’t want to.

A simple “Parlez-vous anglais?” can carry you a long way, and if you’d like to live in this country but have no interest in learning a new language, Paris—where you can also find English-language news services, bookstores, religious associations, and a large English-speaking expat community—is your best bet.

Outside Paris and in more rural settings, it’s less likely that waiters, shopkeepers, and the tellers in the local bank will speak English, meaning that, to make the most of French country life, you’ll want to make the effort to learn at least conversational French.

World’s Best Public Transportation

As with learning French, whether or not you’ll need to invest in owning a car will be determined by where you settle. The best way to get around Paris is on foot.

When your feet give out, you can get on a bus or the Metro or grab a bicycle.

All of these options are available across the city for the cost of a few euro. Having a car in Paris would be an unnecessary expense.

Living in the south of France, on the other hand, you’d want your own car to be able to take advantage of all that this part of the country has to offer.

France’s domestic road network is well maintained, and you can easily connect to other destinations in Europe along the excellent highway system.

Note that gas prices are higher than in the United States, meaning getting around by car can add significantly to your budget.

Also, note that you can drive in France on your home license for one year only. After that, you’ll need to trade it in for a French one, which will require passing the French driving exam.

France also has well-established train systems that make it easy to travel around the country and beyond throughout Europe. The domestic rail, called SNCF, is easy to navigate, affordable, and fast, and fares are reduced by 25% for senior travelers.

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Becoming A Resident Of France

Americans can stay in France for up to 90 days as a tourist. No visa or permit is required, and you can travel beyond France anywhere in the Schengen Zone during this period.

To stay in France beyond the tourist window, you’ll need to prove you can support yourself financially, taking the minimum wage (which varies region to region) as the guiding amount for how much income you’ll need to show to qualify for residency. In addition, you’ll need to show proof of health insurance.

The important thing to understand is that you must begin the residency process from your home country. If you haven’t, you’ll be required to leave France, go back home, then return to France after you’ve obtained the appropriate stamp in your passport.

This process provides you with a one-year, long-stay visa. You can extend that long-stay visa with the local authorities in France, assuming you still meet the requirements. If you do, you’ll be granted a carte de séjour, which is permanent resident status.

Taxes In France

France has a famously complex system of taxation. Residents of France are taxed on worldwide income, while non-residents are taxed on locally earned income only.

While figuring French tax can be complicated, the amount of tax you’re likely to end up paying in total between taxes paid to France and taxes paid to the United States should be roughly the same as what you’re paying in tax now, thanks to the tax treaty in place between the two countries, which eliminates the risk of double taxation.

In addition, in France, you’ll pay taxes to the central government only; there are no state or county taxes. If you’re moving to France as a couple or a family, you’ll be able to take advantage of tax reductions.

Health Care

The health care in France is among the world’s best. Even better, it can be possible to access this top-notch health care free.

That said, you’ll need to show proof of insurance when applying for a long-stay visa and to keep this insurance for the first five years of living in France.

After this, you can apply to take part in the public system. To qualify, you’ll need to be employed in France, self-employed and making the necessary contributions, or of retirement age.

Remember, The French Invented The Word Bureaucracy

Bureaucracy by any other name would still be French. This country loves its red tape, which can cause headaches for newcomers unfamiliar with the system. You’ll need the proper paperwork with the right stamps to get anything done.

Another frustrating aspect to life in France is that this country is not entrepreneur-friendly. This is no place to start a business.

Many expats also complain about the rigid public-school system, taking issue with the very particular way the French educate their children.

Education in France is perhaps the highest quality in the world, but it may not be palatable for kids or parents used to more liberal teaching methods.

Finally, it can be difficult to integrate with the local community. The French have a reputation for being rude. In fact, they’re extremely well-mannered and will respond best if you are, too.

Until next time,

The post Where To Find The Best Overall Quality Of Life On Earth appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Cordon Bleu pastry chef, Frédéric Hoël, held up two handfuls of dough, one that you could have mistaken for a neatly folded (albeit miniature) sheet in a linen store… the other more closely resembled a half-deflated air mattress that someone tried to fold before it was fully emptied.

“This is good,” he proclaimed, holding the neat stack up high.

“This is bad,” hoisting up the messy pile. “It will not work.” He shook his head darkly.

We giggled nervously and looked around at one another… who among us 12 or so novices had created the failure dough? Who was the phenom? Only time would tell.

Learning as an adult can be hard… humbling, even.

My pastry-making class at the Cordon Bleu here in Paris was a good reminder that no beginner is ever good at anything. And before you become good at something, the learning process is a challenge all itself.

Living overseas, there’s a learning curve that can’t be denied, and it’s compounded by all the other things you have to learn at the same time—as you plan your move you have to learn about residency options, tax consequences, health care and insurance availability…

And then once you arrive you also likely have to learn a new language, how to get around in your new home, become familiar with a new culture, be taught how to properly eat a new cuisine… and so much more that you won’t even guess at before arriving.

Plus, there’s just the simple fact that learning later in life is… uncomfortable, at least, if not more difficult. You’re not used to being “bad” at things once you’re an accomplished adult. You’re not used to being a beginner anymore.

And, frankly, it’s not the best feeling to be the underdog… to always feel like you’re behind, trying to catch up.

But it does pass—as long as you put in a consistent effort—and bit by bit, you realize you are getting better… that you’re no longer the newbie… that you’re becoming more and more comfortable.

This is true of anything new that we start to do routinely, be it a sport, an art form, a cooking technique, a computer program, a new remote control, a new route to work… etc.

I’ve recently adopted a new life motto: Get comfortable being uncomfortable. 

So much of what we don’t like in life is simply discomfort. We become used to our routines, our friends, our home, our favorite foods, our way of life… and once we do, we don’t like to try new things.

Because it wouldn’t be as easy… it would be uncomfortable. (Hence the proverbial comfort zone.)

In the fitness world, this is called “plateauing.” You do the same workout so much that your body no longer sees it as a workout—it’s no longer a challenge, it’s just an everyday activity. Your body takes it in stride and you cease to gain muscle or lose weight, maybe even put some more back on.

To overcome this inevitable pitfall, any good fitness trainer knows you need to change things regularly.

Which doesn’t feel good.

You have to push your body to do something it doesn’t usually do, so it feels awkward, it hurts, it burns, your joints pop, breathing is difficult… and none of that is desirable in itself.

More than anything, though, it’s just uncomfortable. Because a week later, your body is used to it and you don’t feel the way you did that first day.

You’ve become comfortable being uncomfortable.

Moving to Europe will certainly have you uncomfortable plenty of the time—but that’s the whole point of your live-overseas fantasy, isn’t it?

To no longer eat the same foods every day, take the same street home…

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What pushed you to make this leap is the excitement of meeting new people, trying new things, and be challenged by a new way of life—to stop living on autopilot.

Moving to Europe, you are as literally as possible getting out of your comfort zone.

So don’t fret that it takes time to adapt and integrate… to figure out exactly which part of town you want to live in… which local delicacy to relish (and which, perhaps, to avoid)…

In the beginning, anything new you do is uncomfortable—including living overseas—you just have to keep at it. (Like me making disastrous croissants…)

I’m not saying that learning can’t be fun and rewarding, it should always be both of those things. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t challenging… and a challenge is by definition uncomfortable.

When it comes to moving to Europe, there’s no shortage of things to learn and be taught, and while it can be uncomfortable, perhaps even overwhelming, there are some things you can do to give yourself a head start, things we talk about here regularly: ask for referrals, do your own research and due diligence, visit in person at all times of year, rent before you buy, etc.

But the ultimate way to streamline the process is to learn in person. If you’re planning a move to Europe, the best thing you can do to educate yourself is to hire a tutor.

To learn from someone who has the time to explain everything in full detail and to whom you can ask all your questions as they arise—or, even better, many someones…

Those who are professional experts in their fields in your new home…

And those who have come before you—expats who have already been through the ringer…

Which is exactly what we deliver and our Live And Invest Conferences and this week’s France Virtual Conference is no exception. It’s happening online this Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24 and 25. You’ll find all the details here.

I’m excited to be connecting with our team of in-country experts to share all that life in this Old World great has to offer.

I’ll be dialing in from my home in Paris. I hope you can join in the fun from wherever in the world you are and look forward to connecting with you online on Thursday.

Bonne route,

The post Expat Life Lessons appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

The question we’re considering together in these dispatches isn’t should you improve your circumstances by moving to a new country?

That’s the given.

The question I’m forever trying to help you answer is where in this big beautiful world of ours should you go?

Let’s regroup in that context by considering the world map big picture.

Do you want to live in Asia?

Europe?

The Americas?

The process of elimination becomes important. Your challenge is greatly reduced if you’re able to remove whole portions of the globe from your list.

So let’s break this down…

Asia

Asia boasts a number of the most cost-friendly places anywhere to call home right now. Pockets of Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines can be absurdly cheap.

Living on this side of the planet, you’d also have access to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Your life would be filled with the exotic, the unexpected, and the adventuresome.

White Beach, Boracay, The Philippines.

That is to say, the culture shock would be significant. For some, this reality is thrilling. For others, terrifying.

Used to be that many foreign retirees in Asia didn’t legalize their status. Historically—in some cases because it seemed easier and in others because formal residency programs weren’t an option—expats in this part of the world lived lives built around the border run. They’d leave the country where they were living but not legally resident briefly then return with a renewed tourist visa.

I’ve never recommended the approach. It’s insecure and risky. It can also be costly—paying for all that traveling back and forth across a border—sometimes more costly than the process of establishing legal residency. Definitely, border running comes with a greater hassle factor than I’m up for.

Today the strategy is also not really possible. More and more countries, including across Asia, are cracking down on the practice. The good news is that more countries in Asia now offer formal legal residency options.

The biggest practical downside to choosing Asia is geography. Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, etc., are literally on the other side of the world. You’re not hopping back and forth between your new home in Asia and your old one in North America for your grandkids’ birthdays.

It can make sense to approach Asia not as a full-time choice but as part of a retire-overseas plan that allows you to enjoy the benefits of Asia (super cheap and super exotic) part-time.

How about a couple of months in Da Lat, Vietnam, or Chiang Mai, Thailand, where your retirement budget would stretch far indeed, followed by a few months in, say, France?

Europe

Which brings us to Europe. Many who dream of a new life in Europe dismiss it out of hand for fear it’s beyond their budget. This is not necessarily the case.

Sure, a retiree with a modest nest egg might not be able to afford Paris but have you considered southwestern France, where life is quintessentially French but also surprisingly affordable?

We’ll look specifically at your most affordable options across France during our Live And Invest In France Conference taking place later this week. This is a live but virtual event meaning no plane ticket, no luggage, and no jet lag. If Europe is your dream, take a look here now for how to join us online for these two potentially life-changing days.

One of the biggest upsides of Europe compared with other regional new-life-overseas options is the opportunity it affords for what might be referred to as “high culture.”

Every country in the world has culture, no question, but not everywhere has world-class museums, opera, and live theater. If you’re interested in a life that includes cultural offerings of that variety, you should be looking to the Continent.

Which is not to say it’s impossible to enjoy an Old World Continental lifestyle anywhere else.

The Americas

Some cities in South America offer a fair imitation—Buenos Aires, and Medellín, Colombia, to name two. Both are cities of open-air cafés, museums, theaters, art galleries, and antique shops.

And both, you’ll note, are in South America, not Central America. The differences between these two regions can be striking.

I’m speaking generally and could name exceptions to every point, but, again, generally speaking, South America offers what I’d call more polished options and can be a good place to look if what you want is culture on the cheap.

Central America, by contrast, is, most everywhere, rough around the edges. These are small, developing countries with non-existent budgets for things like art museums.

The standout exception is Panama, which increasingly competes at a more international level in all regards, including when it comes to things like culture and entertainment. We’ll show you up close and in person just how impressively real-world life in Panama can be during our Live And Invest In Panama Conference taking place in Panama City Jan. 20-22.

There are big-deal reasons we named Boquete, Panama, as the world’s best place to live or retire overseas in 2026… and it’s important to note that this country is also the world’s safest haven, the best place in the world to invest in property or start a business right now.

We’ll dig into it all during our January in-person event with the help of my entire in-Panama team.

Until next time,

The post How To Choose Where To Go appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

With its cool, spring-like climate, natural beauty, and friendly community, it’s easy to see why so many expats choose to call the mountain town of El Valle de Antón (El Valle for short), in Panama’s Coclé province, home.

Moving overseas—particularly to a small town like El Valle, located around 80 miles from Panama City—requires careful planning and adjustment. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate the basics of setting up life in this hidden gem.

1. Finding A Place To Live

El Valle offers a range of housing options, from rental homes to properties for purchase.

Renting: We recommend you test the waters before committing to a property purchase. Many rental homes come fully furnished, making this a great choice while you decide if El Valle de Antón is right for you.

Buying Property: If you decide that this is the place for you, purchasing property can be an excellent investment. Hiring a reliable real estate agent is essential, as they can help navigate the buying process and ensure all legal requirements are met.

Utilities: Electricity, water, and internet are widely available, but it’s important to be prepared for occasional power outages or water shortages, particularly in the dry season due to the winds. Many residents install backup systems like water tanks or generators to mitigate these disruptions.

2. Navigating Legal Residency

Panama offers several visa programs specifically designed for retirees and foreign investors. Hire a lawyer who specializes in immigration to help you gather the necessary paperwork, file your application, and navigate the Panamanian legal system.

Pensionado Visa: One of the most popular residency options is the Pensionado Visa, which is available to retirees who can demonstrate a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 per month. This visa comes with a range of benefits, including discounts on travel, health care, and entertainment.

Friendly Nations Visa: For non-retirees, Panama’s Friendly Nations Visa is available to citizens of over 50 countries and provides a pathway to permanent residency. To qualify, you’ll need to establish economic ties to Panama, like starting a business or purchasing real estate.

3. Health Care

While El Valle de Antón has a few small clinics, you’ll want to travel to larger cities like Coronado or Panama City for major medical services.

Health Insurance: Private health insurance provides access to Panama’s best hospitals and doctors. These are generally affordable depending on age, coverage, and pre-existing conditions.

Medical Care In El Valle: For basic health care needs, El Valle has a small clinic that handles routine check-ups and minor emergencies. There are also several private doctors in the area that can make house calls.

4. Learning The Local Language

While English is spoken by some locals in El Valle, learning basic Spanish will go a long way in helping you integrate into the community.

Language Classes: Several language schools and tutors in El Valle offer Spanish lessons catering to all levels, from beginners to more advanced speakers.

Practice with Locals: Engaging with locals at markets, shops, and community events provides excellent opportunities to practice Spanish.

5. Setting Up Banking

While it’s possible to keep your foreign account, having a Panamanian account simplifies paying bills and managing local expenses.

Choosing a Bank: Popular banks for expats include Banco General, Banco Nacional de Panamá, and Global Bank.

Documentation: Opening a bank account requires certain documentation, including proof of identity (passport), proof of residence, and possibly a reference letter from your home bank. Requirements vary by institution, so it’s a good idea to visit a few banks to compare their services.

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6. Getting Around Town

El Valle de Antón is a small town, you don’t need a car to get around. Walking or biking is a great way to explore the area and enjoy the scenery. However, a car is convenient to travel to the surrounding areas.

Public Transportation: El Valle is connected to Panama City and nearby towns via a somewhat reliable bus system. Buses are frequent, inexpensive, and a good way to travel to and from the capital.

Driving: Expats with a valid foreign driver’s license can legally drive in Panama for up to 90 days. After that, you’ll need to obtain a Panamanian driver’s license, which requires passing a medical exam and exchanging your foreign license at the local transit office.

7. Integrating Into The Community

One of the greatest benefits of living in El Valle is its strong sense of community, both among locals and expats.

Expat Networks: The expat community in El Valle is welcoming and active. Many expats host social gatherings, from casual meetups to organized events.

There are also several expat clubs focused on specific interests, like gardening and hiking.

Local Events: El Valle is home to a variety of cultural events, from artisan markets to festivals celebrating local traditions. Attending these events is a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture and support the community.

8. Embracing The El Valle Lifestyle

Living in El Valle de Antón offers a peaceful, relaxed lifestyle. The town’s natural surroundings, mild climate, and slower pace of life provide a welcome contrast to the hustle and bustle of urban living.

Outdoor Activities: This is a nature lover’s paradise. From hiking trails and waterfalls to birdwatching and exploring the local wildlife, there’s no shortage of outdoor activities to enjoy. The town’s lush greenery and cool climate make it perfect for year-round outdoor adventures.

Living With Nature: One of the unique aspects of life in El Valle is its proximity to nature. Many homes are surrounded by gardens and tropical plants, and it’s common to see exotic birds and animals in your own backyard.

Sincerely, 
Adriana Valdez E.
Contributor, Panama Letter

The post A Low-Key, Mountain Town Escape appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Luxury is not the same as jet set.

Living a jet-set life, you’d expect limos and private planes, an entourage and connections that’d get you jumped to the front of every queue.

Luxury is something else.

For me, for a place to qualify as luxury, it must provide access to four- and five-star restaurants with wine lists to match…

It should have boutiques offering internationally recognized brand-name indulgences…

Live theater plus movie cinemas showing first-run and foreign flicks…

An artist community…

Affordable help around the house and a private driver if you want one…

To-your-door delivery services for groceries, restaurants, and anything else that occurs to you…

Specialty food shops and wine stores offering good vintages from around the world…

English-language bookstores…

Spa and salon services…

You get the idea.

In addition, for me, to be considered luxury, a place must offer more than these commercial trappings. It should be historic… which translates to interesting, especially architecturally.

Places developed carefully over time feature parks and squares and plazas… so you can walk and wander while enjoying the passing show.

Finally, for me, a luxury experience requires elements of charm and romance.

Who wouldn’t want a life that could be described that way?

The question is where can you not only find that lifestyle but also afford it?

Hands down, no contest, in my book, the best place in the world to seek out a lifestyle of this description is Paris, France.

Whatever your idea of the high life, you can find it in the City of Light and one of the great things about Paris is that some of the best it has to offer comes free.

The sweetest pleasures of life are here for the taking…

Picnics in the Luxembourg Gardens, long walks along the Seine, afternoons lost among the cobblestones of the Latin Quarter…

These things cost not a sou.

Most museums, including the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, forgo admission fees one day a month, and the Métro will transport you from restaurant and café to museum and nightclub for less than €2.55 and even the chicest Parisians don’t mind using it for transport around their city.

Paris is a never-ending feast of openings, performances, exhibitions, and celebrations, many available for little cost. You can join conversation groups, book clubs, and cooking classes. You can enjoy prix-fixe meals for €20 or less, and you can spend hours in a café, seeing and being seen, for the price of but a single café au lait.

The more practical necessities of life don’t come free in Paris, but they are more affordable than you might imagine. France boasts some of the world’s best infrastructure, and it’s a bargain.

For the past 19 years, my husband and I have been living part of the year in Panama and part of the year in Paris. Before this we were in Paris full-time.

About a month before we decided to begin dividing our time, Lief presented me with a budget showing that our cost of living in Panama City would be more or less on par with what it had been in Paris. I suggested that my husband the accountant double-check his figures.

Upon closer inspection, we found that Lief was correct. His ciphering predicted that our day-to-day cost of living would be the same in Panama as it had been in France.

Our experience over the past decade has proven Lief right. For us, Paris is no more costly than Panama.

How could that be?

After more than 40 years covering this beat, I’m reluctant to speak of budgets. They’re so variable and so personal and can be controlled and manipulated. Plus, the longer you live in a place the better you get at living in that place efficiently.

But here goes…

A car is an unnecessary liability in Paris. We spent four years in Paris when our children were young happily auto-free and since we’ve been back part-time we’ve not once thought of investing in a car. We don’t need one.

The butcher, the baker, the grocer, and the wine shop are all less than 15 minutes’ walk from our apartment, as are the Tuileries Gardens, the Louvre, the Latin Quarter, six movie theaters, and at least a dozen cafés and restaurants. When we want to venture beyond our quartier, we duck into the nearest Métro station or take out our phone to hail a ride courtesy of Uber or G7.

Other practical things in Paris can be cheap, too, including telephone, cable, and Internet. Our service from Orange includes phone, cable, and Internet and allows unlimited free calls anytime to anywhere in North America, the Caribbean, and Europe. The cost is €42.99 per month.

You could get by in Panama City without a car. Uber is cheap. But one of the best things about living in Panama City is escaping it for a weekend at the beach or in the mountains, both as little as two hours away.

You can rent a car every time you want to explore the interior, as Panamanians refer to the entire rest of their country outside Panama City, but eventually I’d say you’ll want to invest in a vehicle of your own. That means monthly insurance, gas, and maintenance expenses, plus parking and maybe a driver. I drove myself around this town our first couple of years living here but that was all I could take. Panamanian drivers terrify me.

Our phone, cable, and Internet package in Panama City costs $90 per month, not including international phone calls, which, again, are free with our package in Paris.

In Paris, we pay for heat six months a year. In Panama City, we pay for air conditioning year-round. Electricity is relatively expensive in Panama.

In Paris, Lief and I spend €200 a week on groceries. In Panama City, it’s $250 a week. You could spend half that or less to eat in Panama. I admit we shop indulgently. We frequent the big U.S.-style grocery store Riba Smith rather than the more local and cheaper Super 99. We buy steaks imported from the States, wine from France, and butter from Ireland because those items are available and we’re willing to pay a premium for them… except when we’re not.

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My point is that, based on my experience over the past two-and-a-half decades calling it home, living in Paris isn’t as expensive as you might fear.

Oh… and taxes? They might be another reason you’re tempted to take France off your list. Au contraire, dear reader, again, the reality is that your tax burden in France would be no greater than your tax burden in Panama the tax haven.

How can that be you might again be wondering? It’s thanks to the bee’s knees of tax treaties that exists between the United States and France. I’ve got a guy who can explain it to you in detail.

For me, life in Paris is as good as life gets. If money is no object and you appreciate the Continental lifestyle, you should have this city at the top of your list.

If Paris is your dream and your budget is fixed, still, take a close look before you write off the world’s most beautiful, most romantic, most luxurious place to be.

If you can afford Panama, I’d bet you can afford Paris.

Until next time, 

The post The Price Of Paris Versus Panama City appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

My favorite thing to do anywhere in the world is to take a walk, but Paris takes taking a walk to a next level. 

When our children were young, we had an office in the 8th arrondissement on rue du Chevalier de Saint-George, near Madeleine. Our apartment is in the 7th arrondissement, behind the Musee d’Orsay… 

The walk from one to the other—my daily commute for years—takes you across the river…

Through the Gardens of the Tuileries…

And down rue de Rivoli…

If I were to rate all the walks in all the world, this one would be #1. No other scene anywhere compares with what we humans have managed to create for ourselves across these several blocks in the heart of Paris.

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I reacquainted myself with the journey this weekend for the best possible reason… lunch with my daughter and granddaughter beneath the brilliant Paris sun…

Santé!

Until next time,

The post In Photos: A Perfect Day In Paris appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Aisha Niang is an expat living in Panama City, Panama. She was born in the Big Apple, and at age 46 quit her career as a utility director. Two years later, she moved to the Isthmus.

She also has cerebral palsy. This is just another fact, one that hasn’t stopped her from traveling to 27 countries (and counting!). Aisha has a dream of being awarded a Guinness World Record for a person with a disability traveling to every country in the world.

She has Senegalese, Jamaican, and Panamanian descent. Of this, she says, “I actually want to be an international spy… I’m working on getting different passports.” 

With such a varied background and innate wanderlust, how come she decided to settle in Panama?

“Every time I visited Panama, I just felt comfortable here,” says Aisha. “It felt like home.” Aisha’s grandmother is Panamanian, born in 1911, and she is the first person in her family to return to these roots.

For her, the country’s use of the U.S. dollar is convenient, and checked one of her boxes. It’s the currency she’s used to, and didn’t want to spend time calculating exchange rates.

Panama is also an international hub, which didn’t hurt. As she loves to travel, she can get to almost everywhere from the Hub of the Americas.

As a U.S.-born citizen, the visa process was easy. At the time of her move, the Friendly Nations visa rules hadn’t changed to include a $200,000 investment requirement, and she just paid a $5,000 visa fee.

If you’re thinking about moving to a specific country that has favorable visa options for you, don’t spend too much time dwelling on your decision. She recommends jumping ship sooner rather than later, as visa rules and fees can change at any time. Think too hard and you might just miss the chance.

“I love that Panama has so many different cultures,” she adds about what helped her made the decision to move here. “I also love living in a place where people vacation.” She used to run away to Panama to escape the hustle and bustle… so she decided to make it her permanent home.

Aisha feels happier and more relaxed here. She attributes part of it to quitting her job, but it helps that the culture in Panama is much more laidback, which rubbed off on her.

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“I feel like I can breathe… like I can just take my time. I used to be so concerned about being on time and rushing everywhere. Now I’m just like, I will get there when I get there (but I’m still on time).”

The truth is that she just doesn’t feel that pressure anymore. It’s part of the Panamanian culture she has embraced. The feeling of belonging that she gets here is unmatched.

Aisha has also let go of being a “control freak.” She lives by the saying “This is Panama,” which to her means that sometimes things just happen here, like struggling to open your bank account because they require you to sign exactly like your passport signature of eight years ago. That’s just Panama.

Becoming a healthier version of herself has also only brought positivity into her life. She feels healthier physically, mentally, and emotionally. In Panama’s health care system, she feels more like a human, not just a cog in the machine, like it can often feel in the States.

“At every appointment I’ve had in Panama, the doctors have sat down with me for about 20 to 30 minutes just to learn about me and listen to me. Learn about my history, my habits, to get an understanding of who they are trying to treat. Even the dentist. The dentist! Imagine that.”

Even though she is from New York City and was living in Houston, Texas, before moving, by relocating to Panama her lifestyle upgraded, and it happened with less money than she was spending back in the United States.

She’s now living in Avenida Balboa, which is one of Panama City’s most high-end and coveted addresses. She wakes up with the sun, not an alarm clock. She has direct ocean views, something that she couldn’t have afforded in Houston.

Aisha feels safer in Panama. Even though you have to exercise a degree of caution anywhere, she doesn’t feel like she has to look over her shoulder here.

For Aisha, it’s a beautiful feeling.

Sincerely,

The post A Move Overseas And A Lifestyle Upgrade appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

Panama’s local cuisine can be described as a fusion of Latin American, Afro-Caribbean, and Indigenous traditions. But what Panamanians eat day to day shows a globalized food culture.

Foreign dishes are not made just occasionally… they have become staples in households, restaurants, and gatherings throughout the country. Whether it’s Chinese dim sum breakfasts in the city or Venezuelan arepas sold on street corners, these foods that used to be “foreign” are now a part of Panama’s everyday life.

These are some of the most regarded non-local cuisines and dishes that Panamanians have embraced as their own…

1. Dim Sum Chinese Breakfast

Ask a local what they’re doing on Sunday morning and chances are you’ll hear, “Vamos pa’l desayuno chino.” Chinese breakfast, especially dim sum, is a weekly ritual for thousands of Panamanians. This is a tradition that’s mostly practiced in the city. People from the interior do not often recognize Chinese breakfast as a staple, unless they spend a lot of time in Panama City.

Introduced by the Cantonese immigrant community that began arriving in the 19th century, dim sum (known locally as “desayuno chino”) has grown from a niche offering in Chinatown to a nationwide institution. Panama City alone has dozens of restaurants offering a full dim sum menu including shrimp dumplings, pork buns, siu mai, and rice noodle rolls, often served from rolling carts in bustling dining halls.

Far from being a luxury or novelty, dim sum can be affordable and familiar. This depends on which restaurant you buy from though, as adding many menu items can quickly rack up the bill. For an affordable taste of dim sum, the small convenience stores or chinitos often sell siu mai for cheap. You can also buy frozen dim sum mix varieties at the supermarkets to make it at home.

Families gather around lazy Susans, slurping tea and sharing stories over dumplings in the same way they might over sancocho. For many Panamanians, Chinese food is simply local food.

2. Spaghetti And Italian Pastas

Italian cuisine is deeply woven into Panamanian daily meals, especially pasta. Though Panama never had a large wave of Italian immigration like Argentina or the United States, pasta became a pantry staple thanks to its convenience, affordability, and ability to pair well with local ingredients like tomato, ground beef, and local spices.

“Espagueti con carne molida” (spaghetti with ground beef) is a go-to weekday meal across the country. Versions with canned tuna, tomato sauce, or white sauces are also common in school cafeterias and home kitchens alike. I actually cook espagueti con carne molida at least once a week, because it’s an easy, quick, and convenient meal.

Growing up, this was also a staple item in my parents’ household. Variations included pasta with stewed chicken in tomato sauce, with the occasional change of sauce or protein like pasta with shrimp in a creamy sauce.

In fact, it’s not uncommon to find pasta served alongside arroz con pollo or even plátano maduro at fondas (local eateries) or gatherings… an unapologetic carb overload that’s become culturally normalized.

3. Pizza

What was once considered a foreign Italian or “gringo” food has become deeply embedded in the fabric of Panamanian takeout and party culture.

Pizza is everywhere… from Domino’s and Papa John’s to homegrown pizzerias that serve slices with local twists like ropa vieja (shredded beef), chorizo tableño (smoked pork sausage), or even tajadas (slices of fried plantains) on top. You can also find several pizzerias run by Italians trying to stick to the traditional preparation methods of this dish.

4. Shawarma And Middle Eastern Cuisine

The Lebanese and Palestinian communities in Panama have contributed significantly to the culinary scene, most notably through shawarma. What began as a dish served in Arab-owned restaurants has become a late-night staple for partygoers and street food lovers across the country.

Panamanian shawarma often features seasoned chicken or beef wrapped in pita with garlic sauce, pickled vegetables, and spicy sauces. Some local vendors even offer a Caribbean twist by adding hot sauce, plantains, or coleslaw. You’ll find shawarma trucks lined up outside clubs in Casco Viejo and university campuses.

Tabbouleh, hummus, and falafel are also increasingly familiar to the average Panamanian, often served as part of casual lunches or mezze-style meals at home.

5. Mexican Cuisine

While Central America has its own native corn-based dishes, the Mexican versions like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas have exploded in popularity, especially in urban areas. Taco bars and casual Mexican eateries now rival burger joints for the attention of younger diners.

What’s notable is how Panamanians have localized these dishes. You’ll often find tacos topped with Caribbean-style slaw, chimichurri, or ají chombo (chili peppers). Mexican hot sauces share shelf space with local favorites like La Picon and D’Elidas in most kitchens.

I prefer to prepare Mexican dishes at home, because although tacos are a cheap and delicious food in Mexico, Mexican restaurants charge a premium in Panama. Surprisingly, it ends up being kind of expensive to go out to eat Mexican food here.

6. Sushi And Asian Fusion Plates

Though still considered a bit more upscale, sushi has found a solid footing in Panama’s dining landscape. What started as a high-end or niche experience has filtered down to more casual chains and supermarket offerings.

Of course, many of the rolls are adapted to local palates. Expect to find rolls filled with cooked shrimp, cream cheese, plantain, or fried fish, often topped with sweet sauces. Sashimi and nigiri remain less common, but “Panama-style sushi” is popular enough to feature at office lunches, birthday dinners, and even catered events.

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7. Arepas And Venezuelan/Colombian Influences

Due to significant migration from Venezuela and Colombia, dishes like arepas (cornmeal cakes), empanadas venezolanas (cornmeal pastries), and bandeja paisa (a loaded platter of meats and sides) are now part of Panama’s daily dining culture. Arepa stands and small home-run operations are now common, particularly in Panama City.

The endless debate is which arepa is the best: Venezuelan or Colombian? I think they’re both enjoyable and worth eating.

While some Panamanians still see these dishes as “foreign,” many now enjoy them regularly, especially at breakfast or as street food. Some locals even mix and match, serving arepas with Panamanian-style chorizo or queso blanco (white cheese).

8. French Bread And European-Style Baked Goods

The humble baguette has quietly become a staple in Panamanian kitchens, found in every corner store and supermarket. Known locally as “pan francés,” it’s used for sandwiches, toast, or just as a side with butter and coffee.

European-style pastries like croissants, éclairs, and quiches have also gained ground thanks to a rise in artisanal bakeries across Panama City and beach towns like Coronado and Boquete. Many of these bakeries are run by European expats or Panamanians trained abroad.

A Melting Pot Of Cultures And Cuisines

The food culture in the country is a mirror of its diverse population, open economy, and constant merging of people and ideas. In some countries, foreign dishes often remain niche or elite, but in Panama, we adopt and adapt global flavors into our everyday lives.

Catch me eating arepas for breakfast, tacos for lunch, snacking on toasted French bread, going to dim sum on a Sunday… as well as enjoying some hojaldres (fried dough) with stewed sausages, rice, beans, and meat, and drinking chicheme (a traditional, sweet, corn-based beverage). All in the span of the same week.

They’re all part of the Panamanian identity.

Sincerely,

The post Dim Sum And Then Some appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

I lived in Panama for seven years before moving to France.

I love life in Paris but there are plenty of things about life in Latin America that I miss.

If you’re still debating which side of the pond is right for you, maybe these pros and cons will help you decide…

The Laid-Back Attitude Of Latin America

After the rigor of France, being in easygoing Latin America can feel like a breath of fresh air. No one there is too worried about anything, no one moves fast or demands much from anyone else.

And Latinos love kids, which is a boon for my young family.

On the other hand, this often translates into a lack of respect for your fellow people. Whether it’s being late for an appointment or causing a traffic jam because you wanted to have a chat in the middle of the road, you can see how being so relaxed about everything in life can have a negative impact on others.

One of my pet peeves in our modern age is people who use their phones with the sound on in public. This happens all over the world, of course, but in Europe, a pointed glare from across the room is enough to shame anyone into hastily silencing their device (in most cases).

In Panama (and many other places I visit), everywhere I go people are taking calls on speaker, watching loud videos without headphones, or playing games with the volume all the way up… and if anyone notices a glare, they don’t respond to it.

I like that in Europe there are rules and everyone follows them…

Queues form naturally and if someone tries to cut, everyone will point out their mistake. Traffic moves swiftly, even in congestion, because everyone knows how to behave on the road to make sure everyone gets where they need to go in a timely manner. Meeting times are respected. Noise nuisances are rare.

I also like that people respect their environment as much as those in it. No one litters, roads are well maintained, facades regularly repainted, and parking rigorously enforced.

These are things that are often lacking in Latin America.

Panama Versus France: The International Twist On Cuisine

It’s hard to scorn French food, but if there’s one word you’d have to apply to it, it’d be Traditional, with a capital T.

Innovation isn’t high on the list of things the French value, and while I love the consistency and dependability of a Parisian brasserie, I feel like a bit of a rube when I visit other places with more inventive takes on my old favorites.

Chefs in Latin America are all about pushing the boundaries and experimenting with local flavors, often blending them into classic recipes for a delightful burst of flavor that you weren’t expecting. They often train abroad and gain work experience in other countries, then bring all that skill to bear back home.

I met one such Panamanian chef who’s worked in one of the official Best Restaurants in the World in Manhattan before returning to work at Lo Que Hay, which made the list of 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America a couple of years ago, and was the hottest new restaurant in Casco Viejo last I visited.

Unfortunately, they don’t take reservations and when we tried to get in, the place was already packed. We wandered over to Tántalo instead, a popular rooftop nightclub and restaurant that my husband and I used to frequent back in the day. We were blown away by the tuna tartare, which featured apple instead of avocado, and played with passionfruit and cilantro instead of relying on the classic soy and sesame flavors.

Still, there’s something to be said for the reliable old French basics. I love that I know when autumn comes, onion soup is guaranteed on every menu. When things warm up outside, it’s carpaccio and tartars that take center stage. You can predict French menus like you can predict the weather in Panama.

Speaking of…

The Seasons

I love the variety that seasons offer…

I love that I need to check the forecast every day in Paris to know what the day will hold. I missed wearing boots and sweaters when I lived in Panama, and I relish the cold now that I have it back.

Tuileries Garden in the Fall…

In Latin America, at least around the equator, there are no seasons to speak of. Moreover, the sun rises and sets at about the same time every day no matter the time of year.

I love waking up with the sun at 6 a.m. or thereabouts, and starting the day off with an enthusiastic bang. Seeing the clear blue sky as soon as I get out of bed is like a jolt of energy.

When I lived in Panama City, I’d take my dog out for a run before the sun got too hot, hit the gym, go for a quick swim to cool down, make a smoothie with fresh tropical fruits and coconut water, then head to work by 8 a.m.

Panama City’s Cinta Costera

The downside is that the sun also sets before 7 p.m. every day, which can be a drag when you depend on daylight for motivation. It’s hard to want to go out again after getting back from work in the dark. But I love that it winds me down naturally for the day.

In northern Europe, the sun rises after 8 a.m. and sets before 5 p.m. in winter… In summer, the sun rises early like in Panama, but stays out until well after 10 p.m. European daylight hours can be inconvenient, to say the least.

With the consistent sunshine you can expect on the equator, you never really need to plan ahead for the weather. Every day is perfect for the pool or the beach, with minor blips of monsoon level rain to add to the spice of life in the tropics. I had a nice tan for nearly a decade, which was fun.

Panama Versus France: The Business Culture

This one depends on the location you’re talking about in Latin America, but when it comes to Panama City, there’s a much more modern business mentality than anywhere in Europe…

And this is true of most capital cities south of the border, as well as most other densely populated cities. It’s only in the small towns and fishing villages that you’ll encounter the “mañana attitude” that North Americans associate with this part of the world.

When I say business culture, it comes down to things like opening and closing hours, a more consumerist mentality, and even the ability to start or manage a business.

Europe is far less evolved on the topic of anything commercial than anywhere on the far side of the Atlantic. Businesses don’t typically open until 10 a.m., close for lunch (at least an hour, if not two), and close by six, eight at the latest. Few things open on weekends. Laws inevitably favor employees over employers, and the taxes associated with running a business can be prohibitive.

I was shocked that many businesses open at 7 in the morning in Panama and close at 8 p.m. at the earliest. Hours are consistent six days a week, and while you can’t count on things being open on Sunday, it’s becoming more of a norm.

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Panama Versus France: Which Is For You?

This is obviously a subjective question… all of the above-mentioned issues could be a pro or a con… or both… depending on your preferences, priorities, and perspective.

Do you like the idea of an anything-goes culture? Or are you a rule follower by nature?

If you like order and calm, then Europe is more your speed. If you like chaos and unpredictability, Latin America will be more your speed.

Do you prefer stability and reliability over spontaneity and experimentation? When it comes to the weather, Latin America is more dependable, but when it comes to maintenance of the status quo, Europe is the winner.

If you like that feeling of off-road discovery and a no-taboos Wild West feeling, it’s Latin America.

If you like walking a well-paved road that’s clean and orderly—both metaphorically and literally—it’s Europe.

And, of course, these are grand generalizations. There are places on both continents that defy all these stereotypes, and places where they are true to varying degrees… I’ve tried to outline the extremes of the spectrum.

Which is for you?

If you think it might be Europe, why not join me later this week for our France Virtual Conference—taking place online this Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24 and 25—where we’ll take a deep dive into all the pros and cons of life in this Old World great.

Book your spot to join me at this live, two-day event and you’ll gain access to expert advice from French residency attorneys, tax pros, real estate insiders, and long-time expats; Q&A sessions for answering your most pressing questions; downloadable tools, reports, and checklists; plus, lifetime access to it all via click-and-play on-demand video.

Book your spot to join me at the France Virtual Conference today and you’ll lock in a $100 discount.

Looking forward to connecting with you online this Thursday…

Bonne route,

The post France Versus Panama appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

I first came to Paris in 2004 and finished high school in one of the city’s bilingual schools…

And that was that.

I had fallen in love and was smitten for life.

In the interim years, I moved around a bit, always with the intention of eventually moving back to Paris. 

In 2018, a full decade after my first stint here, I finally got the chance.

My husband and I, plus our dog and cat, all hopped the Atlantic and settled into Paname (the local nickname for Paris).

Eight years on, we’ve had two daughters here, survived Covid, invested in real estate and agriculture in Europe, pursued residency and citizenship, and created a life here that we intend to build on for decades to come.

Having lived here previously, I have the unique perspective of having seen Paris change over the last two decades. As much as Parisians like things to stay the same, things have indeed changed—and, in many ways, these changes have made the city more accessible to foreigners.

As my husband likes to say, “America is inevitable.” American culture has been exported around the world, and Paris—as much as locals would vehemently deny it—has embraced it as strongly as anywhere else in the world.

Back in 2006, when Nicolas Sarkozy was running for president, he made the tabloids for jogging… they called him an American puppet, running around in pointless circles just like Americans like to.

No self-respecting French person would have jogged back then. Today, though, you’re likely to be run off park paths by the hordes of joggers that run at all hours of the day.

When I lived here as a teen, there could be no greater humiliation than being seen in public in a baseball cap, in shorts, in sneakers, or any kind of loungewear.

These days, most women wear tennis shoes to work with dresses, skirts, and suits… Baseball caps are more of a fashion statement than a sports statement… and you’ll see plenty of folks on the streets in yoga or sportswear as they make their way to a class or a gym.

Gyms, incidentally, were a rarity back then—there was but one chain with a few locations in the city. Nowadays, there are just as many choices as you’d expect in any U.S. city.

When eating out, you’d be looked at like an alien if you asked to take your leftovers to go, and there was no infrastructure to provide you with a to-go box or bag. Partially, this is due to how people eat here—portions served are reasonable, meant to be finished in a sitting. Since Covid, though, takeout food and delivery services have flourished, and now any café is ready to wrap up whatever can’t be finished.

All these little concessions to American culture may seem insignificant, but they add up. My husband had far less culture shock after moving in 2018 than he did when he came to visit in 2008.

That’s not to say moving here will be a seamless transition from North America… there are still plenty of things that you’ll need to adjust to…

If you’ve ever fantasized about a life in Paris, I can tell you that it’s not only possible to live here—as a working family, as a student, as a retiree, or anything in between—but that life here won’t disappoint on that fantasy.

Paris is a working city. People make fun of Parisians and their never-ending routine with the joke motto: metro, boulot, dodo (metro, work, sleep). And depending on where you live, this routine can be a bedrock of life. If you settle in a working district, or even just in a building that’s mostly commercial with a couple residential units, you’ll see the pattern of this daily grind.

But Parisians work to live—it’s cliché but it’s true. Parisians go to work late, they take a leisurely lunch, often with wine, they end the day early, and they enjoy their evenings with friends and family. Their work hours are regulated by a law that mandates a mere 35 working hours per week.

Shops stay closed on Sundays, often work only partial Saturdays, if at all. School holidays take place every six weeks (for two full weeks), and the entire country closes down for the month of August when everyone takes vacation.

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And all of this in a major world city.

It doesn’t matter to a Frenchie if they can make extra money working during “off” hours or that to be closed for lunch is somehow unprofessional in our modern world… they prefer their personal time to extra cash.

Non-working hours are truly sacred to the French. And that’s one of the things I love most about living here—I love that they value work less than personal time and that this idea is reinforced at all levels of society.

All that said, it’s important to really scope out a neighborhood before making any commitment, because the feeling of each quartier is unique and you might not get a real sense of it until you’ve spent a couple of full days and nights.

Generalized descriptions of an entire arrondissement won’t mean much when it comes to a particular area or even a specific street or building. You’ll only be able to truly know a place by spending time there yourself.

It was important to me to find a neighborhood that felt residential—one that felt like a community. In a more working part of the arrondissement, most of the population commutes in for work and is out by 7 p.m., and there’s a feeling of exodus. No sense of permanence, like you could get to know your neighbors and become a known regular at the café. I took care to make sure the part of town we settled in is residential—perhaps a little too much so at times.

Think Paris sounds like the city for you?

If you’re a city person at heart but still appreciate a more traditional, less streamlined way of life…

If you want to go to the opera one night and a local produce market the next morning…

If you love being active and walking everyday…

If you never tire of museums, architecture, and history…

If you live for a spontaneous café lunch… 

If you want to easily make expat friends after arriving…

If you want to hop around Europe, exploring every country on the Continent…

If any of the above sound like you, then Paris might be your Shangri-La.

Whether you’re retired, working, raising a family, or are just a kid, Paris’ lifestyle will suit.

Between the food and the wine, the museums and the monuments, it’s easy to fall in love with Paris at first sight. But if you think you can stomach all the little quirks and annoyances, too, the love might last a lifetime…

Bonne route,

The post The Truth About Expat Life In Paris appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

The tiny finger of land that pokes out from Panama City’s southeastern corner and into the Pacific Ocean is San Felipe—better known to most as Casco Viejo, Casco Antiguo, or, simply, Casco.

This is Panama City’s historic district, full of centuries-old cathedrals, buildings with crumbling pastel façades, and narrow, cobblestoned streets. It is—by all accounts—the capital’s most lovely neighborhood.

Casco is laid out in grid format like a classic European city. Every few blocks, you’ll find a tree lined plaza or the spire of a cathedral, all of which casts an Old World charm over the place.

At only four avenues wide, the neighborhood is small and compact; a tiny treasure trove of historical structures best explored on foot. But despite all the visual reminders of the past, it’s also constantly evolving…

It boasts boutiques and art galleries, charming cafés and rooftop bars, and a huge range of dining options, from white tablecloth to street food on plastic tables.  

Some have called it the Soho of Latin America because of this eclectic mix. Casco also has a slightly gritty side… While restoration has nipped and tucked many of its buildings, there are still pockets of dilapidation here and there. The decaying buildings and graffitied walls give the place an edge and attract artists and bohemian types.

Vibrant cultural events take place in Casco constantly. On a given day, you might encounter an impromptu street concert or pop-up artisan market… Shows are regularly on at Anita Villalaz Theatre… Gastronomic events like “Diner en Blanc” take place against the backdrop of ancient ruins…

A pickup baseball game might be taking place on one of its beaches… A photography exhibition could be on around the corner… In a city where you can struggle to find something to do, Casco is surprisingly active. You only need to walk its streets to find out what’s going on.

Casco Viejo (Spanish for “old quarter”) was quite literally born from the ashes… The original Panama City, now known as Panama Viejo, was founded on Aug. 15, 1519, but its existence was short-lived. It suffered a vicious pirate attack carried out by Henry Morgan just 152 years later and was burnt to the ground.

Antonio Fernández de Córdoba, a Spanish nobleman, initiated the construction of a new city in 1672. It would be built on a peninsula with a defensive system wall for better protection against future attacks… On Jan. 21, 1673, Casco Viejo was founded.

Today, many of the buildings you find in Casco Viejo are Panama City’s first. They stand as testaments to the various phases of history that Panama passed through, with Spanish-colonial, French, Caribbean, and even Art Deco influences…

Expats are attracted to Casco Viejo by the beauty, culture, entertainment options, and history… Not many places in the world offer the chance to live within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The area is home to a small population of expats, mostly from Canada, the United States, Australia, Spain, Colombia, and Venezuela. It’s the social center for all of Panama City’s expats, too, so you’d encounter other foreigners on a daily basis here.

Casco expats pay top dollar for their slice of historical significance. This is Panama’s top neighborhood for tourism, so everything from rent to meals at restaurants to goods and services is more expensive here.

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Rent is always going to be the big-ticket item in this part of town. Where the average two-bedroom apartment rental in most parts of Panama City costs $1,050 a month, the cost in Casco Viejo is as much as $1,800 a month.

Many of Casco’s restaurants qualify as fine dining; this is reflected not only in the quality of the food but in the prices, too. An average meal for two at a high-end restaurant, including an appetizer, drinks, two mains, and dessert, can come to between $60 and $70.

English is widely spoken in Panama and especially in Casco Viejo—the epicenter of its tourism industry. Even with zero knowledge of Spanish, you won’t have problems being understood in Casco’s restaurants, cafés, stores, and so on.

To smooth travels and successful property buys,

The post In Photos: Panama City’s Prettiest Neighborhood appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

This story unfolds on the West Coast of Northern Cyprus, where Larry and Mary returned to see the progress of their frontline Mediterranean apartment…

They purchased their pre-construction unit and began building last year.

Now, what had started as a vision shared through architectural plans, digital renders, Zoom meetings, and email conversations has started to become a real home by the sea.

This is when building a property overseas stops feeling abstract…

The West Coast: A Different Side Of Northern Cyprus

Before visiting the apartment, Larry and Mary stopped at the sales office, overlooking both the coastline and the wider project area.

From that first view, they were reminded instantly of why they chose this stretch of coastline for their new home over all the others the world has to offer. And they aren’t the only ones—this is increasingly a highly sought-after region for expats and investors from across the globe.

The landscape here is open, quiet, and unspoiled. Unlike heavily developed Mediterranean havens where the coastline has already become crowded and expensive, this coast still carries a sense of natural calm. The sea, the breeze, the slower pace, and the panoramic ocean views create an atmosphere that you just can’t get through photos alone—you have to see it to believe it.

Cyprus offers Mediterranean beauty… but with a more accessible lifestyle and property market compared to many coastal regions in Spain, Portugal, Southern France, or Italy.

From Floorplans To A Real Mediterranean Home

As Larry and Mary looked toward their apartment, their excitement was clear.

At the start, a property purchase like this exists only as a floorplan…

Months later, standing in front of the building turns that paper dream into a reality. Their apartment had finally reached a stage where their future home could be imagined in real life.

And it’s clear even at this stage of the construction: a beachfront apartment here offers more than a gorgeous view. It creates a routine shaped by morning walks along the coastline, fresh Mediterranean air, access to wellness-focused spaces, and a calmer rhythm that has disappeared in busier cities.

Life By The Sea

The apartment’s location is closely connected to one of the project’s most important lifestyle features: a specialized wellness center. Positioned just steps from the sea, the concept is designed around long-term comfort, wellbeing, movement, relaxation, and quality of life.

The center supports a day-to-day lifestyle where health and wellness facilities, assisted home care, coastal walks, sea views, and resort-style amenities are just part of life, not something to be figured out or sought from afar. 

Northern Cyprus’ West Coast offers a peaceful, wide-open way of experiencing the Mediterranean, with a calm, laid-back rhythm that you just don’t get any more from the traditional Med hotspots. Here, life revolves around morning beach strolls, ocean views, and a closer connection to nature. Time slows down here… life is more balanced.

Why Move To Cyprus?

Moving to Cyprus (or anywhere) always starts with the same list of practical questions: 

• Cost of living 
• Property value 
• Health care access 
• Climate
• Community 
• Residency options
• Long-term lifestyle quality 

And Northern Cyprus answers each of these questions with a combination of affordability, classic Mediterranean lifestyle, and a rapidly appreciating international property market.

Relocating across the Atlantic might seem like a major logistical challenge—and it’s certainly not one to be taken for granted—but traveling from the U.S. to Northern Cyprus is remarkably straightforward. With seamless, top-tier connections via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, reaching this Mediterranean paradise is both easy and comfortable.

In established coastal markets, a modern sea-view apartment with resort facilities and on-site wellness amenities would demand an entry price of at least double the average in Northern Cyprus—if not more.

But here, selected coastal regions still offer a window of opportunity…

Buyers can secure homes close to the Mediterranean—or directly on it—while the area continues to develop… that is to say, before prices mature.

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A Region Shaped By Nature, History, And Slower Living

After touring their apartment, Larry and Mary relaxed and refreshed themselves at a nearby restaurant, just down the beach from their soon-to-be new home.

Sipping a cocktail on the beach, the conversation naturally moved beyond property and investment, and the island itself became part of the story…

Cyprus carries a deep cultural history shaped by ancient civilizations, archaeological sites, coastal settlements, and centuries of Mediterranean influence.

This history adds depth to everyday life. The island is not just a sunny location… it’s a place with character, history, memory, and cultural richness influenced by all the major civilizations of this region.

Property Values On The West Coast Of Northern Cyprus

One of the strongest reasons international buyers are paying attention to the West Coast is the balance between lifestyle and value.

In major Mediterranean destinations, beachfront property with modern amenities has become increasingly costly. Prices in many parts of Spain, Portugal, Southern France, and Italy have moved beyond the reach of many lifestyle investors.

Northern Cyprus offers a different picture. Modern resort-style developments, sea views, wellness facilities, and walking-distance access to the coastline are still affordable.

But it won’t last forever…  as international awareness grows, Cyprus’ market will appreciate.

In other words, buying here right now is not just a lifestyle decision but a promising long-term investment.

The quality of life and potential capital appreciation make a purchase here an easy decision, and as infrastructure, demand, and international recognition develop, prices will only rise.

More Than A Beachfront Apartment

Larry and Mary’s visit illustrates how the decision to buy here is never based on one factor alone…

The apartment matters, but so does the coastline…

The view matters, but so does the feeling of the region…

The investment value matters, but so does the idea of waking up to a fantasy-scape as you look out your window to the new life you’ve adopted…

With wellness and medical care at the heart of the project, this property does something unique in blending home, leisure, and wellness—all just steps from the ocean. 

This combination appeals to so many for different reasons. Be you a retiree, lifestyle buyer, remote professional, or investor, there’s something here to appeal.

Cyprus’ West Coast In 2026

The West Coast of the island is especially suited to buyers who want a quieter alternative to more developed Mediterranean towns, while still having access to modern property standards and resort-style facilities.

This isn’t just changing your address… This is choosing a slower pace, a wide-open landscape, and an unbroken connection to the sea.

Larry and Mary’s return to the West Coast was more than a construction visit. It was a reminder of why they fell in love with this island in the first place.

The opportunity here is not only to purchase property, it’s about securing a beachfront place in the Mediterranean region before it becomes fully discovered.

Bonne route,

The post Larry & Mary’s Mediterranean Dream Getaway ($110K!) appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

For anyone moving abroad, an area’s walkability is more than a nice perk. It is now—more than ever—an important factor in choosing where to live.

When you can walk to a café in the morning, go to a nearby grocery store, and meet friends for dinner nearby, all without a car, or just enjoy daily life on foot, it can exponentially change how a place feels.

For retirees, walkability means greater independence, especially over the long term. For younger families and remote workers, it can create a strong sense of community and healthier day-to-day life.

But Panama has a multitude of lifestyles in one little country, so walkability in each city, town, and neighborhood offers different things. A walkable neighborhood in Panama City is not the same as a walkable beach community or mountain town. Choosing your destination will depend on your priorities.

Panama remains a mostly car-dependent country, and you’ll need to consider your daily routines and needs. In many cases, sidewalks are not available or properly built, making it difficult for someone with mobility issues or families with strollers to use them. The humidity and heat in most of Panama can make you detest walking, and some communities that at first may appear walkable are actually very spread out.

All this said, Panama still has several areas where you can (mostly) manage without a car.

These are some of the best walkable communities in Panama for expats that seek convenience, closeness, and a small-town feel…

El Cangrejo, Panama City

One of our favorite neighborhoods in Panama City and home to the Live And Invest Overseas HQ, is El Cangrejo.

A fan favorite among locals and expats, El Cangrejo is located in the heart of Panama City. This is a neighborhood for those who want to access the city’s conveniences without feeling trapped in a corporate environment.

This area has tree-lined streets, mostly mid-rise apartment buildings, cafés, bakeries, and small shops… giving the opportunity for residents to walk naturally. Most of the capital is car-oriented, but El Cangrejo prioritizes the pedestrian. Sidewalks are continuous and spacious, daily necessities are close together, and the density creates a vivid and active environment.

In El Cangrejo you will find pharmacies, gyms, coffee shops, convenience stores, restaurants, bars, salons, pet stores, clinics, and more all just in the same street or a few blocks from each other. By living here, you also have close access to the Metro system, which makes it possible to easily move around different parts of the city without driving.

The social aspect of the neighborhood is a big draw for people. It blends local Panamanian life with an international feel… you can notice by walking around that there is an interesting mix of cultures and lifestyles. Remote workers will enjoy the reliable internet, endless options for co-working settings, and easy access to services, compared to other popular but isolated destinations.

While living in El Cangrejo has plenty of pros, cons do exist. When you do want to use a car, traffic congestion can be intense. Noise levels can vary by street, but overall, it can be a noisy area. It’s still in Panama City, so walking can become difficult when it rains or humidity makes being outside unbearable.

Even with the tradeoffs, expats seeking a city lifestyle where having a car can be optional instead of necessary will find that El Cangrejo is a strong contender for where to set base.

Boquete, Chiriquí

Nestled in the highlands of the Chiriquí province, Boquete offers a community-oriented lifestyle in a compact mountain town center. You won’t find dense urban infrastructure… it’s more about the ease of daily life.

It’s home to some 25,000 people, over a fifth of whom are expats primarily from the U.S. and Canada, but a good number of Europeans, too. Living here you’ll never want for English-speaking company.

Boquete has a cooler climate than most regions of Panama, and this changes the walkability game immensely. Its springlike temperatures make walking a truly pleasant experience throughout most of the days, most of the year. Residents in town can stroll between cafés, restaurants, markets, and small shops while enjoying the surrounding mountains views and greenery.

Downtown Boquete is relatively small, allowing to run daily errands on foot. You can find restaurants, pharmacies, banks, grocery stores, and local markets concentrated within a manageable walking distance. The town regularly hosts farmers markets and community events that also encourage pedestrian activity and social interaction.

Boquete is perhaps the world’s best-known expat haven. The social component of life in Boquete has a big part in that. Residents are part of clubs, volunteer organizations, language exchanges, hiking groups, and more… and all these activities create opportunities to remain social without having to travel far.

This is an outdoor enthusiast paradise. Besides walking to get around daily life, walking here is also recreation. You can enjoy hiking trails, riverside paths, and mountain excursions, something that can’t be replicated in urban communities.

Boquete has its limitations. Downtown might be manageable on foot, but many homes and neighborhoods, especially those popular with expats, are located in the hills that surround the town. These are steep areas and can be all the way from 10 to 30 minutes away by car.

Basic health care is available in town, with various clinics and English-speaking doctors. But you’ll need to travel to David, about 40 minutes away, for the major hospital and specialists.

The large influx of expats and tourists have also risen prices. Boquete is no longer an ultra-cheap mountain destination, and housing prices have increased along with its popularity. Compared to prices in North America, it’s still a bargain for the lifestyle that it provides. Expats who are established here feel strongly that the quality of life, climate, and community justifies the higher costs.

If you’re someone seeking nature, comfort, and social connection, Boquete is one of the most appealing walkable communities in Panama.

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Pedasí, Los Santos

Pedasí offers one of Panama’s most appealing coastal lifestyles that is still walkable. If you dream of relaxed beach living, this might be the place for you.

Found in the Azuero Peninsula, this town has evolved over the past decade from a quiet fishing town into one of Panama’s best lifestyle destinations. Even though it’s growing in popularity, the town has preserved its laid-back character and small community feel.

When you enter Pedasí, the highway becomes the main street. It’s lined with row houses not typically found in Panama making for a tranquil, beautiful, and rather unique town.

Pedasi’s walkability comes from its compact scale. This is not a town built around gated communities and highways. The town center has a traditional plaza at its center, with restaurants, cafés, bakeries, small grocery stores, and local businesses located within a relatively short distance of one another.

You come here for a slow-paced life. Residents will walk or bike through town, and gather in the cafés, restaurants, and bars. You may even see some locals still traveling by horseback from time to time.

Another attractive feature of Pedasí beyond walkability is the beaches, of course. Surfing, fishing, whale watching, and island excursions are some of the activities that shape how you live here.

The social environment of Pedasí is more intimate and community oriented. You will start recognizing faces quickly and relationships can develop naturally because of shared routines and local events.

But while the center of town is walkable, some beaches and residential areas still require a vehicle. This is also a place where health care access is more limited than in the city or a town like Boquete. There is a small regional public hospital, but for major care you need to return to Chitré, or, better, to the private hospitals in Panama City. You could also drive to David in Chiriquí and receive care in one of the private hospitals there like Hospital Chiriquí or Centro Médico Mae Lewis.

Pedasí is a treasure in the raw for those who have fantasies of living on a tropical beach and can deal with the lack of infrastructure. The price you pay for seclusion and perfection is that it has not yet been entirely dragged into the 21st century.

But it seems that it is the carefree, tranquil life what most people love about living here.

Sincerely,

The post These Are Some Of Panama’s Most Walkable Communities appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.

For me and Belize, it was love at first sight.

From the first morning I arrived in Belize City, nearly 40 years ago, climbed down from the plane onto the runway, threw my backpack over my shoulder, pulled on my sunglasses, and walked across the tarmac in the direction of the country’s one-room international airport, I was smitten.

It was nothing I could put my finger on. Just a feeling. Like falling in love. You know it when it hits.

Belize City could be described as the Calcutta of the Caribbean. That description is not undeserved, but it refers not to Belize but to Belize City and not to the heart and soul of this country but to some parts of the town where, unfortunately, its international airport is located.

Infatuated as I was by the experience of being in Belize, even I, young and naïve as I was, recognized that Belize City wasn’t a place to hang out. This hasn’t changed in the decades since, but it didn’t matter to me then and it isn’t the point now.

What won me over from that first visit was the raw, natural beauty of the place, the simple, sweet charm of life here, and the resilience of the Belizean people. I connected straightaway.

On that first visit, I met a handful of Belize expats with whom I’d developed friendships I treasure. Visit by visit, in the years to follow, they helped me to get to know this country founded by pirates, for pirates, where independence and free thinking are prized above all else.

These are qualities that I, too, value a great deal. Instinctively, putting my feet on the ground in this country for the first time, I knew that Belize and I were made for each other.

Belize is the quirkiest place I know. Belize City’s roadways are built around a system of roundabouts (thanks to her British colonizers), but shops alongside them sell rice, beans, and tortillas ground by hand.

Everyone you meet speaks English (it’s the country’s official language), but this belies the stories of their origins.

The 400,000 people populating Belize today are descendants of migrants from Britain, yes, but also and more so the surrounding Central American countries. You’ve got Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, and Nicaraguans mixing with current-day generations of the Maya who originally inhabited this land, the pirates who came later, the Mennonite farmers who began arriving on the scene in the 16th century, the British who ruled until 1981, and each other.

Belize is a country of freedom-seekers. The pirates came to ply their pirate trading out of view. The Mennonites came from Germany and the Netherlands so they could be Mennonites without anyone bothering them. The British came so they could bank in private. And the folks from the surrounding countries who’ve sought out Belize in recent decades typically have made their way across this country’s borders in search of safety.

Today, now, a new population of freedom-seekers is finding its way to these shores:

Us.

Belize is a nation of independent thinkers and doers, a country where you make your own way and where, while you’re doing it, no one thwarts your efforts.

Including the Belizean government. This is a poor country. The government doesn’t have enough money to get up to any real trouble. And, if they tried, Belizeans wouldn’t allow it. The focus here is on local-level government—addressing the crime problems in certain neighborhoods of Belize City or trying to dissuade the Guatemalan banditos who occasionally wander into Belize in search of a couple of good horses to steal.

Check Your Worries At The Border

Arriving in Belize, stepping off the plane, and making your way to the one-room arrivals hall of the airport, you have a sense still today, just as I did 40 years ago touching down in Belize for the first time, of leaving the rest of the world behind. Belize and her people operate according to their own rules and mind their own business. The troubles, uncertainties, and worries that seem all-consuming Stateside and elsewhere in the world fade here. You’re faced with a land that remains a frontier, undeveloped and oozing potential.

Belize is one more thing—one of the world’s most user-friendly options for establishing foreign residency. You can just show up.

Where The H#&% Is Belize?

Belize has been attracting expats in the know from the U.K., the United States, and Canada for decades. Still, many would have trouble pinpointing the country on a map and a lot of folks think it’s an island.

It’s not, of course, though it features a handful of Caribbean islands offshore Belize City.

Shops in the airport sell T-shirts that ask, “Where The H#&% Is Belize?” The good news is that the country is close to the United States and accessible.

Belize is easy to get to, and, once you’re here, it’s easy to get around and do whatever you’d like to do. The country is compact and the language is English.

The Many Faces Of Little Belize

Don’t be fooled by its size. You can get from one end of Belize to the other in a half-day by car or a half-hour by plane. The country’s domestic air travel system is its most developed infrastructure.

Despite this, Belize has many faces.

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Belize City

First is Belize City—poor, underdeveloped, and, in parts, unsafe. I don’t mind the place. Beneath the gritty surface, I detect a long-faded charm. Or maybe I project one. Either way, I enjoy passing through, but I know that, for many, the best part about traveling to Belize City is leaving Belize City.

Caribbean Coasts

Belize is perhaps best known and best loved for its Caribbean islands, especially Ambergris Caye, the largest and most developed, boasting both long beaches of soft, white sand and an established and growing community of expats and foreign retirees. This is the Caribbean at its best.

Belize’s long mainland coast is marked by two points of particular interest. South of Belize City is Placencia; north is Corozal.

Placencia has grown up in recent years to become the mainland’s best-appointed beach town, catering to tourists and now sporting the trappings that come with them. Corozal boasts easy access to Chetumal, across the bay in Mexico, which can be a big advantage in case of medical emergency. On the other hand, day-to-day, you might feel remote here. Maybe that’s a plus for you… maybe a minus.

The northern coast around Corozal sees about 50 inches of rain a year. The southern coast, Placencia and south, can see three times that much. Maybe that bothers you… maybe it doesn’t.

Cayo

Inland is the Cayo District, a dramatically different region where life revolves around not the sea but the river. For some, river views don’t substitute for ocean vistas; others prefer them.

In other words, each region of Belize has its pluses and its minuses. Island living is always more expensive than life back on the mainland, meaning Ambergris is the most expensive lifestyle choice in the country. Most expensive and also most developed and turn-key.

Cayo offers an opportunity to enjoy a healthy, fulfilling, back-to-basics, and self-sufficient lifestyle, thanks to its abundance of fertile land, water, and sunshine year-round. Cayo is also Belize’s most affordable lifestyle choice.

Infrastructure

The British left great legal, educational, and governmental foundations in Belize but not much in the way of physical infrastructure.

Considerable investment has been made in recent years to improve this country’s roads and bridges. Still, though, to put things into perspective for you, Belize has just a handful of highways.

The most significant artery in the country is the Western Highway, which connects Belize City (the largest city), Belmopan (the capital), and San Ignacio (the largest town in Cayo).

Not only road infrastructure but infrastructure in general is limited in Belize. This is a small country where the infrastructure is most kindly described as “developing.”

No infrastructure, limited services and amenities, and little market demand (meaning limited product supply) could be interpreted as negatives. However, in Belize, particularly in Cayo, these things are a big part of the appeal. Once you get to Cayo, you don’t mind that there’s no infrastructure.

You don’t mind that the culture is more concerned with conservation than consumerism.

You don’t mind… or, if you do, you’re not happy.

If you’re shopping for a lifestyle supported by the diversions and distractions of a big city, Cayo is likely not for you and maybe nowhere else in Belize is either.

I began a love affair with Belize over 30 years ago that has deepened into one of the most important relationships of my life.

I know Belize well, better than anyone else you’re likely to meet. I know the real Belize… and I love her just as she is.

Until next time,

The post Love At First Sight appeared first on Live and Invest Overseas.