Splashing my feet in the salty waves, I gaze out at the blue horizon. The late-afternoon air is pleasantly warm—in the low 80s F—and before me stretches the blue Caribbean. Behind me is the seaside bar where I’ve had a late lunch, the chatter of voices reaching me where I stand in the sand. But—unusual for my beach trips—the chatter is mostly in English.
There’s no question…Barcelona is fabulous. A mild Mediterranean climate; attractive urban beaches; a vibrant cultural scene; lively street ambience; great shopping; and some of the best food in Spain…Barcelona has it all. But—while Barcelona is a great place to visit—not everyone wants to live in a major metropolis. If you like what Barcelona offers but prefer day-to-day life on a smaller, more intimate scale, you have options here.
Seductive and sensuous, an amalgam of cultures, Andalusia gets under your skin. Maybe that’s why so many of Spain’s signature sounds and images come from this vast, southern region of the country: castanets, gypsies, flamenco dancers, bull fighters, strumming guitars…This is romantic Spain…the one the tourists flock to.
In two trips over the course of a year, Gail went to San Jose, Costa Rica, for her dental work, spending two weeks each time. Her total cost for everything, including flights, accommodation and her dental work: $14,000—well under half what she’d been quoted in the U.S. for her dental treatment alone. And the quality was first-rate.
It’s a sunny summer’s day, and a man in a bathing suit is climbing a ladder out of the sea. He clambers onto the cream-colored stone, grabs his towel, and throws it over his shoulders.
Glynna’s Rolodex of Contacts in Malta
Central America’s only English-speaking country, Belize offers a laid-back lifestyle, stunning natural beauty, and plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs. It also offers strong bank-privacy protection.
Arguably Mexico’s best-known Spanish- town, San Miguel has been a top haven for decades. Its cobbled streets are lined with gaily-painted houses, their rooftop gardens bright with bougainvillea.
Although best known for epic mountain scenery and the magnificent remains of the ancient Inca empire, Peru has much more to offer. In this audio debrief IL Editor, Glynna Prentice, reveals what she discovered on her recent scouting trip.
I first visited Arequipa more than 20 years ago. Since then, Peru’s “white city” has lingered in my memory. I vividly recall the taxi drive into town from the airport back then. The day was warm, dry and sunny, and I saw the perfect cone of El Misti rising in the distance. Alone on a vast plain, the volcano dominated the skyline of the city’s Spanish-colonial heart.