On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 undersea, mega-thrust earthquake became the greatest ever to hit Japan. Minutes later another unforeseen event struck: a giant tsunami.

What happens to Panama if the U.S. dollar dies? I have heard this question many times—and with good reason.

After seeing Paris some 25 years ago, New York native Richard Nahem dreamt of making it his home. Although visits to the City of Light kept his dream alive, it wasn’t until 2005 that the chef-caterer packed his bags and crossed the Atlantic to start a new life. “My partner and I sold our apartment in New York for a nice profit, so we were able to live in Paris for about 18 months without working,” says Richard.

It’s been just over a year since I let my lease expire, packed my bags, and took off around the world with my growing business and my small dog.

Wrought-iron spires pierce the sky and ghastly gargoyles gaze down on the tourist throngs. The Czech capital, Prague, is one of the world’s most visited cities, home to historic palaces, theaters, and stately houses.

Most folks know Norway for spectacular fjords, Viking history, and midnight summer sun. And any one of those attractions makes a visit worthwhile. But in the central Trondelag region, famous for its moonshine, you’ll find another national treasure…aquavit.

Wake up and smell the lentils! At the church of St. John the Baptist, a grizzled busker with a guitar is playing a Bob Dylan song. Outside the 15th-century George and Pilgrim Inn, another sidewalk musician plucks a Celtic harp.

If money were no object, what would your dream retirement look like? This fall, we’ll show you where you can easily make that dream your reality…for a lot less than you think.

It may be your lifelong dream to live in Paris, Rome, or London…the grand old cities of Europe with a foot in the past and another firmly in the present.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “If you want something you’ve never had before, you have to do something you’ve never done before.”