“Do you love art?” It was hot in Malacca and I’m not going to lie: I stepped into that gallery to get under a fan. But the paintings were interesting and the inquiring sales guy was laidback. We talked a while. And, to both of our surprise, I took a chance and bought a painting.
Malacca is for me the most atmospheric city in Malaysia. I was checking out opportunities to rent an old Chinese shophouse and turn it into a bookstore, curio store, restaurant, or other easy-going lifestyle business.
But the painting had me thinking about the “finer things in life” equation. In all the places on our beat, you’ll spend less money to live as well—and often better—than you do at home. Things cost less. So it stands to reason you’ll have more money. More money to travel, to enjoy fine wines, stay in good hotels, take cruises…buy art.
This month you’ll find plenty of proof that a move overseas is a sure way to trade up. You’ll learn about joining one of Penang’s most prestigious colonial-era clubs, complete with waiters in stiff uniforms…unthinkable at what it would cost you in the U.S.
Sixty-eight year old Judith Gold reveals how a move to Bali (a cradle of crafts and art) means she can afford three staff, “one to maintain my pool, one as a gardener, and one to clean my house.”
Want somewhere to hang your art? How about an aristocratic mansion with stone tile floors, frescoed and vaulted ceilings, and modern comforts? The asking price is just $255,900 and it’s in Italy’s hottest emerging expat locale where we’ve uncovered historic properties at bargain prices.
How about your own pied-à-terre on the French Riviera? Paul Murray Elliott explains how he and wife Wendy savor a few months in Nice each year, and it doesn’t break the bank. (Nice boasts more galleries than anywhere in France outside Paris.)
And we tell you the best place to buy amber and semi-precious larimar in the colonial zone of the oldest settlement in the Americas. Our IL Portugal Correspondent brings you a romanticist marvel sitting atop a mountain peak, surrounded by lush pine forests, just 45 minutes from Lisbon
—Eoin Basset, International Executive Editor
The Dominican Republic is best known for its stunning beaches. But this country has a lot more to offer than sand and waves. For the culture vulture, there is no better place to stop than the Colonial Zone in the capital, Santo Domingo—the oldest settlement in all the Americas.
Lisbon, Portugal’s storied capital, has enough museums, historical sites, parks, restaurants, and shopping to keep you busy for days. But some of the most charming (and spectacular) sights this part of the country offers are within an hour of the city.
For years now, Costa Rica has been one of the most popular tourist destinations for North Americans. Nearly a quarter of the country is national park land and pro-tected areas. There are plenty of beaches, too, on both Pacific and Caribbean Coasts.
Good food…good friends…fine wine…beautiful surroundings…pleasant climate…the recipe for a perfect life. The only thing missing is music. The right song can inspire, move your feet, stir up passion in your heart, or bring a tear to your eye. It’s the soundtrack to your new life abroad.
A legendary Latin lover once gave some advice to a younger man. “You cannot make love to every beautiful woman you meet,” he said, “but oh, my son, at least you might try.” I was thinking about this…about love affairs…as I gazed across the rooftops of Casco Viejo, Panama’s historic quarter.
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