The little restaurant wasn’t the fanciest I’ve been in. Sturdy wooden tables and chairs and deep wine tablecloths gave it a “mama’s kitchen” feel. The waitress set a massive plate in front of me with half a dozen pieces of succulent pork, a colorful salad, and a heap of fries…all delicious. I was in Castelo Branco, Portugal having dinner with our IL correspondent there, Tricia Pimental, and her husband Keith.
The place was a local favorite, Tricia told me—a spot I’d never have found on my own. It’s just one reason why having a network of insiders—people who know an area well—is an important tool in any move-overseas kit.
And as an IL subscriber, you’re automatically connected to our on-the-ground insiders who work on your behalf. This month, IL Italy Correspondent Valarie Fortney-Schneider, who has lived there for 10 years and in three different locations, explores the best of affordable Italy…where you can buy your dream home from $58,400.
Over in Southeast Asia, IL Editor Victoria Harmer uncovered Bali’s best beach town: gentle seaside Sanur. She says life there is all about “welcoming neighborhoods, frangipani-scented evenings, and sunset strolls on the beach.” Victoria spent time there with expats Steve and Carolin Dowler, who shared their insights, including how they live on $2,225 a month.
In another white-sand beach location, Bocas del Toro, IL Panama Editor Jessica Ramesch discovered a range of excellent rentals from $400 a month…meaning a Caribbean lifestyle is more affordable than you might imagine.
If you’re looking for year-round sunshine, warm waters, and festivals galore, then you’ll want to join Tricia Mitchell on her tour of all that Malta has to offer. From captivating historic sites to charming communities to stunning natural attractions, Tricia and her husband Shawn spent a year getting to know this little Mediterranean island. And now you can benefit from their insider picks…
And that’s just the beginning of the insights our guys on the ground have ferreted out…read on for more…
I can’t decide if it was the amazing mangrove swamp,the vibrant street scene that made me return to Tamsui, but I’m glad I did From the center of Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei, it’s an easy 40-minute trip to this vibrant suburb—just take the inexpensive and efficient Tamsui–Xinyi train to its northernmost stop. As you exit the station...
I’m sitting in the Pink Seahorse, a hidden beach bar on the tropical island of Roatán, and its Bloody Marys are killer. Seeking insights for an upcoming issue, my mission is to scout out new places for retirees to consider. I have had tougher assignments. I was prepared for just another Caribbean paradise with sandy beaches and the usual...
There are statues of Simón Bolívar throughout Latin America—and, indeed, around the world,” writes IL Roving Latin America Editor Jason Holland.“Known as El Libertador, this statesman, revolutionary, and soldier led the charge to free what is now Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama from Spanish rule in the early 19th century...
The whole trade war/tariff situation is extremely complex. Steel produced in many countries around the world is subsidized by local governments. In other words, over-seas steel manufacturers get special breaks to help them keep costs down. This allows international steel companies to make products cheaply, so they can sell the products in the U.S...
That’s a Monet and there’s a Van Gogh. This other one is very famous, the Card Players by Paul Cezanne…” Ernie Fawcett is in the sitting room of his home in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The paintings that hang on the walls are not the originals, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, but his own copies of early modern art masterpieces...
I love the activity and the people, but mostly I love the natural beauty. I’ve and have a beautiful landscape around my home. And sometimes I just like to sit on the patio and look at all that green,” says Yella Werders of her home in Boquete, Panama. “The birdwatching is extraordinary,” she adds, “and the atmosphere just feels…wholesome...
A typical warm, sunny day in the tropics…it’s a marvel to behold. Postcards can only convey so much. But oh, that first true glimpse of the Caribbean...Stepping onto sparkling white sands surrounded by grass-green palms, the dense rainforest filling the in-between spaces with deeper, darker shades… The sunlight playing on baby-blue waters…the clean...
Marion Seaman first visited Roatán with friends in the early ’80s, with no intention of making it her permanent home. She recalls that it wasn’t long before Roatán worked its magic on her. “A few months after I returned to the States, I walked away from everything, including the love of my life. I went to Roatán with only my suitcase, and a dream to spend my days wiggling my toes in the sand...
Kenny Guinn came to live full-time on the tropical island of Ambergris Caye, Belize, five years ago. “I come from Texas, mainly Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston. I worked in the printing and graphics industry for many years. But I’ve been coming to these parts since I was 18, and have been smitten with the area and people for many years now...
“I came here on vacation and quickly realized this is where I needed to be,” says Kathy Pow. She lives in Cabarete, a small beach town on the Dominican Republic’s north coast. With two international airports nearby, in Puerto Plata and Santiago de los Caballeros, it’s fairly easy to get to and from North America, with many direct flights from the major cities there...