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Cancún, Mexico…Cartagena, Colombia…Jacó, Costa Rica…there are certain beach destinations that get all the attention—and a good portion of visitors to their respective countries. Tourism boards focus on these places. The travel magazines highlight them regularly. And, as a result, development follows…often pushing prices up across the board. But as with anything, when you head off… Read more

It’s been years since I’ve had to suffer through a cold winter. I spend the season in my ocean-view condo in Los Cabos. I much prefer the warm sun on my face and crunch of sand underfoot as I stroll on the beach…to a bitter chill and snow-sodden boots. I’m not a snowbird, per se… Read more

Watching the sea can be mesmerizing and exert a calming influence. The waves come in…then recede. Boats trail a foamy wake across the horizon. If you are oriented correctly, sunset every evening is a celebration as the sky is painted a hundred shades of amber, saffron, and vermillion. Or, sunrise becomes the way you greet… Read more

There are 572 million Spanish speakers in the world, of which 477 million are native speakers. Spanish has the second-most native speakers in the world, after Mandarin, and it’s one of the most studied languages. It’s no surprise it’s so common. Centuries of conquest and colonization spread the language throughout the Americas and beyond—even to… Read more

If you’re thinking of buying a dream home overseas, it can often help to hear from people who have already done what you’re thinking of doing. Whether you want to live overseas full time, just want to spend part of the year away from home, or you’re buying as an investment property, you can always… Read more

In a major coastal city, you have the best of both worlds. You have access to big city services and amenities like top-notch shopping, fine dining, entertainment, museums, modern rapid transit, and the like…while enjoying access to beaches, boating, and other seaside activities. You could be lingering over an espresso at a sidewalk café on… Read more

There are a few things everybody “knows” about the Nordic countries, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland: taxes are high, cost of living is expensive, the winters can be brutal… Yet, according to multiple surveys and studies, citizens in these places are among the happiest in the world. Perhaps happiness isn’t the right word. Researchers… Read more

One of my favorite meals in the world happens to be at a Thai restaurant overlooking the beach and the Caribbean in Tulum, on Mexico’s Riviera Maya. To be sure, I love my local street tacos as well. But, yes, Thai food in Mexico. The growth of worldwide transportation networks, ease of travel, and increased… Read more

For many folks, owning a cheap fixer-upper overseas is the dream… …a cottage in the French countryside…a home in an Italian hill town…or a hacienda in one of Latin America’s great colonial cities. However, before you jump in headfirst, keep in mind that the low cost of an old building is often the first indicator… Read more

The Romans called the Mediterranean “Mare Nostrum” (“Our Sea”). And it’s no wonder why. At its height, the Roman Empire encircled it. This vast waterway enabled trade, the interaction of diverse cultures, and the exchange of ideas for millennia. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Western Civilization as we know it today would look… Read more

Sometimes you just want to get away from it all. But rather than a steamy tropical beach, you want cool weather…crisp, clean air…peace and quiet…and panoramic views of natural beauty. A place where the nearest town to buy your groceries or have a meal out is a small village…and limited access makes it hard to… Read more