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During high season in Nicaragua, “head for the hills” is the phrase of choice for many expats who live near the beach. Because the beach is where everyone else goes. When the sun is at its hottest, work-weary people from all over the country head for the beautiful waters to refresh, rejuvenate, and party.
In my mind, there's nothing better than watching a sunset in a beautiful location, drink in hand. Fortunately, in my new home of Costa Rica, there's plenty of opportunity to do just that. There's 780 miles of Pacific coast--prime sunset-watching territory, as well as several spots inland that give you a great view.
This life could be yours. Plenty of everyday people are choosing to live on the water full-time—in their retirement, no less. After a bit of training and hands-on experience at home, they're tying up beside mega-yachts in the Mediterranean...finding large floating communities of like-minded expat sailors in the Caribbean...and island hopping in the Gulf of Thailand, heading wherever their fancy takes them.
The classic vision of Costa Rica that you find on postcards and tourism board posters is of the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. The white sand beaches…blue ocean…and the wildlife-filled rain forest as a backdrop.
Most expats who consider moving to Belize dream of living near the Caribbean Sea on a beach. Fortunately for them, Belize offers several beach lifestyle options. Right now, the three most popular beach areas expats settle are Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and the Placencia Peninsula. Here's a quick peek at each of these popular beach retreats... Ambergris Caye is the island that I've called home for the past six years—and I'm not the only one who has discovered its charms.
I'm going to let you in on a secret. There exists a beautiful, small city full of friendly locals, lovely buildings, and interesting parks. Its climate is akin to the southern coast of California with comfortably warm summer days and only an occasional need for a sweatshirt in the winter.
There I was, sipping a lovely white wine from grapes grown within 100 yards of where I stood at a community wine festival. You might think I’d gone off the beaten track to some remote corner of France where timeless traditions still hold sway... but I was in fact, right bang in the middle of one of Paris’ popular tourist areas—the bohemian quarter of Montmartre.
With year-round sunshine, a dazzling array of gorgeous beaches, and lots of modern amenities, Koh Samui makes a great destination for anyone looking for a dream retirement by the sea. You can live well here on a budget of $1,800 to $2,200 a month.
John Sklute, a retired English professor from California, has lived just about everywhere—from sunny Spain to spacious Sweden. So when he says that Berlin has a special something, you know he's done the legwork. John's love for Berlin started when he spent a summer there in 1994 and fell in love with a local. The relationship didn't work out, but John's passion for Berlin never waned.
"Gascony's the real France," Jean-Jacques said. "Everywhere else—it's another country." Jean-Jacques, a local farmer, was leaning from his tractor—behind him, a bright field of sunflowers and the 18th century farmhouse my parents call home. His sun-beaten face squinted down at me. "Gascony is the hidden jewel of France—it's our best kept secret."