adventurouSmama
Canadian looking for information about Belize
Forum posts
1
About me
Canadian
Lives in Hopkins, Stann Creek
Speaks regrettably only English currently
Registration: 18 April 2019
About
Occupation
I am Retired.
My expat journey
Hopkins, Stann Creek, Belize
exploring the land, people, culture, living options.
retired
I liked the people, several of the people in tourism are knowledgeable about their country. It is an eco-minded country. It can be affordable IF you do your research and watch out for local versus tourist pricing on everything.
Easy public transport, provisions available for delivery for established people or groups. Glorious adventures possible, fresh mostly honest and kind people. Good proximity to North America for visiting my family members.
Some roads are questionable, some prices are the same as the US if you aren't careful. Sea fleas and mozzies and sargassum floating on shore (this is from global warming), Local children and mayans in tourist areas selling goods daily in front of restaurants and on beaches?? Everything from donuts to handmade items and some things very high prices. I didnt buy and I didnt like that part, I would rather volunteer and offer to local organizations. Foreign realtors and development driving up pricing ( still reasonable but priced for those with dollars so you get something priced similar to small town USA without the affluent private enterprises ( medical and retail) , county or provincial services available in North America. Some garbage and water problems, A good place but one for those not tied to first world comfort unless they want to buy into a resort type situation.
Porto, Porto, Portugal
to study this city and this country for a possible retirement location
self-employed/retired
fantastic roads, culture, green spaces, people often can locate an English speaker. Affordable housing, transportation ( great public transportation and roads), large grocery stores in even some of the smaller cities with western groceries. Pleasant people, lots of activities. Boat tours, beaches, hill country, next to Spain ( another great location). Mostly a very affordable place.
Lisbon is sprawling and can be crowded for someone who prefers a small town. The water on the beaches of the Atlantic is exceptionally cold due to a stream that runs down her coast making the water colder than French or English water. Not true on the south coast however. Not much i didn't like here. The local food was not to my taste, I preferred the food in Italy then Spain but they do have great grocery stores for making what I would want to eat.
Province of Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy
to study this city and this country for a possible retirement location
self-employed/retired
Italy does not disappoint, I am not a foody but I can say this country has the best food and even just simple food just tastes better. I dont have much taste for fine wine but I can tell you the bottle of young local wine I bought for $3 or $4 euro were very much to my taste. The people of Italy celebrate life and are expressive which I enjoyed ( mostly). I travelled over to Umbria, the Coast near Pisa, over to Sardinia, down to Rome also and there is much to like. My favorite places so far were little towns on the coast not far from Pisa, some hill towns in the mountains, Palestrina ( a hill town a hour outside of Rome..you gotta see this one..lots of surprizing pre-roman history)!!
The drivers of Italy!!! Yelling out the window, honking horns, flashing lights and jockeying for position on the highways going in EXCESS of the speed limit by more that 40 kms per hour. The roads in many places are not in good repair, the signage of course in Italian makes it impossible to avoid a ticket. I drive like a grandmother and I got tickets sent in my email for hundreds of euro with no choice but to pay them ( since of course I want to go back and don't want to be thrown in jail). What were they for you ask? Driving through a signed area without a permit ( no indication of wrong doing, just a hidden camera somewhere)! I even wrote a policeman I met to ask about the ticket..he said to pay it because it would continue to double. Stay out of the way of cars while walking too because they have the right of way and there is no such things as merging!!
I also explored the 'houses for one euro program' most of the places wont return your letters or calls so I just visited. one place asked how long I would be in the country and said come back in almost the same amount of time. Fortunately I met a retired engineer who said to steer clear...he said the bureaucrats that govern these properties will insist you use their contractors, you will get soaked for repairs needed and if you DO use your own repair persons or DIY these same governing bodies will keep you repairin upwards of 100,000 US. He said don't buy anything that needs more than a little paint and still you can find some things for as little as $25,000 because the Italian economy is flat. I wondered if he was a bit conservative in his view and then met another contractor who had come from England to work for a wealthy British person building a mansion in Sardinia...this contractor said the government was suing him for $30,000 for removing a shrub that they deemed needed to stay in the ground. Some of these areas with dollar houses are in areas that have great pollution so steer clear. So nothings is free or cheap in Italy folks other than the great food and amazing views and celebrations. Still have to explore the south some time but the Italians I met said go to Portugal or Greece lol..
North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
film and television, light rapid transit hostler, leadership/criminology education following up with mentorship and coaching development of others
entrepeneur, British Columbia Rapid Transit, Leadership development facilitator ( these things were over a 20 year period
Good, clean, stable, beautiful for my children to grow up. All services and activities as well as good public transit available. Comfortable and safe environment. Amazing nature including mountains and beaches. Lovely waterways for boaters, islands to explore on ferries close by. Close to the US but on a lesser dollar ( although prices are high now)
dark much of the year, traffic and prices have increased expotentially. Long cold, cloudy season ( most of the year in fact). between its position north and the weather it can be a place that seems dark most of the year.
Activity
International Livings seminar, Worth it? by Txsbigfoot
We are planning to retire and move in late spring 2013. Been reading about the fast track conference in Quito sponsored by International Living. Cost 850, flight from Houston 1000, Hotel for 4 nights 400. I am trying to justify this trip for the ...
I know zip about Equador but I concur your own research is the only way to go . Read read read online and then go visit for a month. I go on the cheap, meet locals, stay in local digs ( Airbnb, VRBO, booking.com) , talk to the hosts and cabbies ... Read More