Curs valutar 11.11.2009

Cursul Zilei
Cursul valutar valabil astazi (11 nov. 2009) a fost stabilit de catre BNR la data de 10 nov 2009.
Vezi lista completa a valutelor!

Valuta	RON	Variatie
EURO (€)	4.2961	0.0007
USD ($)	2.8623	0.0032

International Living in Belize

Nov. 10, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Two days ago I told you about our special report on Belize. But I forgot to mention something important.

You’ll recall our top bargain hunter sniffed out the best places in the country where you can still live the Caribbean dream without spending a fortune. Plus, there are also tax benefits…easy residency options…retiree incentives…and everyone speaks English.

But what I forgot to mention was this: We’ve put together a free 20-minute presentation recorded at our sold-out Live and Invest Overseas Seminar, in which Phil from Florida reveals everything he’s discovered about Belize since he moved there in 2003. He talks about starting a business, the beach lifestyle, the incredible nature, real estate, socializing…in short, Phil answers every Belize question you could have.

As I said, this is a free recording. But today is the last day you can get it. See my full write-up below for details.

Sincerely,

Martina Dunphy
Executive Director, International Living

No Shirt, No Shoes,
No Problem…

This laid-back Caribbean country has a stable, democratic government, offers easy residency, inexpensive properties, no taxes…
and English is the official language.

Dear International Living Reader,

Leave your watch behind because you won’t need it. And toss away your shoes while you’re at it–a bathing suit is the only wardrobe requirement, and even that’s only a suggestion. Spend your afternoon chasing a fish or two or nursing an ice-cold beer, and call that a good day’s work…

There’s a little country in the Caribbean…a new country, in fact, having just gained its independence in 1981. Only about 300,000 people live here…in the entire country!

It’s a place where palm trees sway in rhythm with the gentle waves of clear warm waters caressing soft white sands.

People greet you with a smile and a cheerful “Good Day.” They’re genuinely happy. And why wouldn’t they be? They live in paradise.

They enjoy fresh fruit for breakfast, fresh fish for lunch, and celebrate the end of every blissful day watching the sun set over the Caribbean.

Worries are few. The cost of living is low…less than half what you’d spend in the rest of the Caribbean or the U.S. Property prices, too, are extraordinarily low. In parts of this paradise…virtually unknown to foreigners…you can buy a beach home for as little as $35,000. Even on its most popular ‘upscale’ island, where bargains are hard to come by, a brand-new condo can be had for little more than $100,000.

What’s more, taxes are practically non-existent: 0% income tax on foreign-derived income, 0% capital gains tax, 0% inheritance tax, 0% corporation tax.

All this, plus it’s ridiculously easy to get residency.

Best of all, in addition to being one of the world’s last true tax havens, English is the official language.

Yet amazingly, this country and its benefits remain relatively unknown except to a savvy few.

If You’re Dreaming of Retiring to the Caribbean but Think You Can’t Afford it…Think Belize

The Last Affordable Caribbean Haven

Over the years, the world has started to take notice of little Belize. Celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, movie director Francis Ford Coppola, and singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker have quietly purchased homes there. Many more…like Tiger Woods, Harrison Ford, Nicolas Cage, and Robert DeNiro…regularly vacation on its private islands and exclusive resort hotels.

Madonna fell so in love with the Belizean island of Ambergris Caye and its little town of San Pedro that she wrote a song about it, which she still sings in concert: “Last night I dreamt of San Pedro, tropical island breeze, all of nature wild and free. This is where I long to be, la Isla Bonita…”

But even though celebrities have found Belize, it remains off the typical tourist radar. In fact, celebrities enjoy it for just that reason: there aren’t hordes of tourists around and they can vacation in peace. And that tranquility (and relative obscurity) is exactly what’s kept the country’s charm rating high and its prices low.

We’ve Had Our Eye On Belize

Just to give you an idea of the affordability of Belize: Here’s how much it costs to own properties on these well-known English-speaking Caribbean islands: 1. Bermuda: Average condo price in 2008: $830,000. 2. St. John, United States Virgin Islands: Average condo price in 2008: $634,000. But in Belize, you can still own a luxury condo on Ambergris Caye – the most country’s most popular resort island – for less than $100,000! Read on to find out more…

My name is Martina Dunphy and I’m International Living’s Executive Director.

At International Living, we’ve had our eye on Belize from the beginning…from even before it earned its independence from Great Britain in 1981. In the early years, divers and fishermen were just about the only tourists who visited this little country, which hugs the Caribbean Sea just south of Mexico.

You may remember it from grammar school as British Honduras – and luckily, Belize has retained its English influence. The stable government is based on the British parliamentary system with a legal system modeled on the common law of England. Everyone speaks English and all contracts are written in that language.

Over the years more than a few International Living readers have been living the good life in Belize. Like Jane, from Illinois. She and her husband, a former environmental science professor, were first attracted to Belize by the rainforests and by the high quality of Caribbean water off the coast. (Their grandkids love to snorkel. ) They retired to Belize a few years ago and moved into a two-bedroom home they bought in Santa Rita, near Corozal…for $48,000!

And there’s Bill and Jenny, who bought a parcel of beachfront on the Bay of Corozal, near the town of Copper Bank. They worked together to build Cerros Beach Resort, now up and running with four cabanas for guests, and a full-service restaurant and bar.

“There are no time clocks or wristwatches, no commutes, stress or worries,” Bill says. “We have the opportunity to see animals in their natural habitats, to sit and listen to the birds and the wind blowing, to watch a beautiful sunset…we take full advantage of it all.”

Ann Kuffner first visited Belize in 1999 with her husband, Mike. From that point on, she says, they were hooked. They invested in property in the little town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, where Mike, a contractor, designed and built a home. They haven’t looked back. Now living happily on the island full-time, Ann and Mike keep busy (as busy as they want, anyhow) with several successful business ventures.

“I’m content with my day-to-day life in Belize” says Ann. “I can swim every day or walk the beach with my dogs. We have a full, active social life, and I’m developing skills in new and interesting professional areas. We have made many friends here in San Pedro.”

Belize Fast Facts Despite what you may think, Belize remains a little-visited country. Outside of cruise passengers on day trips, only about 250,000 tourists visit Belize each year…far less than most other Caribbean tourist destinations. (By contrast, each year nearly 4 million tourists visit the Dominican Republic, and 2.16 million travel to Cancun, just a few hours north of Belize.) About half of the tourists who visit Belize go to Ambergris Caye. And that’s exactly why real estate prices are a bit higher there but remain so low in the rest of Belize…

There’s Much More to Belize Than Ambergris Caye…The Country’s Most Popular Tourist Destination

There are many little islands off the coast (at least 200, say tourism officials) and miles of Caribbean coastline that remain undiscovered by most travelers.

And that’s where the real estate bargains are…

We sent veteran writer (and bulldog bargain real estate hunter) Don Ediger to Belize to sniff out some of the places in the country where you can still live the Caribbean dream without spending a fortune…where you can have a champagne lifestyle on a Belikin budget. (Belikin is Belize’s mighty tasty beer…a cold one will set you back just a buck or two, depending on the hoity-toity-ness, or lack thereof, of the establishment.)

Don has compiled his findings in a special Belize insider intelligence report—more than 45 comprehensively detailed pages titled Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less.

If you’re interested in finding your place in the Caribbean sun…but you’d rather not pay typical Caribbean prices…you need to read this report.

As Don writes, “Belize is a country with some of the world’s best sailing, fishing, and diving, not to

About the Author Don Ediger, the author of Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less, first visited Belize (then British Honduras) in 1970, as a young archeology student. Since then, he’s been back many times. “There are several misconceptions about Belize,” Don says. “Many North Americans and Europeans think it’s a primitive Spanish-speaking country with a government that’s as unstable as many others in Central America. What often intrigues first-time visitors is finding out that their misconceptions are false. Belize is a stable English-speaking member of the British Commonwealth with banking laws designed to help foreigners protect their assets.  Foreigners fall in love with the country because of what it has to offer – relatively inexpensive property, friendly people, a tropical climate, a magnificent seacoast, and unparalleled diving, fishing and swimming.”

mention opportunities for visiting Mayan ruins, hiking in the jungle, meeting interesting people, or just relaxing by the beach or on your patio. Moreover, Belize is a beautiful, peaceful nation with a year-around tropical climate and easy access to the U.S., Mexico, other Central American countries, and Caribbean islands.”

But Don digs deep. Not one to just scratch the surface, he gives you every little detail…all the nuances, tips, insider secrets, and every little tidbit that normally slips between the cracks…everything you need to know if you’re considering relocating to Belize.

All This, And One of the World’s Best Retirement Programs, Too!

For instance, you may have heard of Belize’s Qualified Retired Person Program (QRP). (Despite the name, you needn’t be retired.) If you’re at least 45 years old and have a monthly income of at least $2,000 from a pension or annuity (including Social Security) generated outside of Belize, you can qualify. This allows you to bring all your personal goods to Belize tax-free, and pay no Belizean taxes on any foreign-earned income.

Don explains exactly what you need to do to qualify. This is the very latest information from the Belize government. It’s verified and up to date. (That’s important, as much of what you’ll find in an Internet search can be dangerously outdated.)

What’s more, Don tells you how you can become a permanent resident of Belize, which offers you even more advantages, including the ability to work and earn an income there.

I can’t tell you everything that Don has turned up about Belize…as I mentioned, his report is more than 45 pages!

Here’s Some of What You’ll Discover in
Your Belize Insider Intelligence Report

- Location, location, location. You’ll learn about the top spots in Belize for expats…some of which you may have never heard of, including a quiet, tidy town on the ocean (but with all the amenities you need) where you can live…more than comfortably…on less than $2,000 per month.

- Contacts, contact, contacts. From expat organizations in Belize to those people who can help you streamline your move… Don names names and gives contact info, so you’ll have both business and social circles in Belize before you ever leave home.

- How much you can expect to pay for things like telephone, Internet, cable TV, and household help…including a gardener. (Remember, in the tropics, one plant can quickly turn into a jungle…you’ll be happy to have affordable help in your garden!)

- An example of how some expats use a little chicanery (and the black market) to save even more on living expenses.

- Detailed information about real estate in Belize. What the buying process is like…where to go and who to talk to in order to find the best bargains… Like a two-bedroom house for $135,000 and a spacious condo (with a pool) for $149,000 — on popular Ambergris Caye!

As Don says, though, although it’s where most expats want to be, increasing numbers are looking beyond Ambergris Caye for Belize’s true bargains. He found a two-bedroom house on the outskirts of a beach town that’s just now gaining the attention of expats…for just $49,000!

On the southern coast just minutes from the beach, there’s an octagonal house in move-in condition for just $35,000!

And go inland to get even more bang for your buck. In hilly verdant San Ignacio town, Don’s located a three-bedroom home with a tropical veranda overlooking a lush garden filled with fruit trees. Price? Just $49,000!

I’m not making this up. Don gives you the contact info so you can follow up on these (and many more like them) yourself.

Reserve Your Belize Insider Intelligence Report Now…

Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less is the best resource available to help you get to know the Caribbean paradise that is Belize. From finding a property…to obtaining residency. You’ll learn how to invest, travel, live, retire, and start a new business in Belize. With this report as your guide, you’ll save time, money, and hours of frustration…

Keep in mind…this special insider intelligence report is the result of years of travel by Don Ediger and months of follow-up research and consultations with expats in Belize, immigration attorneys, offshore banking experts, real estate agents, and developers. If you were to try to get this information yourself, it would take years and thousands of dollars to compile. I can guarantee you won’t find anything like it on the Internet or in a bookshop.

In fact, I will guarantee it…more about that in a minute.

Try it out, explore everything Belize has to offer… and certainly, make use of the information when you’re in Belize in search of your dream home or investment. With all the pointed information and contact details in this report, you’ll be glad you did.

…AND A SPECIAL BONUS REPORT:
What most people don’t know about Belize but should…

There’s something else you may not know: Belize is one of the best banking and tax havens in the world. Many financial advisors, in fact, believe that Belize is a far better option than better-known tax and private banking havens like Switzerland, Austria, Panama, and the Cayman Islands.

This is something that should be important to you no matter your financial status.

You see, in 1992, Belize officially adopted its International Business Companies Act, the Trusts Act, and the Offshore Banking Act, and became a premier jurisdiction for asset protection trusts. It’s also one of the few trust jurisdictions in the world that offers protection from court action initiated by creditors that might challenge your transfer of property into a trust.

And don’t worry that Belize will cave in to pressure from the IRS…the country has consistently defended its asset protection laws in international courts. In one recent landmark case, “Securities and Exchange Commission v. Fund International,” the Supreme Court of Belize upheld the Trusts Act, and the SEC was stymied in its attempt to acquire confidential trust documents in Belize.

According to financial consultants around the world, this decision sends a clear signal that Belize can be relied on to provide financial services in an environment that is both confidential and capable of protecting assets at a high level.

These are complicated issues, certainly. Obviously, you know it’s in your best interest to protect your hard-earned assets. (If you’ve ever experienced any type of legal action…including divorce…you know what I’m getting at.)

But you may not understand why, especially if you have only limited assets, it makes so much sense to establish an offshore trust, bank account, or company…

We can help. When you reserve our special Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less report, we’ll also send you a special report we’ve created to help you understand the offshore asset protection options offered in Belize.

Called Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits (value $29.97) it’s yours FREE with your copy of Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less.

This report alone can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in the coming years. Global financial advisors believe the window of opportunity will soon close (for U.S. citizens, especially) to move financial assets into offshore vehicles.

Now is the time to act… Our special report, Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits, tells you how. (Yes, you’ll not only get all the information you need to understand these issues, you’ll also get our rolodex of expert contacts who can help you open bank accounts, create trusts, IBCs and more.)

…If you’ve ever wanted to know everything there is to know about Belize…in order to make an informed decision about moving or investing there…act now.

Not Available Anywhere Else

These special reports, created by Belize expert, Don Ediger and the editors of International Living, are not available in bookstores, resource libraries, or anywhere else on the Internet. They are available in an online downloadable form only. That’s how we can keep the information as up-to-date and reliable as possible. It also allows us to get this information in your hands as quickly as possible.

Travel to Belize to obtain all this information yourself and you’d expect to pay $2,000 or more. (The time and efforts of attorneys and other experts who worked to compile this information is worth that much alone.) But when you act now and reserve your copy of Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less you’ll pay just $49. And you’ll also receive our special free bonus report about offshore asset protection options, Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits.

And the best part is that we publish these reports electronically…so they are much more useful, colorful, and interactive than ever before. Plus you’ll have access to them as soon as your order has processed.

Discover Belize Risk-Free

In Belize, there’s a mantra that everyone lives by. It’s an attitude, really, and a direct result of living a no-stress lifestyle. The sun comes up, you play in the water all day…or just sit next to it with your feet up and a cold drink in your hand. And then the sun goes down. The next day you do it all again.

“No shirt, no shoes, no problem.”

I’m so confident that Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…for Less special report will help you realize your dream life in Belize that I’ll offer you this guarantee: If, for any reason, you’re not completely happy with this report, just let us know. You have our 90-day no-hassle money back guarantee…

We’ll refund your $49, no questions asked…and you can keep your copy of Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits.

You have nothing to lose…and so much to gain!

Regards,

Martina Dunphy
Executive Director, International Living

P.S. If you’re one of the first to order our brand-new Belize reports, we’ll also send you this fast-reply bonus: Florida Expat Reveals the Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret. This is a 20-minute presentation we recorded at our sold-out Live and Invest Overseas Seminar, in which Phil from Florida reveals everything he’s discovered about Belize since he moved there in 2003. He talks about business, lifestyle, nature, real estate, socializing…in short, Phil answers every Belize question you could have. If you order by Tuesday, November 10, you get Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…For Less PLUS Belize: Haven for Privacy and Profits PLUS Florida Expat Reveals the Caribbean’s Best-Kept Secret…all for $49.

ORDER NOW

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Curs valutar 10.11.2009

Cursul Zilei
Cursul valutar valabil astazi (10 nov. 2009) a fost stabilit de catre BNR la data de 09 nov 2009.
Vezi lista completa a valutelor!

Valuta	RON	Variatie
EURO (€)	4.2968	0.0020
USD ($)	2.8655	0.0207

International Living – Belize

The Special Program That Attracts Everyone to Belize

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Nov. 9, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Leonardo DiCaprio and Francis Ford Coppola own property in Belize. Tiger Woods, Harrison Ford, and Robert DeNiro take vacations there. Of course, you’ve heard of these big celebrities. Maybe you already know about their Caribbean hideaways in Belize.

But you probably haven’t heard of Jane and Pat. They sold their house in Illinois and bought a home in Belize for $48,000. Because the cost of living is so low, they saved enough to trade up. So, they bought a bigger place—one with lots of room for the grandkids.

Bill and Jenny bought a parcel of beachfront on the Bay of Corozal. They built a home and a few cabanas for paying guests. They may run a business, but this is still Belize. “There are no time clocks or wristwatches, no commutes, stress or worries,” Bill says.

What makes Belize so attractive…to millionaire celebrities and doting grandparents alike…is a program of special benefits that almost anyone can use. Importantly, this isn’t a complicated government program. It’s run by the Tourist Board. So, it’s easy to use and quick to load up on benefits. You’ll be especially interested if you’re a sailor, pilot, or over 45.

Ronan McMahon lays it out, below.

Len Galvin
Managing Editor, IL Postcards

P.S. Our brand new report on this country is called Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…For Less. It’s a collection of our best audio recordings, expat tips, expert advice, tax and banking haven reports, profit alerts, and insider secrets on Belize. Whether you want to live, invest, vacation, retire, or simply relax in Belize…this report has you covered.

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Special Retiree Benefits in Belize
By Ronan McMahon

Little Belize is my # 1 Caribbean buy because the best real estate values are here. This is a country rich in natural beauty—with tropical reefs and lush jungle. The quirky people are welcoming and warm. Visit and you run the risk of not wanting to return home. In fact, they even have a government program to incentivize you to spend more time here. They’ll welcome you as a permanent resident with a pathway to citizenship and a Belize passport. It’s called the Qualified Retired Person (QRP) program.

Some of my developer contacts in Belize have started to use this program to help market their real estate. With good cause: This program is a major driver of demand for property. Here’s how it works.

To participate in this program you need to be 45 years or older with an income of $2,000 per month (and deposit $24,000 in a Belize bank). Fulfill these criteria and you could be a permanent resident of Belize before next March.

Belize’s warm welcome doesn’t stop there. As a QRP you will pay no tax on income earned outside Belize or on money brought into the country. You can import $15,000 worth of household goods tax-free. You can bring in a vehicle tax-free…not just once but every five years. With this program you have permanent residency…but you can still take advantage of all the offshore banking advantages of Belize while living there.

Little Belize is flexible. You can start the process long before spending a lot of time here. All you need to do is spend one month per year in Belize to maintain your status. That’s a requirement you will look forward to fulfilling. Contacts on the ground tell me that this minimum time requirement isn’t being enforced by the Belize Tourist Board (which administers the program). Rules or enforcement isn’t Belize’s thing. Want to bring the entire family? Belize has no problem with that.

The best part of the program is that you can use the $24,000 you lodge in a Belize bank to buy real estate. Once you lodge the cash, Belize doesn’t care where the money goes from there. That’s a big help when, for example, less than $100,000 buys you a condo three blocks from the beach on Ambergris. This condo comes with access to a beach club, and fitness and country club facilities. Finance is available. Last year Islands magazine selected Ambergris as one of the 10 best islands to live on, describing it as “an affordable paradise in the Caribbean.”

Throughout history kings and merchant princes always had an escape route. If things moved against them in their home country, off they went. Their plans were laid long in advance. Their research done and contacts made. The little guy who had no contacts and resources was left behind. Belize’s QRP program might just be the escape route us little guys have been dreaming of for centuries.

I strongly urge you to check out little Belize for yourself. See her natural treasures, real estate values. Get planning today. Belize’s people and natural beauty mean that retiring baby boomers will want to come. The QRP program means that they can come. I expect real estate prices will rise.

Remember, the QRP program even holds a pathway to citizenship and a Belize passport. You can do this by converting from QRP to regular permanent residency.

Editor’s note: Our brand new report on this country (called Belize: Live the Caribbean Dream…For Less) tells you everything you need to know about the attractive QRP Program. If you’re interested in a place in the Caribbean sun…but you don’t want to pay typical Caribbean prices…you need to read this report.

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Curs valutar 9.11.2009

Cursul Zilei Cursul valutar valabil astazi (09 nov. 2009) a fost stabilit de catre BNR la data de 06 nov 2009. Vezi lista completa a valutelor!

Valuta RON Variatie EURO (€) 4.2988 0.0007 USD ($) 2.8862 0.0099

Evolutia EURO/RON in ultimele 30 de zile *

Curs valutar 6.11.2009

Cursul Zilei
Cursul valutar valabil astazi (06 nov. 2009) a fost stabilit de catre BNR la data de 05 nov 2009.
Vezi lista completa a valutelor!

Valuta	RON	Variatie
EURO (€)	4.2995	0.0010
USD ($)	2.8961	0.0169

Curs valutar 5.11.2009

Cursul Zilei
Cursul valutar valabil astazi (05 nov. 2009) a fost stabilit de catre BNR la data de 04 nov 2009.
Vezi lista completa a valutelor!

Valuta	RON	Variatie
EURO (€)	4.3005	0.0012
USD ($)	2.9130	0.0246

Curs valutar 4.11.2009

Cursul Zilei
Cursul valutar valabil astazi (04 nov. 2009) a fost stabilit de catre BNR la data de 03 nov 2009.
Vezi lista completa a valutelor!

Valuta	RON	Variatie
EURO (€)	4.3017	0.0030
USD ($)	2.9376	0.0224

Curs valutar 3.11.2009

Cursul Zilei Cursul valutar valabil astazi (03 nov. 2009) a fost stabilit de catre BNR la data de 02 nov 2009. Vezi lista completa a valutelor!

Valuta RON Variatie EURO (€) 4.3047 0.0092 USD ($) 2.9152 0.0225

Evolutia EURO/RON in ultimele 30 de zile *

International Living

Ecuador’s Northern Andes: The World’s Best-value Destination

International Living Postcards—your daily escape
Monday, Nov. 2, 2009

Dear International Living Reader,

Ecuador’s Northern Andres is where you’ll find one of the world’s best-value places—and in your November issue of the IL Magazine Suzan Haskins explores lifestyle and property options here.

Suzan and her husband Dan recently spent two months in Cotacachi…in the condo they bought a year ago for $46,000. They love this little town.

While they were there, their friend, who is a musician, visited. Cotacachi is a musical city with music classes and frequent musical events…and a place where you’ll always hear musical groups rehearsing behind closed doors.

He loved it here…and when he learned that he could rent a furnished apartment in Cotacachi starting at about $130 a month, and that most expats report total living expenses of $500 to $600 a month, he was snared—hook, line, and sinker.

“It would cost me less to live here for a couple of months next summer than it would to stay home and pay my air-conditioning bills,” he calculated. “I could take a three-month vacation for the cost of most weeklong vacations.”

He’s right. The cost of living in Cotacachi is among the lowest in Latin America. And just because it’s small doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. The Andes Mountains are perfect for hiking, trout fishing, and bird watching; and there are natural hot springs nearby for a warm, soothing soak. You can take Spanish, music, art, or cooking classes; and there are plenty of opportunities for volunteer work.

But if you are looking for more activity, you’ll find it in the market town of Otavalo, about 20 minutes away, or in the much-larger city of Ibarra, a 30-minute drive to the north. Otavalo is a Quichua indigenous town famous for its music and crafts.

Imbabura province, where Cotacachi, Otavalo, and Ibarra are located, is prosperous compared with other regions of Ecuador. The towns are clean and orderly, and city governments have invested in infrastructure improvements to keep tourists (and residents) happy. Read more about this low-cost region of Ecuador in your November issue.

* Also in your issue this month, we profile American James Tipton. Ten years ago, James fell in love with a Mexican lady and they moved to Lake Chapala. Now he’s active in the community here. James is an associate editor of a large-circulation monthly print magazine serving expatriates in the Lake Chapala area and this year he has also published two collections of poetry.

James and Martha’s monthly cost of living is $1,800 and that allows them a comfortable lifestyle. Plus, he feels fit and healthy due to his regular walks down by the lake.

“Back in the States when I was 50, I felt like I was 65. Here in Chapala, at age 67, I feel like I’m 50…and getting younger,” James says. Read his story on page 10 of your November issue.

* On page 26, Steenie Harvey delves into the back streets of Barcelona. “On a first visit, sure, get to know ‘gaudy Gaudi’ and enjoy the big-ticket sights of this beautiful city,” Steenie advises. “But spare some time to delve into less-trodden neighborhoods.”

Beyond the stylish designer bars with $12 cocktails, there’s another Barcelona—one that’s been airbrushed from the tourism brochures. One with local “ramblas,” where boys play soccer, old ladies walk dogs, and friends sit on benches socializing.

Here, activists commandeer derelict spaces and transform them into community gardens. Locals run café-bars—the kind where posters of soccer players hang above the snack counter, the TV is on permanently, and workmen puff Fortuna cigarettes over beers and bocadillos. Oh, and someone is always cursing or kicking the slot machine.

Where to find it? Steenie reveals all in your November issue.

* Also in your issue this month, we explore the world’s most scenic drives; find out why English-speaking Malta is worth your attention right now; learn about Costa Rica’s next two up-and-coming hotspots; take a cruise for free; discover the best places to go fishing in Latin America; read why office space can make a perfect home in Montevideo; and find out where you can get a Tom Cruise smile for a fraction of what he paid (probably).

Read all this and much more in your November issue of International Living Magazine.

Laura Sheridan
Managing Editor, International Living Magazine

P.S. The IL Magazine is now 25% bigger—so we can squeeze in more articles and photos every month. Nowhere else can you find more globetrotting ideas on travel and retirement…real estate and investment—any one of which could help you start a new life in paradise. To celebrate, we’re giving away free copies of The World’s Best book when you try International Living Magazine.

For the next five days only, you can use this link to get your complimentary copy of The World’s Best…plus instant access to the November issue (and every article I mentioned above)…plus instant access to every article in every issue we’ve published during the past 100 months in our members-only archive. You better hurry—we only have 500 copies of The World’s Best to give away.

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