Best Places In The World To Retire

I do not drive so I have never been given a traffic ticket. People who are pulled over by the local police usually bribe the officer. This is what I have heard but I have no proof of it. I do not even know anybody who’s actually driven and paid the bride. The police in Mexico accept bribes because they don’t get paid much as a police officer. 
 
I don’t have any special issue with the police. I wave at them and they wave at me. In the almost five years...

I do not drive so I have never been given a traffic ticket. People who are pulled over by the local police usually bribe the officer. This is what I have heard but I have no proof of it. I do not even know anybody who’s actually driven and paid the bride. The police in Mexico accept bribes because they don’t get paid much as a police officer. 
 
I don’t have any special issue with the police. I wave at them and they wave at me. In the almost five years I’ve been in Ajijic (an area very popular with expats, located next to Lake Chapala), I’ve never had anybody ask me for my temporary resident card or my permanent resident card.  There’s no reason for them to stop me when I’m walking, and they don’t.
 
No one’s ever come up to me asking for my bag of groceries. They see me as either walking to grocery store or shopping somewhere and carrying stuff back. The police has never stopped me. I have never had problems.

 

(Shopping area in Ajijic, Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)

The Favorite Foods of Panama

Traditionally, a local Panamanian would eat rice, red beans and lentils along with meat, chicken, pork or fish on an almost daily basis.
 
One favorite meal is white rice with "guandú"  (kind of green beans) with a great aroma, and "ropa vieja" (literally translated: old clothes).
 
But Panamanians are also very much concerned about nutritious food, and there are lots of places with "green...

The Favorite Foods of Panama

Traditionally, a local Panamanian would eat rice, red beans and lentils along with meat, chicken, pork or fish on an almost daily basis.
 
One favorite meal is white rice with "guandú"  (kind of green beans) with a great aroma, and "ropa vieja" (literally translated: old clothes).
 
But Panamanians are also very much concerned about nutritious food, and there are lots of places with "green foods" available, either cooked at home, as well as available at vegetarian restaurants.  Mediterranean and Chinese foods are very popular, as well as sushi.
 
Usually, at house birthday parties, the most popular menu is: "arroz con pollo" (chicken and rice), potato and beets salad and "plátano en tentación" (yellow plantain with brown sugar and cinnamon).
 
At weddings, the most popular and traditional desserts are: "sopa borracha" (drunk soup) and "sopa de Gloria"  (Gloria´s soup).  Both are delicious. The first one is made with liquor and the second one is soft and with white cream on top.
 
For breakfast, there are: "tortillas" (made out of corn),  "patacones "(green plantain),  "carimañola" (ground yuca), hojaldres (made our of flour).  Also very popular for special occasion breakfasts is liver steak with onions, eggs, coffee with milk, natural fruit juice, and pancakes.
 
In the city of Panamá a visitor can find restaurants with tastes from every country; very international wherever you go.  In the "interior" the food is more casual and local meals can be found more easily.
 
There are plenty of seasonal fresh fruits to choose from, and all kinds of vegetables to make salads, at an extraordinary good price.  There are also top restaurants, which are very expensive.  You choices are close to unlimited; it’s just matter of budget and taste.

People might not love this answer, but I think that, for me, the United States would be the worst place in the world to retire. I love the United States, but if I retire there, that’s not retirement. I would just be extending what I’ve been doing within the same lifestyle up to that point, in the same circle of family, friends and things that I’m used to. In addition, living in the United States is also very expensive.
 
My idea of the retirement that I...

People might not love this answer, but I think that, for me, the United States would be the worst place in the world to retire. I love the United States, but if I retire there, that’s not retirement. I would just be extending what I’ve been doing within the same lifestyle up to that point, in the same circle of family, friends and things that I’m used to. In addition, living in the United States is also very expensive.
 
My idea of the retirement that I want is one that’s full of new nuances, cultures, tastes, sounds, music and sights that I’ve never seen, heard or experienced before.  
 
The worst place in the world to retire is where you have spent 30, 40, or 50 years of your life working. As an example, if you’re Canadian, Canada may be the worst place in the world for you to retire.

 

(Ross with new found Quechua friends in Ecuador, pictured.)

You can definitely bring your dog or cat to Portugal. I have a client who spent 6 months in Antigua and 6 months of the year here. She always traveled with her dogs and it’s actually fine. Portugal doesn’t have quarantine as long as your dog is up to date with all vaccinations and passports. 
 
You can even bring your horses to Portugal. I have clients who moved here from England, who have horses in England and brought them here. You can keep your horses in...

You can definitely bring your dog or cat to Portugal. I have a client who spent 6 months in Antigua and 6 months of the year here. She always traveled with her dogs and it’s actually fine. Portugal doesn’t have quarantine as long as your dog is up to date with all vaccinations and passports. 
 
You can even bring your horses to Portugal. I have clients who moved here from England, who have horses in England and brought them here. You can keep your horses in stables here. There are about six stables in Cascais (just west of Lisbon) where you can keep your horses where they can have lessons as well.

 

(Riding a  Lusitano horse in Portugal, pictured.)

Restaurants in Nicaragua are the found all over the country. Each region has their particular restaurant that is famous for some specially prepared dish

 

For example, I live in Managua and one of my favorite restaurants is Asados El Patio. They serve a steak called "The Gator" which is a 2 1/2 pounds of meat. For me this is the best steak in town. It costs US $20 and it is served with fried cheese, beans and rice (gallopinto) and other side orders...

Restaurants in Nicaragua are the found all over the country. Each region has their particular restaurant that is famous for some specially prepared dish

 

For example, I live in Managua and one of my favorite restaurants is Asados El Patio. They serve a steak called "The Gator" which is a 2 1/2 pounds of meat. For me this is the best steak in town. It costs US $20 and it is served with fried cheese, beans and rice (gallopinto) and other side orders of your choosing and it is enough for 4 people. They also have plates for $6 which consist of different meats of your choosing and a great soup on the weekends (specifically to treat hangovers).