Best Places In The World To Retire

You will find lots of beautiful plants and trees in the Algarve. One example is the carob, which is the same fruit that exists in the Caribbean.  (The name of the region “Caribbean” comes from the word “carob”.) The carob bean in the Caribbean is longer and flatter, so the carob bean in Portugal is a shorter version of the Caribbean version of the carob. It’s kind of a scimitar-shaped bean around 15 centimeters long. Most of it is green and when it...

You will find lots of beautiful plants and trees in the Algarve. One example is the carob, which is the same fruit that exists in the Caribbean.  (The name of the region “Caribbean” comes from the word “carob”.) The carob bean in the Caribbean is longer and flatter, so the carob bean in Portugal is a shorter version of the Caribbean version of the carob. It’s kind of a scimitar-shaped bean around 15 centimeters long. Most of it is green and when it ripens it becomes brownish or dark reddish. It’s a very interesting product because it can be used in a number of things. It has an enzyme that is used in the pharmaceutical industry and as an additive for the drinks industry. It is also used as a substitute for chocolate in producing a sort of cocoa-tasting product used in the making cakes. Portugal is the third largest European and North African producer and exporter of the carob plant. There is quite a lot of tradition in Portugal linking back to the land.

 

The best time of the year to come and see flowering plants in Algarve is just after the rains, around autumn and again in the spring. We have a flowering area in the western Algarve called the Costa Vicentina, which is a natural reserve of many square kilometers with very little construction. Costa Vicentina has millions of very pretty wild flowers. You will see myriad colors. It is a wonderful place to go to for walkers, cyclists, ramblers, or even if you are just driving through.

 

In the mountains, in traditional areas like Alte, Salir, and Monchique, these are places that because of their height, elevation, and humidity tend to get a lot of flowering plants. Algarve is generally quite consistent with the rest of Portugal but it has a very dry climate. We don’t have much rain or cloudy days. The type of shrubs that exist here are small-leaved plants because these plants tend to do well in less humidity because the evaporation from the leave surface is lower, so they tend to survive better in dry climates. Many of these shrubs are very pretty. Portugal also has the olive tree, which blooms and is fantastic. We also have the almond tree, which is very famous. Probably Japan is the most famous for its almond and orange blossoms but Portugal has beautiful pink, lilac, and white almonds. We also have citrus trees like the orange trees, and a range of other flowering plants, which are very pretty.

 

Among the most famous local plants in the Algarve are the carob plant, the orange, almond, olive, and the fig tree. These are the traditional fruits of the Algarve and they all flower in a different way, which is very pretty. I have all these trees in my own garden.

 

(Carob plant, pictured.)

The best place in the world to retire is the place that feels the best to you.  The only way to know that is to rent for 3-6 months and try living on for size.

 

A new country is like a new pair of shoes; it takes a while to know if they really fit or not.   For most North Americans, the geographic diversity of Latin America, and the similar time zones make it a highly desirable place to explore and evaluate.   

The best place in the world to retire is the place that feels the best to you.  The only way to know that is to rent for 3-6 months and try living on for size.

 

A new country is like a new pair of shoes; it takes a while to know if they really fit or not.   For most North Americans, the geographic diversity of Latin America, and the similar time zones make it a highly desirable place to explore and evaluate.   

All the more significant towns and cities in Belize are connected by paved roads so there is no real need for four wheel drive unless you plan on living off road or going on deep jungle expeditions. 

 

To the right is a picture of the vehicle our sister company, Darrah Travel, uses to take people around the country. 

All the more significant towns and cities in Belize are connected by paved roads so there is no real need for four wheel drive unless you plan on living off road or going on deep jungle expeditions. 

 

To the right is a picture of the vehicle our sister company, Darrah Travel, uses to take people around the country. 

There are a lot of things that you can do in Casco Viejo. You can walk to Casco Viejo from the Cinta Costera in Avenida Balboa in the afternoon. Avenida Balboa is one of the main streets here in Panama City and around 5 or 6 years ago, they built a coastline, which is Cinta Costera, where you can park your car for free and walk along the coastline. It is a very peaceful walk along the coastline of Panama. If you want to eat, you can go to Casco Viejo and buy a lunch for only US $3.50 at...

There are a lot of things that you can do in Casco Viejo. You can walk to Casco Viejo from the Cinta Costera in Avenida Balboa in the afternoon. Avenida Balboa is one of the main streets here in Panama City and around 5 or 6 years ago, they built a coastline, which is Cinta Costera, where you can park your car for free and walk along the coastline. It is a very peaceful walk along the coastline of Panama. If you want to eat, you can go to Casco Viejo and buy a lunch for only US $3.50 at the small stores in Casco Viejo that serves Panamanian food. You can also eat at the mercado del marisco or seafood market right at the entrance of Casco Viejo. The seafood market also has restaurants and some tables with umbrellas where you can buy fresh, delicious seafood. They also sell beers, ceviche, which is also a Panamanian dish that is made of raw fish, onions, lemons, and some spices. 
 
You can also have a walking tour at the different churches in Casco Viejo that were built in the 1600s. You can also visit some of the coffee shops here in Casco Viejo that serve Panamanian coffee. The coffee shops in Casco Viejo are smaller compared to Starbucks since they are not commercialized. They are not very busy coffee shops where people just grab a coffee in go. You can feel the warmth of the people who go to the coffee shops here in Casco Viejo. The coffee shops here are more traditional, less commercial, and the people who go there are much warmer. It is an intimate place where you can feel comfy. Panamanian coffee is way better than Starbucks.
 
On a side note, there is a Pete’s Coffee in San Jose and they also serve Panamanian coffee. 
 
Another nice thing to do in Casco Viejo is to visit the museum near the Panama Canal. There you could learn about the history of the Panama Canal such as when the French came to build it and failed, etc. There are also craft markets in Casco Viejo that you can visit. As you walk, you’ll see these small stores where they sell crafts, handicrafts, Panamanian clothing like molas. 
 
The buildings here in Casco Viejo are old buildings. If you want to use these buildings, you have to restore them and respect the original architecture of the building. There is one building here that had nothing inside; all you can see are just walls from the outside. People used to sell crafts there but I do not see them anymore. Maybe they have been evacuated to a different area for safety reasons. 
 
If you come early, you might also be able to book a tour inside the presidential palace. It is called Palacio de las Garsas. It was originally the customs building but after several years, they did some architectural transformations on it and made it the presidential palace. The original building is from 1673. 
 
There are several Plazas in Casco Viejo. One is Plaza Mayor, which is also known as Plaza Catedral. Plaza Mayor is several hundred years old and it has a church called Catedral Metropolitano en Panama that is now being restored after being closed for 5 years. It is very beautiful. 
 
Catedral Metropolitano en Panama is a Spanish colonial architecture and it was built sometime between 1688 and 1796. It took several years to be completely built. There is a tomb under this church where the church people are buried. Catedral Metropolitano is the main church of Panama City. If someone who is high profile like the president, for example, dies, then the mass will be held in Catedral Metropolitano.
 
We also have Plaza Bolivar where you can find small shops on the streets. Sometimes, during Sundays, they put some stalls in the plazas where people can sell second hand things and food. It is nice because you will find a lot of things that you can buy. 
 
There is also a promenade in Casco Viejo called Paseo Esteban Huertas, which is one of Casco Viejo’s landmarks where you can also buy handicrafts, necklaces, molas, and other things that were made by the indigenous Indians who live here. 

 

(Old architecture in Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama, pictured.)