EscapeArtist Travel Articles . More Travel Articles - Travel Article Index On This Page - Travel Articles - Regions Reunion Through Switzerland Articles Listed Alphabetically By Nation & Region | Reunion | Romania |  Russia | St. Kitts | St. Maarten | St. Vincent | Saudi Arabia | Scotland | Serbia | Siberia | Sierra Leone | Singapore | Slovakia | Slovenia | South Africa | | South East Asia | Spain | Sri Lanka |  Suriname | Sweden | Switzerland | Reunion . The Magical Island of Reunion ~ Under the Splendid Volcanoes -  By Bev Mortimer The Magical Island of Reunion ~ Under the Splendid Volcanoes - Bev Mortimer is a TI writer for two companies, providing travel content for two Web sites, and writing ad hoc travel articles for a local magazine.  Her greatest joy is  travel to unspoiled areas of the world. Reunion in the Indian Ocean off the coast of South Africa is just that sort of place. Bev writes, "This mountainous region, with peaks of more than 3000 metres, hidden valleys and countless waterfalls, offer tourists many sporting adventures. For the not so sporting enthusiast, the hidden environs offer much to the inquisitive visitor. The volcanic activity has over many years resulted in gigantic craters and valleys surrounded by mountainous peaks and deep ravines, with rivers far below, pushing their way to the coast. Often completely surrounded, these valleys are where inhabitants in tiny villages eke out a primitive existence with age-old technology."   Romania . Lions, Vampires, Bears, And Gypsys ~ Romania, Gem Of The Balkans ~ By Jocelyn Carnegie Lions, Vampires, Bears, And Gypsys ~ Romania, Gem Of The Balkans ~ by Jocelyn Carnegie - Bucharest is a striking mélange of different cultural influences. Historically, the Romanians have looked north and west to their European and Slavic neighbors for their cultural, emotional, and religious succor, spending most of their leisure time keeping the Turks out of Europe.   Moldova ~ A Small Wonder And Information On Upcoming Tour To Romania ~  By Kevin Stillmock Moldova ~ A Small Wonder And Information On Upcoming Tour To Romania ~ by Kevin Stillmock - When I came to for a (never-to-be) business meeting in Chisinau (pronounced kishy-now) I wasn't sure quite what to expect. The travel agent who sold me the ticket, strangely advised me several times to abandon my plans and go somewhere else. Most of my friends and aacquaintances were confused just as to where it was that I was going to in the first place. On several occasions I was asked if I was worried about getting malaria while in Africa, I was also chastised for making up the name of a fake country to protect my anonymity and questioned if the idea to come to Moldova came to me after hearing about it in a Marx Brother movie.   Romania - Doug Casey Evaluates The Gypsies, Real Estate, Stock Market & Culture Of Romania - Moving to Romania -  By Doug Casey Romania - Doug Casey Evaluates The Gypsies, Real Estate, Stock Market & Culture Of Romania - Moving to Romania - Romania, with brief intervals of respite, has been a hard luck story for most of its history. Unlike a lot of other countries of which that's true, I have a good feeling about the place. But most investors give the country a discount, mainly because they're unfamiliar with it. And, insofar as they are familiar with it, they've heard mostly dated and unfavorable things. That's fine. It's why the opportunity exists. - If anything, property is a better buy than stocks. Bucharest is very cheap by most standards; I'll guess about 25% of Western European levels for equivalent buildings. But that's not what got my attention. The fact is that the country probably has the best farmland in Europe-- flat, deep, rich topsoil in the Danube basin, combined with a fairly mild climate.   Romania: Europe's Final Frontier And Next Hot Spot ~ Opportunities In Romania ~  By Kevin Stillmock And Jay Schechter Romania: Europe's Final Frontier And Next Hot Spot ~ Opportunities In Romania ~ by Kevin Stillmock And Jay Schechter - Check your preconceived notions about Romania at the door. Your experience here will not be defined by encounters with street children, Gypsy's, or Dracula. While all three may very well exist, none of them accurately defines modern day Romania.   Romania - Investing in a Land of Unexpected Opportunity -  By Kevin Stillmock Romania - Investing in a Land of Unexpected Opportunity - Real Estate In Romania  - Investing in a Land of Unexpected Opportunity  - The ability to start an inn or bed and breakfast in one of these areas is ripe. We even know of a top Bucharest hotel chef ready to pack his bags and commit his energy to starting the restaurant in one of these new destinations for a small piece of the potential profit he believes it will yield. Those who are in Romania, know the market, and have seen what has happened thus far, have little doubt what the future will yield and are ready to do almost anything to get in on the action.   Romania On The Rise ~ Investing In Eastern Europe ~  By Kevin Stillmock Romania On The Rise ~ Investing In Eastern Europe ~ by Kevin Stillmock - "Moscow aside, if you look at central and eastern Europe, Bucharest is probably the biggest and most interesting opportunity for property investors right now," says Edit Vesser, corporate director for CB Richard Ellis in Bucharest in an article recently published by the esteemed Irish Times. Approximately nine months ago, in February 2005, I first alerted readers of Escape Artist to the incredible potential latent in the Eastern European country of Romania. Several readers who contacted me purchased land through a realtor that I advised them of in an area outside of the city limits of Bucharest at 40 Euro per square meter.   Romanian Serendipity ~ The Biology Of Travel ~  By Lucas Moyer-Horner Romanian Serendipity ~ The Biology Of Travel ~ By Lucas Moyer-Horner - Want to mix biology and travel then take a look at the following article; it talks about travel and how travel is a natural extension of our biological processes. This is one way to look at travel and you may never think the same way again about getting on a plane and exploring.    Romania's Road To Heaven ~ And Answers To Last Month's Questions ~  By Kevin Stillmock Romania's Road To Heaven ~ And Answers To Last Month's Questions ~ by Kevin Stillmock - Imagine a path that led you along a dramatically changing natural landscape of spectacular waterfalls, rugged mountains, ancient underground temples, volcanoes, and prairies where wild buffalo still roam. You might believe that it was the path to Heaven itself. In fact it is Romania's own road to Heaven; a brand new superhighway under construction, costing about 2 billion EURO, with an expected completion date of 2010-2012.   The Romanian Profit-Machine ~ Investing In Romania ~  By Kevin Stillmock The Romanian Profit-Machine ~ Investing In Romania ~ by Kevin Stillmock - Sooner or later just about all of us come to the painful realization that money does not grow on trees, no matter what kind we plant or where we plant them. I’ve traveled to a lot of countries and I’ve always made a point to check out the local trees and see if any of them, by some odd twist of fate, have started to turn green with dollar bills. I’ve never completely given up hope that one might exist by some miracle, somewhere. It’s been said that “sometime the answer is right under your nose.” For those of us searching for cash-bearing trees, I have discovered that the answer is indeed right under our noses. We’ve simply been looking in the wrong direction, we have been looking up instead of down.   Retirement Planning for Offshore Living -  Retirement Planning for Offshore Living - Click Here - The advantages of outsourcing your retirement have never been better! Why not start a second "dream" career, or retire in a low cost, tropical country? Spend less than 25% of your present monthly budget while maintaining or even enhancing your lifestyle.  Say "goodbye" to your financial planner and her "advice" that you must accumulate at least $1,000,000 or more in liquid assets before you retire or leave your "day job". "Retirement Planning for Offshore Living" will become your personal coach and roadmap to "offshore living". Use the standards provided to identify, compare and analyze your optimal country and retirement or second career haven. . Russia . A Short Course In Clearing Customs - Clearing Customs -  By Doug Casey A Short Course In Clearing Customs - Clearing Customs -  by Doug Casey "I probably enter and leave the U.S. about two dozen times a year. By far the most unpleasant part of traveling  --- more than the delays, the endless hours in a flying cigar tube, the irregular schedules it entails  --- is going through customs and immigration. The people working for these agencies are about the bottom of the barrel."   Actualities: Russian prostitutes in Paris... free cruises (men only)... the safest place in Mexico... pets in Panama -  By Various Authors Actualities: Russian prostitutes in Paris... free cruises (men only)... the safest place in Mexico... pets in Panama - Russian prostitutes in Paris. It has become hard to find a good French prostitute. At least that’s what a recent article in the Figaro tells readers. “Russian girls have flooded Paris,” reported the headline, recalling the well-known Baptist hymn, “We’re sinking deep in sin.”   As a happily married man I cannot take on the kind of undercover research required to verify the facts, so I have to rely on secondhand sources. Still, I’m glad to hear about the Russian women. They represent an extension of the division of labor and hope for the future. Not that the local girls didn’t provide a quality product. But they couldn’t compete with the Eastern Europeans on price. The Russians brought deflation to an industry traditionally marked by tumescence, if not actual price inflation. (This observation and much more)   An Interesting Russian Marriage ~ From Beginning To End ~  By Paul Bowden An Interesting Russian Marriage ~ From Beginning To End ~ by Paul Bowden - I decided to go off to Eastern Europe or Russia in search of romance and adventure. The problem was, I didn’t have the money to be able to afford to live there. I needed a job that would support me. So I decided to teach English as a foreign language, for which there was apparently a considerable demand, or so I was told. I took the Trinity TESOL qualification in April 2000, and in May I was offered a teaching job in Krasnodar, Russia, not far from the Black Sea.   How To Prepare For Living And Working In Russia ~ More On Living In Russia ~  By Jon D. Ayres How To Prepare For Living And Working In Russia ~ More On Living In Russia ~ by Jon D. Ayres - Want to come to work as a Native speaking English teacher in the Russian Federation?  Getting a visa, temporary residence visas, and work permits here in Russia is not easy if you choose to do it on your own.  It is a long, drawn out process that discourages a lot of people and many end up giving up and leaving.  It is better to come here on the invitation of a school or other business and let them handle it all.  The following is only my experience of dealing with Russia’s visa process.   Looking at Russia - Investing in Russia -  By Douglas Casey Looking at Russia - Investing in Russia - Looking At Russia - By Douglas Casey. Doug Casey needs no introduction, he is one of the most astute expatriate investors in the world. In this article he turns his attention to Russia and gives seasoned advice.   Nowhere Man - Investment opportunities in Russia -  By THE DAILY RECKONING ON BOARD THE EUROSTAR Nowhere Man - Investment opportunities in Russia - Then...there are stocks in the former Soviet Union. I just got a report from James Passin's employers at the Firebird Fund that tells of some of the values available. How about a company with 1 billion barrels of oil...high-quality oil reserves...valued at a level that prices the oil at just 2.5 cents per barrel? You could buy the whole company for the price of a few 60-minute TV ads on Superbowl Sunday. Heck, you could probably buy it with the loose change under the seat cushions in the Amazon.com boardroom.   Real Estate in Russia - Forget Moscow -  By Graham Fraser Real Estate in Russia - Forget Moscow - Real Estate in Russia - Forget Moscow ~ Russia is warm, beautiful and inexpensive. Let me explain. The city of Stavropol is on the same latitude as Montreal, and has weather to match, heat in the low to mid-thirties Celsius in the summer, and usually no less than -10 in the winter. It has about 350,000 residents, who live in a wide variety of homes amongst trees, avenues, parks and playgrounds.   Real Estate News From Russia -  By Rhiannon Williamson Real Estate News From Russia - Real Estate News From Russia - Global online travel company Opodo recently placed Russia second only to Bulgaria in its industry respected report relating to predictions for the top ten emerging destinations for travellers in 2007; and Opodo’s opinion of Russia as a hot market for travel is supported by many other global brands and experts who also see the real estate and investment markets in Russia as emerging positively.   Russia Without Tears ~ How To Enjoy Russia ~  By Joshua K. Hartshorne Russia Without Tears ~ How To Enjoy Russia ~ by Joshua K. Hartshorne - Russia is a relatively cheap place to live. My monthly budget in Irkutsk is $500, and I ski and eat out a lot. Traveling, too, is not just for the wealthy. A train trip that takes days generally costs under $50, and lodging for $10 a night is not so difficult to find. Museums generally run a few dollars at the most.   Sometimes You Have To Leave The US To Find A Decent Job ~ Off To Russia ~  By Jon D. Ayres Sometimes You Have To Leave The US To Find A Decent Job ~ Off To Russia ~ by Jon D. Ayres - At the first of the year 2003, I was an unemployed college graduate.  In my home state of Georgia, unemployment was high.  So I started looking on the Internet to see if I could find a job.  One thing I noticed on the Internet during my exploration was an ad that said, “Train to become an Teacher of English as a Foreign Language and see the world for free,” so I took a look to see just what this ad was about.  I thought it was just some rip off ad, send some joker your money and maybe get a little pamphlet worth nothing.   The Good And Bad Sides Of Living And Working In Russia ~ Survival In Russia ~  By Jon D. Ayres The Good And Bad Sides Of Living And Working In Russia ~ Survival In Russia ~ by Jon D. Ayres - Russia is a fascinating and interesting country for most Americans who come here to visit or live and work.  Russia is the land of mystery to most Americans because of the cold war years; Russia was a land that was off limits for most Americans.  Now that communism has ended and Russia is now rebuilding it’s economy based on the free market system, Russia not only now more open for most Americans to come here to live and work, it also can be a land of opportunity for the enterprising individual with some business sense, just look at all the multi-billion dollar companies now here doing business, Coke, Chevy, Ford, BASE to name a few.   The Less Friendly and More Inquisitive Skies -  By Doug Casey The Less Friendly and More Inquisitive Skies - The Less Friendly and More Inquisitive Skies - By Doug Casey - There are many unsavory features about flying today. Crowded airports, packed planes, squalling kids, people dressed like they're coming from the gym (except they're usually too fat for that ever to be the case). The lower class atmosphere surrounding the whole experience is reminiscent of Riding the Dog (taking a Greyhound bus) in years past. It's even worse, since bus travel never subjected passengers to impertinent questions, mandatory x-ray of luggage or a possible strip-search by minimum wage dingbats.  If Hieronymus Bosch was alive today, he'd paint airport scenes.   Twelve Days In Moscow ~ Adventures In Moscow ~  By Miriyam Nitzberg Twelve Days In Moscow ~ Adventures In Moscow ~ by Miriyam Nitzberg - I am an American who has lived in Europe for the past 12 years.  Dan and I worked on a project together in Prague for six weeks in 2001.  Dan went back to London at the end of that period but we remained friends.  In February of 2003 Dan went to live and work in Moscow.  In July of 2004 just after I had completed my Law Society exams in England, I went to see Dan in Moscow before returning home to Prague.   St. Kitts . Federated By Ferries ~ St. Kitts And Nevis - Part 1 ~  By Deb Andrews Federated By Ferries ~ St. Kitts And Nevis - Part 1 ~ by Deb Andrews - In St. Kitts, some of the land for sale on the southern side of the island and the arid eastern end is in private hands, and though difficult to find is available to non-nationals. The rest of it is government owned and almost impossible to buy in a normal life time! Governments move in inexplicably slow time dimensions and in even more mysterious marketing realms. For example, advertising half acre plots at $40,000 a piece through SKY TV in the UK only.   Federated By Ferries – Part II ~ Nevis – Head In The Clouds ~  By Deb Andrews Federated By Ferries – Part II ~ Nevis – Head In The Clouds ~ by Deb Andrews - Nevis is more than sleepy, its moody! Perhaps its to do with the dominating mountain, the shapeshifting cloud around the peak, changeless and changing, the light never the same. Walking up the main street at 8.15 on a Wednesday, through the banking sector, past First Caribbean (Barclays Bank and CIBC), Scotia Bank, Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago, and the Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis, and then the ferry dock, the various Ministries of Government and the Cotton Ginnery; I saw two people, and never more than one car on the road at a time.  Between 8.30 and 9, things did liven up, and people started to arrive opening up offices and shops.   Get a Job on a Luxury Cruise Ship - Quickly & Easily! - "Discover how you can Travel to the World's Most Exotic Places...having the Best Time of Your Life...and Get Paid for it!" - “Now is the best time in history to get a job on a cruise ship” - Get Paid to Travel the World Having the Best Time of Your Life! - “It’s almost the perfect job!” -  Get a Cruise Ship Job! - Click Here . Stop Dreaming - Buy That Land in St.Kitts -  By C. Nicholas Guise Stop Dreaming - Buy That Land in St.Kitts - Stop Dreaming - Buy That Land in St.Kitts - We fell in love with this area, buying land a few years ago for $4/sf and there are many opportunities to still get in early before full off-island developments take hold.   St. Marteen . Sint Maarten/Saint Martin ~ The Friendly Island -   Sint Maarten/Saint Martin ~ The Friendly Island - France and the Netherlands have shared this haven of sand, sea and sun peacefully for more than three centuries. The Dutch call it Sint Maarten and on the French side the signs say Saint Martin. Not that there is a particularly obvious separation. You can drive, or walk, over a border untended and unmarked except for a sign of welcome to one country or the other. St. Maarten/St. Martin is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two sovereign powers and it has been that way since 1648 when France and the Netherlands signed a partition treaty. However, over the years people of many different nationalities have made their home on the island and have influenced its development.   Spots To Consider - Sint Maarten/Saint Martin – The Friendly Island - By Calum Johnston Spots To Consider - Sint Maarten/Saint Martin – The Friendly Island - Spots To Consider - Sint Maarten/Saint Martin – The Friendly Island - St. Maarten/St.Martin, the Friendly Island. Well connected by air from the Eastern U.S.A., Puerto Rico, Canada, Paris and Amsterdam; the home port for many of the largest luxury mega yachts in the Caribbean and a “must call” port for many cruise ships. Relaxing, interesting, entertaining, and different; most certainly a place to visit and perhaps the place to fulfill your dream of escaping to paradise   St. Vincent . Amazing St. Vincent ~ Windward Island Of The West Indies ~ By John Easley Amazing St. Vincent ~ Windward Island Of The West Indies ~ by John Easley - Whenever you hear a group of divers discussing their favorite Caribbean dive destinations, often with great conviction, you typically hear Grand Cayman, Cozumel, The Bahamas, and the Florida Keys. Rarely do you ever hear destinations such as St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the Windward Islands of the West Indies. I came to St. Vincent to find out why.   Mustique: The Caribbean's Best Kept Secret ~ A Private Hideaway In The Caribbean ~ By Heather Prince Mustique: The Caribbean's Best Kept Secret ~ A Private Hideaway In The Caribbean ~ by Heather Prince - Gazing out the twin propeller plane window the jagged emerald island seemed to float in the tri-colored turquoise Caribbean waters. This is the first site of the illustrious private island of Mustique: The upper crust’s best kept secret. Tommy Hilfiger, Mick Jagger , Princess Margaret and Viscount David Linley, just to name a few, all have enjoyed the splendor of the small 1,400 acre island located in the Caribbean Grenadines. Luckily for me, this was the location of my best friend’s wedding, so I became one of the few who have been able to sneek-a-peek into the secret life of the rich and famous.   Saudi Arabia . Living In Saudi Arabia - Living And Working In The Saudi Kingdom ~ By Eric Hooton Living In Saudi Arabia - Living And Working In The Saudi Kingdom ~ by Eric Hooton - The images on the news and the Internet last November of yet another compound bombing in Riyadh were especially disconcerting, as the damaged compound just below King Fahd’s palace was our home for 2 years from 1996 to 1998.   Saudi Arabia, After The Intifada ~ Life In Saudi Arabia As An Outsider ~ By Didier Ratsiraka III Saudi Arabia, After The Intifada ~ Life In Saudi Arabia As An Outsider ~ by Didier Ratsiraka III - Recently, I completed a seven-year stint as a trainer in a school belonging to a corporation in Saudi Arabia. While things ran fairly smoothly when I arrived in 1996, once the uprising began in Palestine, life went downhill until blood began to flow even where I was working.   Scotland . Hunting for Loch Ness properties in Scotland - Properties in Scotland - By The Online Edition of International Living Magazine Hunting for Loch Ness properties in Scotland - Properties in Scotland - Real Estate   Scotland - Castles, Monsters and Fairy Whispers ~ By Dawnelle Salant Scotland - Castles, Monsters and Fairy Whispers ~ by Dawnelle Salant - I’m ashamed to say that before I visited Scotland, it wasn’t high on my list of countries to tour.  I’m not sure why, but I think it had something to do with what another traveler said to me. “You’re from Canada? Go to Scotland. It’s just like Canada, you’ll love it.” I travel to see places that are different from what I am used to, so I mentally crossed Scotland off my list. When I finally found myself wandering around Britain’s northernmost country, I was pleased to discover that Scotland has more to offer than I expected. And honestly? It’s really not very much like Canada at all.   Long Way From Florida ~ The Isle Of Skye, Scotland ~ By Rita Shannon Koeser Long Way From Florida ~ The Isle Of Skye, Scotland ~ by Rita Shannon Koeser - “For nobody born in any other parts of the world will choose this country for their residence...”  said Dr. Samuel Johnson about the Isle of Skye  in his book, “A Journey To The Western Islands of Scotland” published in 1775 after his famous trip there with his biographer, James Boswell. I often thought of this  after I moved to the Isle of Skye from Florida.  Yes, I was born in another part of the world,  quite a different part of the world.  But with all due respect to Dr. Johnson,  I  did choose the Isle of Skye for my residence and never regretted it.   Spooked In Scotland - Supernatural Shenanigans In Black-Hearted Edinburgh ~ US$1 equals 0.57 British pounds ~ By Steenie Harvey Spooked In Scotland - Supernatural Shenanigans In Black-Hearted Edinburgh ~ US$1 equals 0.57 British pounds ~ by Steenie Harvey -  moonless night at the Mercat Cross on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile—and it’s Ghost Busters gone mad. Thirty people are following a black-cloaked witch down Advocate’s Close. From the screeches, something nasty is happening in the City Chambers porticoes...maybe it’s to do with the body-snatcher now racing down High Street. And here comes a vampire, chivvying his charges behind St. Giles High Kirk. There’ll soon be more screams if the trailing brown-cowled monk is a “jumper-oot.”   Serbia . Serbian Real Estate ~ Emphasis Belgrade - Real Estate in Belgrade -  By Richard Forrester Serbian Real Estate ~ Emphasis Belgrade - Real Estate in Belgrade - Richard Forrester of invest-in-serbia.com has compiled and analyzed data from the largest real estate agency in Belgrade.  Last week, the most expensive area of Belgrade was Vracar, near the Stari Grad [Old city] which could cost you as much as 1750€ per square meter.  In some of the outlying suburbs, say, for example, Barajevo, Ritopeku, Bolecu, prices for residential space can go for as low as 250€/meter2.   Siberia . Summer in Siberia - On The Shores Of Lake Baikal And Siberian Wildflowers ~ By Rowena Hilton Summer in Siberia - On The Shores Of Lake Baikal And Siberian Wildflowers ~ By Rowena Hilton - Lake Baikal holds over 20% of the fresh water in the world. It is also home to some very rare species of fish and mammals, the most famous being the only fresh water seals in the world. It is said that when water enters the Lake it won't exit until 400 years have passed. And some say the water in the Lake has healing qualities, even emotional healing qualities. Might be a nice place to pass a summer in.   The Trans-Siberian Railway - The Ultimate Rail Journey ~ By Matt Scott The Trans-Siberian Railway - The Ultimate Rail Journey ~ by Matt Scott - The Trans-Siberian Railway is the ultimate rail journey, the longest in the world, possibly the coldest if you go at the wrong time of year and the only journey that travels in two continents in a single journey, while staying in the same country. Without leaving your seat you can clatter your way along almost a third of the globe; the Trans Siberian is a journey of almost mythical proportions.   Sierra Leone . Two Sides Of Sierra Leone - Passing Real Time On The Two Sides of Sierra Leone ~ By Anthony Blackie Two Sides Of Sierra Leone - Passing Real Time On The Two Sides of Sierra Leone ~ By Anthony Blackie - Anthony Blackie grew up in Sierra Leone and his father and grandfather were both well-respected teachers in Freetown. In the above article, Anthony allows the reader to go beyond the bad news that we always associate with Sierra Leone: he shows us the tensions of living in Sierra Leone, but also the beauty and the ways in which people try to relax and live a normal life among the politcal sideshow.   Singapore . All aboard the Singapore-Malacca Express - Unique Travel - By Tim Jellings All aboard the Singapore-Malacca Express - Unique Travel - Tim Jellings is a travel writer with stories of wierd adventures from around the varied parts of the world. His keen sense of observation is a one of a kind. Tim writes, "My eyes catch each humorous shop name; like Bang on, Hang On, See Fun, Fun Fatt Kok. The local spelling of Talipon for telephone, Bas sekolal for school bus and Buk for book also brings a smile. Outside the Chinese temple, in the early morning, I see a man standing outside with a burning joss stick clamped between the hands. In silent prayer he asks for evil to be kept away. Not one word or even a glance. A youth dressed only in pyjama trousers is graffiting the posters in green and red paint. He is observed by a very old man, who never stirs and sits crossed legged, silently absorbing the young man's artistry."   Living And Teaching In Singapore And Hong Kong ~ What You Need To Know ~ By Mark Redmayne Living And Teaching In Singapore And Hong Kong ~ What You Need To Know ~ By Mark Redmayne - Singapore and Hong Kong have long had a high demand for English teachers and both have a high quality of living for expats. If you have always thought about teaching overseas and living in Asia, then the above article will get you started on your journey to the East.   Living And Teaching In Singapore And Hong Kong: What You Need To Know - By Mark Newton Living And Teaching In Singapore And Hong Kong: What You Need To Know - Living And Teaching In Singapore And Hong Kong: What You Need To Know ~ They opened the heavy steel door and I peered inside. A sudden realization gripped me and I felt my emotions begin to stir.  ‘A furnished studio apartment,’ they had said.  ‘Close to the school,’ they had promised. I fought the sudden urge to collapse onto the nearest available poultry house and turned to smile patiently at their expectant faces.   Singapore Real Estate - Get There Before the "Gang" Arrives - ByJohn Zhang Singapore Real Estate - Get There Before the "Gang" Arrives - Singapore Real Estate - Get There Before the "Gang" Arrives - Hot investment money is pouring into mainland China’s biggest and most well-known cities.  Shanghai has been a haven for foreigners buying commercial properties.  Buoyed by rising property values, they are now also purchasing luxury residential real estate, mostly for rental purposes.   So You Want To Retire In Paradise - Thoughts On Bali, Singapore And New Guinea ~ ByBruce E. Pohlmann So You Want To Retire In Paradise - Thoughts On Bali, Singapore And New Guinea ~ by Bruce E. Pohlmann - Once upon a time, there was a man with a band of children, a lovely wife and a house in Bali. Life was good, but this man thought that life could be better if only he didn’t have to work. This is the story of that man and his dream. Bali. For some people the name says it all - warm seas, soft sands, cold beers, vibrant colors, exotic sounds, friendly people, large smiles, laughing children, a multitude of inexpensive small hotels and homestays. Bali. A land of wonder and magic set in the warm waters of the Bali Sea and the Indian Ocean. Hand planted rice, homemade religious offerings, vibrant cloths used in ceremonial clothes.   The Anomalous Real Estate market that is Singapore - By Hajar Ali The Anomalous Real Estate market that is Singapore - The Anomalous Real Estate market that is Singapore ~ Being featured in the most recent issue of Wallpaper Navigator as one of the cities to visit, Singapore is making its reputation as a ‘city that’s learnt that it’s ok to live a little’.  Most of the efforts towards being creative are, in its purest irony, government-driven, as detractors all too often point out. But government sanctioned licence and creativity isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as this city shows.   The Bluest of the REIT Blue-Chips: Now On Sale in Singapore - By Eric Roseman The Bluest of the REIT Blue-Chips: Now On Sale in Singapore - The Bluest of the REIT Blue-Chips: Now On Sale in Singapore - For global investors seeking the best of all worlds, Singapore is probably one of the most undervalued property markets this decade.  A combination of powerful investment factors, including rising income distributions, currency appreciation, a thriving real estate market, and a favorable tax regime all make Singapore one of the best property values in the world right now.   The Singapore Taxi Driver - Fast, Easy And Efficient In Singapore ~ By Ieuan Dolby The Singapore Taxi Driver - Fast, Easy And Efficient In Singapore ~ by Ieuan Dolby - Fast, easy and efficient could describe life in Singapore. You don’t stroll along the streets in a world of your own with time to spare and you definitely do not walk when a taxi is waiting nearby. Life in Singapore is geared towards the making of money and any spare moment given is put to that task. So if one should need to get to work or get to the office, go shopping or attend the cinema (because the children insist on it) then transport is essential.   Slovakia . Living in Slovakia - By Maryanne Vermeulen Living in Slovakia - Living in Slovakia - For about 7 years we have been searching the world for a place to live an easier, less constricted lifestyle, longing  to find a more basic and natural way of life than in our home country Holland. During those years we have visited other western countries like Australia, Canada, and the US only to find out that the rules for immigration are so restricting.  This is understandable from their economic point of view: wanting your labour or your money, but to us this would have meant less freedom instead of more.   The Slovak Tiger ~ Buy a Castle for Three Cents…Live Well for US$1,500/month ~ By Mark Nestmann The Slovak Tiger ~ Buy a Castle for Three Cents…Live Well for US$1,500/month ~ by Mark Nestmann - Like buying gold at US$35/ounce before it soared in the 1970s…getting in on the Microsoft IPO at US$21/share (and picking up a cool 27,800% profit after all splits)…or investing in property in Miami Beach in the 1980s when you could pick up a beachfront condo for US$30,000? (You can’t touch one much bigger than a closet for under US$300,000 today.) Of course, that’s the trouble with those opportunities. They only seem obvious in hindsight, while it takes a special kind of foresight to recognize them.   Slovenia . Slovenia: A Proud History, a Promising Future - Moving to Slovenia - By Ruth Halcomb Slovenia: A Proud History, a Promising Future - Moving to Slovenia - A Mediterranean climate along the coast, lush vineyards and fields of sunflowers inland, virgin forests, snow capped mountains and sky resorts -- no, we're not California. You'll find all this plus gothic cathedrals, baroque palaces and more in Slovenia, a tiny country no bigger than New Jersey. From Slovenia you could go to Venice, Italy, for a Sunday outing and be back in time for dinner. Oddly enough, many people haven't even heard of it, and others confuse it with Slovakia.   Slovenia: Old Europe at its Best - By Diane Taylor Slovenia: Old Europe at its Best - Slovenia feels the way Europe did 30 or 40 years ago, when life was slower and more civilized. The capital, Ljubljana, often compared to Paris and Prague, is more manageable and relaxed. The Kras wine region reminds me of Tuscany before the crowds, and the Slovenians are aware of the need to limit development.   South Africa . A Critical Look At South Africa - Politics And Economics ~ By Jurgen Klemann A Critical Look At South Africa - Politics And Economics ~ by Jurgen Klemann - When I worked for a business and management consulting firm in Johannesburg, the first multi – racial election was held in South Africa. The days of the election were proclaimed public holidays. On the first morning of the election, as I did not have to work, I went to my favourite restaurant in Jo’burg for an extensive breakfast. When turning around the corner, I realized all of a sudden that the police had done a complete road block.   A tumbling South African rand makes luxurious living in Cape Town affordable - Real Estate in Cape Town - By Cheryl Taylo A tumbling South African rand makes luxurious living in Cape Town affordable - Real Estate in Cape Town - Now is the time to invest in property in South Africa. A weak rand gives you tremendous buying power if you're paying with dollars or sterling. In short, you can buy a lot of house for your money. For example, you can get a luxurious 6-bedroom detached house for $87,726, a 4-bedroom house for $52,998, a beachside apartment for under $19,000, or a city-center pied-à-terre for $11,157. With 300 days of sunshine per year and a quality of life unaffordable back home, South Africa also makes good sense as a retirement or holiday home destination.   Between Mountain and Sea - Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town, South Africa By Nicole Crozier Between Mountain and Sea - Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town, South Africa - Between Mountain and Sea - Atlantic Seaboard, Cape Town, South Africa - Voted the best foreign city in the UK's 2004 Telegraph Travel Awards, Cape Town is an extraordinary city. Its physical beauty is unrivaled and is accurately described as a lifestyle destination. The rugged mountains present natural playgrounds resembling artist rendered backdrops that also have practical, rich soil. The mountain sides have become cultivation havens and a wine estate luncheon is never more than an hour’s drive away. In Cape Town, dilemmas often begin with choosing a beach. Which stretch of white sand, near which rocky cove or kelp forest should I admire beautiful people on today?   Cape Dutch Architecture - The Little Provisions Stop That Did - South Africa's Cape Dutch Architecture - By Nicole Crozier Cape Dutch Architecture - The Little Provisions Stop That Did - South Africa's Cape Dutch Architecture - Diverse influences from medieval Holland and Germany, French Huguenots and Indonesia contributed to the graceful and unique style known as Cape Dutch Architecture. A small population mingling Eastern and European styles combined with local resources resulted in the elegant, reed thatch buildings found all over the Western Cape Province. These Cape Dutch Homesteads are not a product of a formal school of architecture but instead were created out of necessity and designed from the creative minds of their craftsmen.   Escape to Cape Town - Moving To One Of The World's Most Beautiful Cities ~ By Connie Gargano Escape to Cape Town - Moving To One Of The World's Most Beautiful Cities ~ By Connie Gargano - Cape town is said to be one the most exciting cities in the world. The mountains behind and the beaches in front. Cape Town has always been a popular retirement destination for Brits. And recently it has become a popular business location for companies from the U.S. If you are thinking about moving your business to South Africa then you may need the help of a local consultant. The above article will help you contact a group that can do just that.   Global sporting events impact on SA property prices - By Lange Public Relations Global sporting events impact on SA property prices - Global sporting events impact on SA property prices - Much has been said about the positive sentiment towards South African property created by winning the right to host the 2010 world cup; now an analysis of major global sporting events has put some numbers to the hype. Speaking at the launch of SOLD, a new magazine for estate agents published by MortgageSA, Managing Director Saul Geffen says, “We can get an idea of what is likely to happen to our property prices if we analyse major global sports events like previous soccer world cups and the Olympics.   Guide to opening a business in South Africa - By Isebell Gauché Guide to opening a business in South Africa - Guide to opening a business in South Africa - Why would anyone want to open a business in a country where people get killed for less than $5? There are many good reasons. South Africa may be the country with the highest crime and AIDS rate in the world, but it offers several incentives that cannot be overlooked.   South Africa: crime, a suspicious “epidemic” - And some of the world’s best real estate bargains - By Doug Casey South Africa: crime, a suspicious “epidemic” - And some of the world’s best real estate bargains - I’ve seen no evidence of an AIDS plague anywhere in Africa. No overloaded hospitals, no sick people lying about the streets, no horror stories from locals and the epicenter of the epidemic is supposed to be in the very places in central and southern Africa where I’ve spent the most time. In fact, when I was in the Congo’s Katanga province last year, I went out of my way to visit a hospital in Lumumbashi run by a Belgian doctor to talk with someone who actually dealt with these things first hand. His opinion was that people were dying of lots of things, but not noticeably more than was ever the case. He thought that to whatever degree AIDS was a problem, malaria was a vastly bigger problem. He thought AIDS was 90% hysteria and 10% reality.   South Africa ~ Prime Real Estate ~ By Daryl Ducasse South Africa ~ Prime Real Estate ~ by Daryl Ducasse - Property has long been considered the ultimate investment class, whether primary residence, income opportunity, retirement security or your very own vacation destination. Owning a ‘piece of dirt’ has always been humankind’s interpretation of self. However and wherever it is used as a source of personal security, the fundamentals of sound property investment always comprise location and value.   South Africa ~ The World’s New Destination ~ By Tony O'Kelly South Africa ~ The World’s New Destination ~ by Tony O'Kelly - As other countries around the globe make it more and more difficult to migrate to, South Africa has eased its restrictions. The intention of the South African Government is to attract skilled workers to the country. South Africa is short of 500,000 graduates in various fields including IT, Engineering, Business and many other technical fields. One of the strategies is for South Africa to become the call centre capital of the world. This requires skilled people and investment.   The Dangers Of South Africa ~ Fear Of Crime ~ By Bronwyn McIntosh The Dangers Of South Africa ~ Fear Of Crime ~ by Bronwyn McIntosh - Do you know that feeling of awakening at 3am?  Ah yes, we all know that too well, that sudden knowledge that a loud noise has awakened you - the sound of a car starting, the sound of a gun shot, the sound of a scream, the sound of police sirens blaring, dogs barking, the alarm on the front gate triggered by someone opening it, the outside security lights blazing because of movement outside, the security alarm blaring.   The Desperate Faces Of Durban ~ South Africa's Tourist Mecca Unraveling ~ By Carol L. Bowman The Desperate Faces Of Durban ~ South Africa's Tourist Mecca Unraveling ~ by Carol L. Bowman - After 14 days of schlepping through Southern Africa, we had crisscrossed South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Swaziland. After collecting 17 new stamps in our passports, my husband and I decided that touching our toes in the Indian Ocean might be the perfect ending. We selected the much publicized, vibrant, seaside city of Durban, South Africa for our “grand finale”. Durban is billed as having the most unique, African feel of any South African city, with a complex interweaving of Zulu, Indian and Dutch African culture.   They Say Cape Town Is Friendly ~ In South Africa ~ By Ben Murphy They Say Cape Town Is Friendly ~ In South Africa ~ by Ben Murphy - Before travelling to South Africa, I sought the advice of one of my Australian relatives, who frequently visits there on business. “You’re going to Cape Town? That’s good. I went to Johannesburg and didn’t like it. Everyone says that Cape Town is much more friendly, what they mean is that it’s safe.”   Thoughts On South Africa And New Zealand ~ Hitchhiking And Economics By Juergen Hans Klemann Thoughts On South Africa And New Zealand ~ Hitchhiking And Economics ~ By Juergen Hans Klemann - Very good article on passing time around the globe. Jurgen has worked and traveled around the world and in the above article he gives you some ideas about the places he has lived in and what to look out for as well as a little history. For Jurgen South Africa and New Zealand are the two most beautiful countries in the world. Read his article and find out why.   South East Asia . A Ramble in South East Asia - A Ramble in South East Asia - By Ron Hannah A Ramble in South East Asia - A Ramble in South East Asia - Ron Hannah, a Canadian who 'came of age' in the 1960s, the 'Vietnam War' era, takes a ramble around 21st century Vietnam.  This is the first of six 'musings'.....more to follow in the coming months.....The motorcycles of Hanoi - ah, who would have thought, in the let's-bomb-them-back to-the-stone-age sixties, that Hanoi would ever again have streets, let alone vehicles?  But vehicles it has "by the glory" (Ruth's favourite phrase), and the two-wheeled motorized variety predominates by far.   A Ramble in South East Asia - A Ramble in South East Asia - By Ron Hannah A Ramble in South East Asia - A Ramble in South East Asia - Continuing Ron Hannah's observational and perceptive ramble...."We were interested in the villages around Sapa and I wanted to see Dien Bien Phu where the French were defeated in 1954.  We heard from returning travellers that it was below freezing up there, and that travel was difficult.  The spectre of a very large Australian tourist at a streetside shop trying to buy a sweater that would fit him in this land of small people, was what finally scrubbed those plans, I think."   A Ramble in South East Asia: Part 3 - A Ramble in South East Asia: Part 3 - By Ron Hannah A Ramble in South East Asia: Part 3 - A Ramble in South East Asia: Part 3 - Part 3:More than once on my I travels was painfully aware, and more than a little embarrassed, by my wealth and soft life compared to these people.  I had been reduced to bankruptcy in Canada, yet I was still far better off and had many more opportunities than these labourers.  They were cutting irregular chunks of red clay from the ground with their shovels and stacking them piece by piece, bucket by bucket, onto the circle.  What they put inside to fire the clay was not clear.  They noticed us and waved, making jokes that may or may not have been polite.   Spain . A Journey Into Undiscovered Andalucia ~ A Stone Cottage And Beautiful Landscapes ~ By Mark Medley A Journey Into Undiscovered Andalucia ~ A Stone Cottage And Beautiful Landscapes ~ By Mark Medley - Living in the mountains of Spain just beyond the sea sounds like a wonderful experience. Mark Medley reports from the mountains of Andalucia and lets us know that there are some great old stone cottages in the abandon towns of Andalucia. Internet service is available in these remote regions and most other services are nearby, but you still have the old rural life of Spain going on around you. More likely than not you will have to refurbish your cottage and there are plenty of people who can help you do this. And as anyone who has visited Spain knows the people the parties and everything else that has to do with Spain is great fun.   A Memorable Painting Journey, 1978 - Travel And Memories ~ By Diane Leon A Memorable Painting Journey, 1978 - Travel And Memories ~ by Diane Leon - Remembering a great journey can make the stress of the present seem bearable. Remembering a beautiful trip and writing about it is what you'll find in the above article. We turn back to the year 1978 and are taken over the Pyrnees mountains and end up at a small artist colony in the Aragon province of Spain. Sounds like a good time.   The  Expat’s Guide to Living in Spain - A report on moving to Spain. The nation that produced the twentieth centuries best artists; including Picasso and Miro.  The backdrop for the novel The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, the novel about expats that changed our perspective of the world. Spain is among the quintessential expat destinations. With fine real estate, excellent food, profound culture, and some of Europe's best islands and beaches, Spain is an extremely worthy consideration as an expat destination. This report by Arin Vahanian, eighty pages in length, provides the details that we need when considering Spain as a destination.  Real Estate, Contacts, Employment, Legal Considerations, Citizenship, all laid out in a comprehensive easy to read format.  An Expat’s Guide to Living in Spain will save you money, answer your questions, and prepare you to live in Spain.  Available online in eBook form:  An Expat’s Guide to Living in Spain - Click Here to learn more - . A round-up of the top 10 golf courses in Spain - Sports Travel -   A round-up of the top 10 golf courses in Spain - Sports Travel -    A Spanish Love Affair ~ Living On Ibiza ~ By Katharina Bishop A Spanish Love Affair ~ Living On Ibiza ~ by Katharina Bishop - In March 2003 I found myself in a travel agent’s office together with my husband Charles and our seven month old son Kiran. England had been cold, dark and rainy for the past six months and we felt that it was time for a family holiday. Two weeks soaking up the rays on a Mediterranean island seemed like a very good idea. Given the choice between various last minute packages to Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, we breezily opted for the latter.   Actualities: $18 a night lodging in Alicante…the world’s best dancing girls… waiting for the Bay Islands Channel…no more tolls in Mexico - By Ken Layne Actualities: $18 a night lodging in Alicante…the world’s best dancing girls… waiting for the Bay Islands Channel…no more tolls in Mexico - $18 a night…stylish lodging in Alicante. Weary of public transport after a day stuck in Madrid’s airport, I splurged on a taxi and went straight to El Barrio, Alicante’s old town. Like all Alicante locals I met in this off-season, my driver spoke nothing but Spanish. It was good to have to make myself understood. I requested the Pension Las Monges, which I’d heard was like a boutique hotel with eight lovely and individual rooms. With much confusion but more good will, the driver took me right to the place, almost, because it’s within the old pedestrian zone beneath Alicante’s shabbily magnificent Castillo de Santa Bárbara, which roosts over the seaside town. The driver gave me directions I could almost understand: through the arch, right one block, past the plaza. And there it was.   Alicante, Spain And How To Explore It In One Day ~ A Foot Walk Around Alicante ~ By Robert Carlton Alicante, Spain And How To Explore It In One Day ~ A Foot Walk Around Alicante ~ by Robert Carlton - After just coming back from a short business trip to London, my wife and I were sitting together with friends in our garden in the Alicante suburb of San Juan on a warm summer evening.  Whilst sitting together I mentioned a request from Escapeartist for an Alicante article which I received some days before. You should write about “Alicante and how to explore it in one day” – my wife said, because traditional Costa Blanca tourists really won’t have much interest in the city – but more in the beaches, villages and bars around the area.   Alpine living in Spain - Farmhouses from $60,000 - By International Living Alpine living in Spain - Farmhouses from $60,000 - Travelers Bulletin Board - The last affordable market in Europe: Adriatic hideaways from $70,000 - Plus an article on What investors in Nicaragua aren't telling you -    An Ex-Ex-Pat ~ Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - Home Home on the Range? - By Libby Royster An Ex-Ex-Pat ~ Even Cowgirls Get the Blues - Home Home on the Range? - Libby Royster returned to the US after two years as an instructor of English as a foreign language in Madrid, Spain. Those two years were the best, most challenging, of her life, she says. Returning wasn't an easy choice. She left a lot behind. Her observations show that expats can return home, again, but not without leaving much behind. She says, "Life does not end when you come back. You just have to try harder, rage against the known, and mix it up a little. And you can always go back…"   An Old Olive Mill in Southern Spain …. Business AND Pleasure !! - By Dianne Shotton An Old Olive Mill in Southern Spain …. Business AND Pleasure !! - An Old Olive Mill in Southern Spain …. Business AND Pleasure !! - Embraced by the rugged, but beautiful terrain to be found in the heart of Andalucía, Gaucín was once a sleepy, sun-bleached village.  Nowadays, it is managing to balance a centuries-old way of life with a burgeoning interest from tourists seeking the authenticity of ‘real’ Spain.  Here they are discovering the ideal ‘get away from it all’ holiday destination... indeed, one of the attractions of Gaucín is that it is so laid-back, even the cicadas take a siesta   Andalucia, Spain: coastal cottages from $15,000 - Real Estate in Spain - By International Living Magazine Andalucia, Spain: coastal cottages from $15,000 - Real Estate in Spain - A Special Issue of International Living on Spain    Ape Attacks, Bull Fights And Cities That Never Sleep ~ In Spain ~ By Dawnelle Salant Ape Attacks, Bull Fights And Cities That Never Sleep ~ In Spain ~ by Dawnelle Salant - I was particularly eager to visit Barcelona as it is part of Catalonia. Being a Canadian, I’m fascinated by other countries that also have two “separate” regions, complete with their own languages, and I wasn’t disappointed. Barcelona definitely has a different feel than the rest of Spain. It’s not just hearing Catalan spoken, there’s something a bit more sophisticated about the city. It’s rich with history, culture and art all its own.   Barcelona - From The Best Of International Living - By Michael Palmer Barcelona - From The Best Of International Living - "Barcelona is like Paris or Rome —only smaller and a fraction of the price. It’s the chicest city in Spain. All the trendy European and American designers have shops here. It’s also safe, cheap…and easy to get around. And it has some excellent,  if bizarre,  architecture. - - -  Real estate and rentals in Barcelona are surprisingly inexpensive… and a very sound investment, particularly right now, if you’re paying with dollars or sterling. Prices are relatively low because Spain is still digging itself out of General Franco’s socialist mess."   Barcelona: trendy shops, chichi buildings - One of Europe’s lowest costs of living - By Michael Palmer Barcelona: trendy shops, chichi buildings - One of Europe’s lowest costs of living - Barcelona is like Paris or Rome, only smaller and a fraction of the price.  It's the choicest city in Spain. All the trendy European & American designers have shops here. It's also safe, cheap and easy to get around. And it has some excellent, if bizarre-architecture.   Become a citizen of sunny Spain, and open a back door to the European Union - Moving To Spain - By International Living Magazine Become a citizen of sunny Spain, and open a back door to the European Union - Moving To Spain - More of the Special Issue of International Living on Spain    Buying a Home in Spain - Real Estate in Spain - By David Hampshire Buying a Home in Spain - Real Estate in Spain - Spain offers infinite variety with something for everyone, including magnificent beaches for sun worshippers and spectacular unspoiled countryside for magnificent vistas and  peaceful strolling.  There are also an abundance of mountains and seas for sports fans and a vibrant night-life for the jet set. For those who are comfortable living in cities, there are bustling sophisticated metropolises. The Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol have the highest percentage of retired persons in the world, when both Spaniards and foreigners are included. If you’re seeking a second home, will it be mainly used for long weekends or for lengthier stays.   Coming to Spain? - By Patrick Collins Coming to Spain? - Coming to Spain? - The first part in a series of short practical articles (very general in scope) for people who plan on visiting or living in Spain, written with the intention of pointing out aspects of Spanish life that may be challenging to foreigners.   Down To Earth Living - The Cave Houses Of Southern Spain - By Charles Leary and Vaughn Perret Down To Earth Living - The Cave Houses Of Southern Spain - The Cave Houses Of Southern Spain -  Old cave houses in the Granada countryside can still be found for a relatively small investment. Last year, old cave houses in need of renovation were on the market in Granada's pricey Albaycin district for 30,000 to 50,000 euros on small lots with no conventional buildings and no Alhambra views. For finished cave houses, expect to pay eighty to two-hundred thousand euros, depending on the adjoining land that goes with the cave, the views, etc. There are currently cave houses with land advertised for as high as 900,000 euros, with Alhambra views, though we regard this price as extraordinary. Given the real estate market in Spain, prices will continue to go up. You can also explore areas such as Guadix and either buy existing cave homes or buy land and build, with the latter option probably presenting the best value if you discover a good site.   Escape To The Other Side Of The Atlantic ~ France, Spain And Dubai ~ By Rosemary Jaworsky Escape To The Other Side Of The Atlantic ~ France, Spain And Dubai ~ by Rosemary Jaworsky - After my last article for Escape From America Magazine, LIVING in GASCONY, (May 2005), I was inundated with requests for information on residency, home buying, working and healthcare, etc. I tried to answer every email to the best of my knowledge and from some borrowed knowledge, too. Some of my writers, who were keen to learn more of the area and were interested in buying, actually paid me a visit. I still have about 6 more scheduled visits for September and October and two confirmed visits for April and May next year. Since then, I have continued to receive requests on secondary home ownership with a view to later retirement.   Experience Spain And Learn Spanish - Studying In Spain At Don Quijote Language School  -   Experience Spain And Learn Spanish - Studying In Spain At Don Quijote Language School  - Spain is a really seductive country. In January 2000 I came from Brazil to Salamanca (In the North West Spain) for a short stay to learn Spanish and see for myself all the´exotic landscapes I imagined while hearing fairy tales in my childhood. I decided to stay longer and four years later I'm still here. In my opinion this country is one of the best places to live in the world. In the lines below you'll find out why Spain is so interesting and why it is so important to learn Spanish nowadays. Life is good in Spain and people know how to enjoy it.   Finding The Center In Barcelona ~ A Year In Barcelona ~ By Blane Bachelor Finding The Center In Barcelona ~ A Year In Barcelona ~ By Blane Bachelor - Barcelona is the capital of Catalonian culture and anyone from Barcelona will tell that being Catalonian is something very different from being Spanish. The city is covered in layers of history and culture and as a place to spend a year in it offers something for everyone: great food, great people and great sites. Go and see for yourself.   Forum Cuba Libre -   Forum Cuba Libre - Forum Cuba Libre - Our contacts and our research led us to Spain, specifically the Andalucian coastal towns and the islands of Menorca and Mallorca. This is a beautiful part of the world, of course, with sun and sand, harbor towns and mountain villages. You can enjoy the best of the ancient and the modern-tumble-down, centuries-old farmhouses and world-class golf courses... generations-old markets and first-rate infrastructure.   France And Spain By Train: Like Drinking Café Olé ~ By Maxine Schur France And Spain By Train: Like Drinking Café Olé ~ Like Drinking Café Olé ~ By Maxine Schur - Great article about traveling through the Costa Brava on Spain's northeastern border near France. This is an area that became popular with artists in the 1920s because of its great climate, people and food. If you want to know a little about the towns that dot this area then the above article has some great resources for exploring Costa Brava.   Green And Virgin Spain - Nothing Like Its Packaged Sibling To The South ~ By Steenie Harvey Green And Virgin Spain - Nothing Like Its Packaged Sibling To The South ~ by Steenie Harvey - If you’ve wondered where discerning Spanish go in summer, I can tell you. They’re on the Bay of Biscay...vacationing in tasteful coastal towns like San Sebastian and Santander. Pounded by the Atlantic, the Bay of Biscay fronts Spain’s northern coast —and it’s practically virgin territory for foreign visitors.   Hassle-free building on the Costa Brava - how one couple created a dream home for S24.500 - Moving to Spain - By International Living Magazine Hassle-free building on the Costa Brava - how one couple created a dream home for S24.500 - Moving to Spain -   How To Walk In Spain ~ Trekking Through The Beauty Of Spain ~ By Richard Robinson How To Walk In Spain ~ Trekking Through The Beauty Of Spain ~ by Richard Robinson - Spain was never the softest of options for walkers - even if you could plan your way around the heat of high summer there were always the dodgy maps to catch you out. Those tantalising mountains, rising mistily beyond the beach or viewed from some castle rampart remained mysterious and inaccessible, vaguely daubed on playschool maps that ripped apart when opened. Things have improved in recent years, though, and the British expatriate community that can take some credit for blazing the trails, organising groups and writing walker’s guide books. Spain these days is more walker-friendly and the repertoire of rambles, the incredible variety of landscapes, grows ever more accessible.   I Want A Property In Spain - Real Estate In Spain -   I Want A Property In Spain - Real Estate In Spain - If you have decided to buy a property in Spain, there has never been a better time to set the wheels in motion.  Interest rates are low at the moment and there is an absolutely fabulous selection of properties to choose from.   In Need Of Energy ~ 3 Paths To Personal Power From The South Of Spain By Paul Read In Need Of Energy ~ 3 Paths To Personal Power From The South Of Spain ~ by Paul Read - At first it seemed a romantic alternative; candle lit meals, gas lighting and early evenings to bed. Living 2 km from the nearest electricity pylon gave us a novel and factura-free lifestyle. Our friends frowned at our choice of such a remote farmhouse, but although we had been pampered by city life, we accepted that campo living was about going back to basics. Equipped with a portable 12v battery pack we could recharge our mobile phones and plug in a B&W 2 inch screen TV. What more would we need? Well, for a start there was the washing machine, the water pump and the iron. We had to use a generator for these things but the noise and the fumes destroyed the peace of our valley as well as the lining of my lungs. But AA batteries alone couldn’t run such power hungry items.   Is Land Ownership in Spain Truly Freehold? - By Tom Clancy Is Land Ownership in Spain Truly Freehold? - Is Land Ownership in Spain Truly Freehold? - Taking land without justification or at worst, adequate compensation, is an undeniable  breach of human rights and perhaps of the theory of freehold land ownership but,..hey what human rights existed in Spain in 1938..or even later?   Living In Caravaca De La Cruz In Murcia, Spain ~ The Beauty Of Spain ~ By Hugh Phelan Living In Caravaca De La Cruz In Murcia, Spain ~ The Beauty Of Spain ~ by Hugh Phelan - If you are thinking of living abroad for the first time, I can't think of a better country to start with than Spain. Great people, great places and great food. The above article describes what it feels like to arrive in Spain for the first time without any presuppositions - the best way to arrive in any country.   On An Olive Farm In Spain ~ Zen And The Art Of Gorse Clearance ~ By Paul Read On An Olive Farm In Spain ~ Zen And The Art Of Gorse Clearance ~ by Paul Read - Lets try and be positive about this. Gorse can provide a useful sanctuary for some animals and birds, I’ve seen toads and wasps for example happily co-existing within this hardy plant. Its presence, one has to admit prevents soil erosion in places that perhaps few other plants would grow.   On The Camino de Santiago ~ The Way Of St. James ~ By Richard Frederick On The Camino de Santiago ~ The Way Of St. James ~ by Richard Frederick - There may come a point in some people's lives when they decide that they must go on a pilgrimage.  Pilgrimages come in different sorts. Some may be less weighty; they can lead to Graceland or to Jim Morrison's grave in Paris. Others may be personally important, perhaps the return of an emigrant to his birthplace after many years of separation from his homeland. Others can lead to the settlement of a new country. The dictionary says that a pilgrimage is a journey undertaken with a specific objective.   On The Coast Of Spain ~ A Look At The Ecology Of Coastal Livng ~ By Paul Read On The Coast Of Spain ~ A Look At The Ecology Of Coastal Livng ~ by Paul Read - Over the last twelve months, we have seen nature at its most unforgiving: whilst the tragic tsunami hit Asia, Spain experienced freak frosts that decimated crops and fruit trees followed up a drought that many believe is one of the worst in living memory. This summer, whilst the USA was hit by Katrina we have witnessed jelly-fish invasions on the coast and tornados in Barcelona   Open a Bar in Remote, Rural Spain - Are You Crazy? - By Elaine Ablett Open a Bar in Remote, Rural Spain - Are You Crazy? - Open a Bar in Remote, Rural Spain - Are You Crazy? -  Is establishing a successful, thriving British bar/restaurant in a remote part of Spain a possibility? Buy two crumbling old farmhouses in a remote, rural part of Spain and open up as a British bar/restaurant? Are you mad?   Open Wounds ~ Looking At The Recent Past In Spain ~ By Paul Read Open Wounds ~ Looking At The Recent Past In Spain ~ by Paul Read - The 20th November 2005 marks the 30th anniversary of Franco’s death. One year ago the government promised to “restore the true history” for those that died defending the democracy enjoyed by all today. Because for whilst the Nationalists were honoured as heroes, the Republicans that died fighting fascism lie forgotten in hidden graves. But the removal, earlier this year, of the last statue of Franco from the streets of Madrid created an unexpected backlash amongst Spain’s not-so-dormant Right-wing. Will the Government now continue in its pledge to “honour the dead” and to “re-write history” or  will it just let old wounds fester?   Owning A Business In Spain - Buying A Bar ~ By Samantha Hornick Owning A Business In Spain - Buying A Bar ~ by Samantha Hornick - Ever wondered about buying a bar in Spain? Last year alone, a record number of ex-pats left their home towns for a new life abroad, and 75,000 of them bought properties in Spain, a figure which is expected to rise to 100,000 in 2005. There is little mystery as to why Spain has become such a popular destination for those seeking a new life. For many Spain is the perfect choice with year round sunshine and a better quality of life overall. But the biggest dilemma facing most potential émigrés is finding work abroad and the one dream most of them share is to own and run a bar in the sun. Buying your own bar is the most appealing and low cost option for those wishing to move abroad and ´do their own thing´.   Practicalities and Idiosyncrasies of Life in Madrid - When you come to live in Madrid - By Various Authors Practicalities and Idiosyncrasies of Life in Madrid - When you come to live in Madrid - the burden of cultural adjustment will be upon YOU and there will be significant changes to which you will have to adjust.  Spain is a western country with attitudes, habits, and a standard of living that is broadly speaking, the same as in Britain and the US. This doesn't mean that you won't need time to get used to the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of your new surroundings, though.   Property Picks:  Banana groves in the Canaries... three holiday homes for less than $50,000… your own Irish island - By Various Authors Property Picks:  Banana groves in the Canaries... three holiday homes for less than $50,000… your own Irish island - Barcelona is a marvelous and exciting city. When I first came here, I intended to stay only one year. That was 35 years ago. I now specialize in renting houses and flats to expatriates who work in banks and consulates. Rent in Barcelona at the moment is very high, but the center of Barcelona is one of the best places to live in Spain. You could certainly do very well buying properties in the city center and renting them to the increasing number of expatriates and travelers who come here every year.   Real Estate in Spain - By Vince Barnes  Real Estate in Spain - Real Estate in Spain - In light of the Valencia Land Grab Law is the Valencia Region worth investing in? ~ Many people have invested in the region in previous years and have seen terrific returns on their money. In my own example I bought a property 4 years ago and it has grown in value by some 300%.If anyone knows of a better investment vehicle then I would be pleased to know about it. However in light of the recent coverage of LRAU – Valencia’s land grab law – is Valencia still a safe place to buy property?   Really Rural Spain - By Rachel Webb Really Rural Spain - Really Rural Spain - The city of Jaén city sprawls around the base of a pine sloped hill and a magnificent 16th century cathedral draws the eye.  Rest on stone weathered benches on the cathedral plaza under monstrous magnolia trees. There are many smaller monuments, well deserving of a maze-like stroll around the cobbled narrow streets with their profusion of flowers tumbling through wrought-iron railings.   Relocation, Relocation, Relocation! - Moving To The South Of Spain ~ By Mark FR Wilkins Relocation, Relocation, Relocation! - Moving To The South Of Spain ~ by Mark FR Wilkins - Over the last few years we have heard an increasing number, perhaps apocryphal tales of UK citizens “not recognising “ the country they grew up in. Feeling alienated in their own country and looking for a way out. When you decide that you are nearing the end a busy working life, your family have fled the nest or you simply want a better quality of life for your family, your mind will inevitably wander to questions of whether there is a better quality of life to be found elsewhere. We’ve all attended those “lifestyle” shows at the NEC or Olympia where the prospect of 330 days a year of sun, a milder climate for arthritic bones, a golf course for every day of the week, international quality schooling and a magnificently diversity of influences are dangled carrot like beneath our noses.   Running A Business In Spain ~ A Little Advice ~ By Katja Dekker Running A Business In Spain ~ A Little Advice ~ by Katja Dekker - It has been almost three years since we moved to Spain and finding our way around has been fun and sometimes a struggle. When you move abroad you realize that you are giving up your career, your house, the lease car and all. But in return, there is a romantic future lying ahead of you; a future without stress, traffic jams, thousands of emails a day, dark clouds, rain. An exiting future with new possibilities, new people and new habits.   Running to Spain - By Mark FR Wilkins Running to Spain - Running to Spain - Whatever your life stage, I am confident that you and your family will experience a new lease of life, often out of doors, and you’ll wonder for ever more why you didn’t do it ten years ago   Spain: An Overview -   Spain: An Overview - Spain: An Overview - Spain is a country with a rich, colourful and diverse history, a land of many varied regions and a people who are proud and welcoming. For many first-time visitors to Spain, the expectations are of frequently used and evocative media images of sangria, sombreros and bullfights. While all of these play a part within traditional Spanish culture, there is much more that makes modern Spain a progressive, diverse and cosmopolitan society.   Spain ~ Revival Of Arab Baths ~ By Richard Robinson Spain ~ Revival Of Arab Baths ~ by Richard Robinson - In the shadow of the fabulous Alhambra palace, El Bañuelo survives as an empty shell, the last Arab bath in Granada. The rich carving and tiling, the hot running water have long gone, but shafts of sunlight fire through star-shaped openings in the vaulted roof, creating a shadow-play among the silent pillars, the arches and the bare stone walls. In Moorish times in Al-Andalus (the name given to the Moorish dominions in Spain) there was a bath on every street, gurgling with steaming water, crowded with the devout going about their ablutions. The city of Córdoba alone could boast 600 public baths in its 11th-century heyday.   Spanish Property Prices - By Elaine Ablett Spanish Property Prices - Spanish Property Prices - For many years now, Spain has been one of the most popular places for those wanting to start a new life in a foreign country.  By far one of the most popular reasons was that huse owners could sell their existing property in their home country and purchase a property in Spain at a very good price - thus leaving a large amount of capital that could either be invested or help serve as income through the forthcoming years.   Starting a New Life in Spain - By Elaine Ablett Starting a New Life in Spain - Starting a New Life in Spain ~ I suppose it was about ten years ago when we first started thinking about buying a property in Spain – a holiday home that we would intend to visit for two or three weeks of the year. Over the following years, at weekends, we would trail numerous property exhibitions organised by the big estate agencies. But back then, like with many others, owning a home abroad turned out to be only a dream, as the visits to the exhibitions were as far as we got and we never took that step further.   Starting A New Life In Spain ~ Making The Move ~ By Elaine Valet Starting A New Life In Spain ~ Making The Move ~ by Elaine Valet - I suppose it was about ten years ago when we first started thinking about buying a property in Spain – a holiday home that we would visit for two or three weeks of the year. Over the following years, at  weekends, we would trail numerous property exhibitions organised by the big estate agencies. But back then, like with many others, owning a home abroad turned out to be only a dream, as the visits to the exhibitions were as far as we got and we never took that step further.   Taking The Slow Route Home ~ Living On A Spanish Farm ~ By Paul Read Taking The Slow Route Home ~ Living On A Spanish Farm ~ by Paul Read - Miguel has sold his car and has decided to buy something much better. This new vehicle gives off no pollution, no emissions whatsoever. In fact it uses a very green sort of fuel that can be recycled for other uses. It transports him, his tools, his packed lunch and his dog to work but he rarely has to use a road. And when the sun sets over the green Vega that snakes up to his village from the Granada coast, his trusty mode of transport gets him safely back home down narrow alleyways that even a Smart Car would think twice before entering.   Temple De La Sagrada Familia - In Barcelona ~ By Shirleyann Costigan Temple De La Sagrada Familia - In Barcelona ~ by Shirleyann Costigan - I came to Barcelona to see Gaudi's masterpiece, the Temple de la Sagrada Família. However, when I discovered that six of my travel group wanted to see Parc Guëll I decided to visit the Parc with them before going my separate way. At the Tourist Office located in the Plaça de Catalunya it is possible to purchase a bus pass that offers two different sightseeing routes around the city, both on the same pass. Passengers can get off at any stop and catch the next red or blue bus that comes by every 20 minutes or so, but because the stop-and-go ride to the Parc would take 45 minutes, we opted to take the Metro directly to Parc Guëll station. That was a mistake.   The Call Of Girona - A Lost Treasure Found ~ By S.A. Costigan The Call Of Girona - A Lost Treasure Found ~ by S.A. Costigan - The ancient and beautiful city of Girona, Spain, located about 60 miles north of Barcelona, is a desirable destination on any travel itinerary. It’s loveliness stands quite apart from its deep history as the major Catalonian town on the Costa Brava.   The Camino de Santiago ~ In The Steps Of Popes, Princes And Kings ~ By Brandon Wilson The Camino de Santiago ~ In The Steps Of Popes, Princes And Kings ~ by Brandon Wilson - Although they say that it’s the journey that matters and not the destination, I, too, had my doubts. That was until I heard about Spain's Camino de Santiago. And what a difference that trip has made. If the idea of exploring Europe is met by a "been there, done that" response, think again. There’s a unique option whose concept started long before the advent of those whirlwind package tours. You can walk all or part of the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain for an intimate, at-your-own-pace exploration of a country steeped in magnificent beauty, art, history and faith.   Traveling And Teaching On The Mediterranean  -  Mallorca, Sardinia and Rhodes ~ By Ron Jenkins Traveling And Teaching On The Mediterranean  -  Mallorca, Sardinia and Rhodes ~ By Ron Jenkins - Traveling and teaching on the Mediterranean sounds like something from the Ancient world. That distinctive Mediterranean blue water mixed with rejuvenating Mediterranean air. It makes me think of a Chirico painting or a glass of retsina with a small plate of olive oil, tomato and feta.   Travels And Good Times In Portugal ~ First Time In Iberia ~ By Matthew Atlee Travels And Good Times In Portugal ~ First Time In Iberia ~ by Matthew Atlee - There is a new direct flight from Panama City to Madrid. The name of the airline is Air Madrid: the flights leaves every Monday and Friday; the flight takes 10 hours and 20 minutes: you fly up the Caribbean, over the Dominican Republic and then north past Florida, when you are in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean you turn east and fly straight over Portugal and Spain. When the trip was planned I thought we were just going to Spain and then realized we were also going to visit Portugal, which I really wanted to see because I had heard that Lisbon was a great city. It was!   1,000 Mile Bike Ride to Spain - Unique Travel - By Jerry Ritter 1,000 Mile Bike Ride to Spain - Unique Travel - In October 1999, I set out alone on a bike from Zurich, Switzerland to Cadiz, Spain to get back in shape. The plan was to get in condition as I biked along. Switzerland was probably the wrong place to start - like training to fight Tyson while fighting him. An article by Jerry Ritter - When Jerald Ritter isn't riding his bike he is publishing a magazine on living in the Caribbean. He has lived in and invested in the Caribbean and Latin America for much of the past thirty years. He publishes the Caribbean Property List Magazine, the largest online directory of Caribbean and Latin Americans properties on the Internet.   Working & Finding Work In Spain ~ Moving To Spain ~ By Gaetan Philppart Working & Finding Work In Spain ~ Moving To Spain ~ By Gaetan Philppart - Looking for a job in Spain could be difficult right now as Europe is in a bit of a slump. But there are always ways of finding jobs and the above article is filled with great ideas about how to find a job in Spain. Who cares about the money: think of the good times, the bars, the restaurants and the people you would meet.   Sri Lanka . Elephant Polo ~ The Biggest Sport in the World ~ Player Recruitment Announcement - Tickle and the Ivories -   Elephant Polo ~ The Biggest Sport in the World ~ Player Recruitment Announcement - Tickle and the Ivories - Tickle and the Ivories Elephant Polo Team was founded to raise money for recognized environmental charities in Asia and to eventually win one of the tournaments. And they're having a terrific amount of fun trying to achieve these aims! The team has an Australian flavour to it but welcomes women and men from all nationalities. In fact they have a few spots available for some of the forthcoming tournaments. You don't have to have any equine polo experience, so if you're interested in playing, supporting, seeing the videos, helping raise money for elephant-oriented charities, attending the tournaments and watching, or just hanging out with the team, then contact them.   Suriname . Adventures In Surinam ~ Into The Jungle ~ By John Spampinato Adventures In Surinam ~ Into The Jungle ~ by John Spampinato - Suriname - I suppose the irresistible lure enticing me there was the chance, an off chance at that, to be dropped off by a small plane in the middle of its tangled jungles and left to my own devices. Or maybe it was the country’s almost total obscurity. One ticketing agent - supposedly a South American ‘specialist’ - wanted to know where exactly Suriname was. I promised to send her a map and continued making calls.   More Adventures In Surinam ~ Explorations ~ By John Spampinato More Adventures In Surinam ~ Explorations ~ by John Spampinato - I had little success fishing the first several days, but there was plenty of food, and just about the first time I thought someone to share my rum with might be nice I had a surprise encounter with Garifuna bushmen - long removed progeny of nineteenth century slaves who, seeing the Guiana’s striking similarities to the jungles of their Congo origins, escaped their captors by simply vanishing into the wilderness where to this day many thrive unhindered, a feral society. Coming up over the ‘tall trees’ trail I swore I heard human laughter. Suddenly four sparsely dressed fellows appeared and froze in their tracks, as did I.  Smiling, I motioned them to the lean-to where I made various unintelligible offerings and possibly inappropriate inquiries.   Sweden . An Artic Ascent ~ On Top Of Sweden’s Highest Mountain ~ By Darren Packman An Artic Ascent ~ On Top Of Sweden’s Highest Mountain ~ by Darren Packman - As I stood trying to stamp life into my frozen feet in the tiny wooden cabin perched 1,890 metres up Sweden’s highest mountain, I found a tattered copy of the New Testament lying open on top of a rickety wooden table. I’d never read the New Testament in Swedish before. Staring out of the frosted window at the swirling snow clouds engulfing the remaining 200 vertical metres to the summit of Kebnekaise, I figured this might be a good time to start.   Finding Love In Sweden - Tales From Sweden ~ By Darren Packman Finding Love In Sweden - Tales From Sweden ~ by Darren Packman -  “As I sat at 35,000 feet hurtling at great speed towards the north of Sweden I stared down at the raw lump of herring and wondered whether I was really supposed to eat it or call the stewardess and ask her to put a parachute on it and throw it back into the sea.   Living In Sweden ~ A Pint-size Guide To Stockholm ~ By Darren Packman Living In Sweden ~ A Pint-size Guide To Stockholm ~ by Darren Packman - It’s not easy finding a Swedish pub in the country’s capital. In fact, there isn’t one, and believe you me I’ve looked. For the past five years I’ve lived as an English expat in Sweden working as an export manager for a British Brewery – a job that has required me to travel around much of the country and in particular the capital to drink in pubs   Surströmming in Northern Sweden - Yuck! YUCK!!!! - By Andreas Grundtvig Surströmming in Northern Sweden - Yuck! YUCK!!!! - Andreas Grundtvig went to Sweden and discovered the culinary practice of eating fermented fish, the stink from which will hopefully stay in that part of the world thanks to the Coriolis Effect and Wegner's Theory of Plate Tectonics. Grundtvig writes, "On a sunny balcony in soaring temperatures of 15ºC, my hosts take the tins to the bottom of the garden. Trying to protect their noses with their shoulders, they carefully open them. They try hard not to inhale as the pressurized stink emanates from a suspect, murky brown liquid. The smell is so overpowering, I wonder if somebody nearby has a very bad stomach problem and should make a quick exit to the crapper, or leave altogether."   Swedish for Beginners - By Matthew Nowachek Swedish for Beginners - Swedish for Beginners - A Didactic Warning by an American Student to Those Attempting to Access the Inaccessible Swedish Language.   Switzerland . Bittersweet Switzerland - Living in Switzerland ~ By Aimée Skidmore Bittersweet Switzerland - Living in Switzerland ~ by Aimée Skidmore - I make the three minute walk to my four- year old daughter, Celeste’s, neighborhood school four times a day.  Each time I find myself wondering what I am doing in Geneva, Switzerland.  I feel guilty that I have the time to make four trips to her school a day.  Between the times I have to be at the front door of the school when the automated bell chimes four times, I wait for the nap alarm to go off on our bedside clock.  This indicates that I need, once again, to change from slippers to shoes, and dash out the door. At times I long for my old teaching job back home so I can have something to grumble about when my husband gets home.  Sometimes I actually use the nap feature and sleep away the morning.  Other times I try to read, but become restless, stack the book on my leaning tower of bedside books, and jump up to sweep the floor or do the dishes.  Now and again I sit and stare out the window, eating Swiss chocolate and sipping coffee.  A feeling of contentedness slips over me.   Carless in Geneva ~ Living in Geneva ~ By Aimée Skidmore Carless in Geneva ~ Living in Geneva ~ by Aimée Skidmore - The invitation for the monthly Parent Student Association coffee was crumpled up in Isabel’s back pack when I found it on Wednesday morning.  I sat in the kitchen, looking at the paper and trying to decide whether I should go or not.  My eyes settled on the address of this month’s get-together: Centre Chavannes, Chavannes de Bogis.  I didn’t know where that was and so decided immediately to attend.  I didn’t really care for the last meeting, but the mission to travel without a car was irresistible.   Christmas In Zurich - New Toys And Old ~ By Bonnie Burns Christmas In Zurich - New Toys And Old ~ by Bonnie Burns - Nice article about Christmas in Germany and Switzerland. Bonnie takes us to the Cristkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany as well as the Spielzeugmuseum toy museum. Bonnie gives us an idea of what it feels like to be caught up in the Christmas mood in Germany.   Currency Cards ~ Like Having Liquid Gold In Your Wallet ~ By Sean Brodrick Currency Cards ~ Like Having Liquid Gold In Your Wallet ~ by Sean Brodrick - A Swiss Travel Cash card looks like a credit card, but has no name on it, just a numerical code. The user also gets a PIN code. The user calls his or her banker, who loads the card with a maximum 10,000 euros, U.S. dollars or Swiss francs. It can then be used to withdraw cash all over the world. Even better, there are no monthly limits of withdrawal, although a limit per withdrawal may apply. And you can reload the card when you run out of cash. Now, it’s not free. When you purchase the card and load it for the first time, you pay a commission of 1%, not unlike an insurance premium in the event of loss or theft. Charges for each withdrawal are three euros or three U.S. dollars (depending on the type of currency loaded in the card) worldwide, though local ATMs may add on their own charges. And when you reload it, you pay a commission of 1% on the reloading amount.   Definite Articles: How To Make Money Overseas As A Writer -Expat Writers Course - You want to live overseas.  You want to live free. You want to be your own boss and keep your own hours.  The question is how do you make a living. The first answer that comes to mind is writing.  At least that is the first answer that came to my mind. Writing is a good way to make a living overseas; travel articles, newspaper stringers, stuff for the folks back home.  It takes practice to write, but it can be learned, just as one learns to tie their shoes, or stand one leg.  It isn't an automatic process, but what is?  Now there is an expat writers course that can show you the basics...  next you'll be living in Paris and sitting in hip cafes...  or maybe you'll be in Budapest writing an ebook. Check it out. . Escape To Geneva ~ What You Need To Know To Make Your Escape ~ By Aimée Skidmore Escape To Geneva ~ What You Need To Know To Make Your Escape ~ by Aimée Skidmore - The young and famous; the rich and retired; the eccentric and persecuted have all sought refuge in Switzerland for hundreds of years.  Nastassja Kinski, Isabelle Adjani, Aga Khan, Alain Delon, and Yoko Ono are just a few of the famous who have relocated to Geneva because of the appealing surroundings, quality of life, and privacy afforded them.  There are many other benefits to living in Geneva as well.  They city is small, but urban.  There are 178,000 residents in a city with a vibrant and bustling downtown as well as quiet neighbourhoods.   Finding & Using An Offshore Broker - Swiss Style Service In The Americas By Swiss Style Service In The Americas Finding & Using An Offshore Broker - Swiss Style Service In The Americas - Finding & Using An Offshore Broker - If you're accustomed to using banks that shout your account balance across the room, give you an electric toaster for opening an account and then make you wait in endless lines to get to an impersonal service window; let me the first to inform you that the quiet and attentive dignity of Swiss service would be a big shock to you.  Bankers in Switzerland are also brokers.   Finding A Job At The UN - Learning Where To Look For A Job In The UN ~ By Michele Ann Jenkins Finding A Job At The UN - Learning Where To Look For A Job In The UN ~ By: Michele Ann Jenkins - The UN from my experience is a very hard organization to find a job in. Many of the jobs inside the UN are advertised only within the UN itself. And that is the key to finding a job with the UN: knowing someone who can tell you when job openings are posted. Living in Geneva and working in the Palace des Nations and handling the kinds of problems that the UN faces on a daily basis must be stimulating. Learn through the above article how to find a job in the UN and what its like when you finally land a job in an organization that may maintain the peace.   Finding A Place To Stay In Geneva ~ A Guide To English Resources ~ By Michele Ann Jenkins Finding A Place To Stay In Geneva ~ A Guide To English Resources ~ By Michele Ann Jenkins - Very good article on what you need to know when looking for an apartment in Geneva. Geneva is the European home of the UN and the city is famous for its diplomatic history - Geneva was the home of the League of Nations. The town is a fun place to live in from what friends tell me. If you find a job with an international organization and find yourself based in Geneva, then take a look at the above article and get the "heads up" on what you need to know in order to find a place to live.   First Read Manufacturer's Instructions - Moving Day In Switzerland ~ By Bonnie Burns First Read Manufacturer's Instructions - Moving Day In Switzerland ~ by Bonnie Burns - Nobody likes moving day, and if you're living overseas, moving day can mean hell. Find out what a moving day is like in Switzerland with its multi-lingual population and electronics instructions. You'll see that moving in your own country is a lot easier than what you might find in your new home overseas - but moving will be part of the journey and fun.   Following My Heart To Heidiland - Inside The Landscape Of A Famous Movie ~ By Maxine Shur Following My Heart To Heidiland - Inside The Landscape Of A Famous Movie ~ By Maxine Shur - The movie Heidi is burned into the imagination of many people. The story of an orphaned girl who through circumstance ends up living with her unhappy grandfather is played out in the mountains and flowers and green valleys of the Swiss Alps. And that landscape to many people is the trigger that sets off the emotions that the movie transmitted to them as a child. Never saw the movie, but the landscape must have made the emotions especially beautiful.   Has Switzerland "Sold Out" to Washington, London, & Wall Street? - Let's be Franc - By Ron Holland Has Switzerland "Sold Out" to Washington, London, & Wall Street? - Let's be Franc - Investment expert Ron Howard is a frequent contributor of articles to Escape from America Magazine. Once again Ron Howard speaks frankly about investment opportunities in the very near future. "It goes without saying that it has been a tough couple of years for Switzerland and the franc. What Happened to Switzerland & the Swiss franc? What is Switzerland's Future as a Financial Safe Haven & the Swiss Franc? If You Are Already Invested in Swiss Franc Denominated Investments in a US Product or Offshore in an Annuity or Swiss Bank Account - How Do You Keep Up With What's Going On? Ron Howard has the answers.   La Suisse - The Switzerland The Tourists Haven’t Discovered…And Where Foreigners Are Allowed To Own -US$1 equals 1.37 Swiss francs By Steenie Harvey La Suisse - The Switzerland The Tourists Haven’t Discovered…And Where Foreigners Are Allowed To Own -US$1 equals 1.37 Swiss francs ~ by Steenie Harvey - Switzerland isn’t just for the mega-rich, and not all Swiss properties cost more than $1 million. In the Villars-sur-Ollon area, bijou studio apartments sell for just over $100,000. And while you won’t see “Heidi Homes” in IL’s Pocket Money Real Estate, a three-bedroom chalet in Gryon could be yours for 360,000 Swiss francs. At current exchange rates that’s $262,350. Built way back in 1733, this postcard-pretty chalet is 1,600 square feet.   My Swiss Bank Affair ~ Opening An Account ~ By Bonnie Burns My Swiss Bank Affair ~ Opening An Account ~ By Bonnie Burns - No matter where you live banking practices can seem quite mysterious or idiosyncratic when compared to the country you come from. Banking is very different from place to place and that is what is exceptionally translated in the above article. A wonderful and comical piece about being told what you need to live on by your friendly Swiss banker. If you want to know what a person really thinks then watch what they do with their money, and if you really want to insult a person tell them how much of their money they need and why they can't withdrawl more. Remember, Switzerland is not America.   Thanksgiving In Switzerland ~ Turkey Day ~ By Bonnie Burns Thanksgiving In Switzerland ~ Turkey Day ~ by Bonnie Burns - Overseas for the holidays and you want to recreate the atmosphere of home. Many people have experienced this dilemma and there can be no holiday more alien to Europeans than Thanksgiving. Read about how Bonnie introduces and then inculcates her European guests into the traditions of Thanksgiving.   Relocate to Switzerland: A Tax Haven at the Heart of Europe - By Peter Geiger Relocate to Switzerland: A Tax Haven at the Heart of Europe - Relocate to Switzerland: A Tax Haven at the Heart of Europe- If you’re wealthy, you have any number of options about where to live.  Some places have a wonderful location; some have favorable tax laws or a welcoming and accommodating culture. But the fact of the matter is this: Switzerland is already what it would be like if wealthy people could design their own country. The Swiss tradition of discretion is particularly important for the wealthy and famous individuals who choose to make Switzerland their home.  Swiss tax and immigration laws allow for foreign-born wealthy people to keep a larger share of their own money while experiencing the joys of living in Switzerland.   Retire In A Wealthy Nation ~ Switzerland ~ By Bonnie Burns Retire In A Wealthy Nation ~ Switzerland ~ By Bonnie Burns - It's important that you have persistence when you want to move to another country - especially one in Europe. The above article tells you all about how to punch your way through the red tape and into the mountainous beauty of Switzerland. Having stamina is definitely part of the process of relocating to your new home.   Swiss Rental Cows ~ Get Your Own Cow ~ By Bonnie Burns Swiss Rental Cows ~ Get Your Own Cow ~ By Bonnie Burns - In the past decade, more than a quarter of Switzerland’s family farms have gone out of business. Those that remain find creative ways to generate extra revenue.  One such enterprising family leases out their cows during the alpine summer grazing.  What do you get out of the deal?  Visitation rights, if you are willing to drive up into the Alps to visit your ward.   Switzerland’s Hidden Gems: The Sovereign Society Unveils a Treasure-Trove of Value-Play Shares - By The Sovereign Society Switzerland’s Hidden Gems: The Sovereign Society Unveils a Treasure-Trove of Value-Play Shares - Switzerland’s Hidden Gems: The Sovereign Society Unveils a Treasure-Trove of Value-Play Shares -  In a world where most CEOs hype their company’s prospects, it’s refreshing to see how the Swiss describe their companies in the most conservative terms possible. Pilatus Bahn’s CEO, André Zimmermann, described the 2003 tourism season as being “at a low.” Well, the number of passengers riding the railroad up to the peak of Pilatus peak rose 11.8% to 321,457, and revenue from the sale of tickets climbed 12.8% to SFr10.8 million. The hotels, restaurants, and shops on the mountaintop brought in another SFr5.0 million in revenues, up 12.9% from the previous year. Despite the increase in business, the company’s costs sank by 2%, leading to cash flow of SFr3.9 million, up a whopping 50%. . More Travel Articles - Travel Article Index

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