“We made arrangements to eat Thanksgiving Dinner at Caves Branch. They do not celebrate Thanksgiving
Day in Belize. However, Caves Branch has lots of guests from the US at this time of year, so Caves Branch has a Turkey Dinner on Thursday.

The dinner at Caves Branch on Thursday night was great. They served roast turkey, baked ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, vegetable soup, salad, rolls and butter, fresh fruit, cranberry sauce, and three or four different vegetables. As with every meal at Caves Branch, rice and beans are served.

I noticed that the US guests at this jungle camp had their plates loaded with turkey, ham, potatoes, etc. as Diane and I did. The guides, who are mostly Belizean, had their plates filled with rice and beans! Pumpkin pie with whipped topping was served for dessert. The meal was served buffet style and a person could eat at much as they wanted. The cost was $17 Belize per person or $8.50 US per person. We had a few beers (John 5 and Diane 1).

We returned home at a time considered very late for Belize; 9:00 PM! It is not only the meal that is worthwhile, but getting to talk with the people that run Caves Branch, Ian and David, as well as some of the guides and also some of the guests from the US is a reason in itself to travel the ten miles to the camp.”

“The evening following Thanksgiving Day was just like any other night. Around 8:30PM, I was in the bedroom when my wife called from the family room – kitchen area “there is a bat in here!”

Entering the area, I heard our black Labrador and my brother-in law’s dog, a large Doberman who we are watching, barking at a bat which was flying at a speed which seemed very fast for indoors. The bat was flying in circles being chased frantically by our Irish Red Field Setter, Casey. When I say chasing, I do mean chasing! Casey would leap at the bat.

One time as he cleared the sofa, he made an upward lunge at the terrified bat and nearly grabbed him with his jaws. I opened our door, hoping the bat would exit. It didn’t. Casey continued to chase the bat. The bat was circling and every now and then would make a swoop downward. I wondered how I could catch this critter. Diane had suggested one of the tennis racquets that were shipped down. I snatched the tennis racquet and started swinging.

With each swing, that missed the bat, the dogs barked louder and Casey intensified his chase. I knew if I hit the bat with a racquet, he was a goner. Wild swings were not going to do it! The light was dim from the lanterns but I picked up the motion of the bat. He would fly in the circle and as I swung he would either go over my racquet or beneath it. He kept the same radius. I decided to stay low. After missing the bat on two of his high passes, the bat dipped low. I swung and knocked the bat some 20 foot against the kitchen wall with a solid backhand. The bat was lying dead on the kitchen counter.

After slipping on my varmint gloves, I got rid of the bat. Diane and I got the dogs settled down and off to bed we went. No longer than 5 minutes after we were in bed, Casey began running back and forth in the pitch dark bedroom. He was chasing something! I turned on a flashlight as Casey had grabbed the bat in his mouth. They must taste horrible as Casey shook it a few times and it dropped to the floor. I ran for a weapon. Casey attacked again and picked up the bat and shook it. The bat was injured as I came back into the room with the tennis racquet in hand. I slipped on my varmint gloves again and removed the creature. I thought at last we could get some sleep.”

We get bats in our house once in a while. I can totally sympathize with Mr. Madeira’s bat trauma down in his Belizean home.

Thank you, Mr. Madeira, for once again sharing with our readers little bits and pieces of your new life in Belize!

Casey continued to pace. Diane and I thought he would stop. He didn’t. Diane and I tried to sleep. After about an hour of Casey passing and hunting, we heard him run. A chase was on again! Casey managed to corner another bat! I wondered where they were coming from. Casey finished the bat off with a bite or two. Racquet in hand, I got rid of this bat as well. At this point, Casey settled down, apparently knowing it was “all clear”. It was nearly midnight and I knew that in the morning I would have to solve the bat entry problem. I decided that Casey’s nick name would be “Batman”. In the morning we worked on the bat entry problem. In the evening about 9:00PM we decided to go to bed. However, Casey continued to pace back and forth in front of the spare bedroom. All of a sudden, a bat flew out of the room into the family room - kitchen area with Casey running behind him. The bat behaved the same way as the previous bat. He continued to fly in circles. I grabbed my trusty tennis racquet and prepared for the kill. This one seemed easy. No wild swinging and missing just controlled backswings at the arc of his flight path a little below his current altitude. The second controlled backswing stopped the bat. I disposed of the bat and came back in the house to find that Casey was sounding the all clear. He wasn’t pacing, just ready for bed. We haven’t encountered any bats since.

While it is very true that most people in Central America speak English, it is also very true that English is the second language, not the first. Anyone who relocates to another country owes it to himself/herself, and to the citizens of that country, to learn to speak the language that the majority of people in any given locale, speak. It’s not only common courtesy: it’s also just common sense.

One can not expect to become immersed in a culture if one does not speak or understand the language. One would remain, always, an outsider.

Learning to speak Spanish in Central America shows the people of your new country that you care about them and about the country itself. It shows everyone that you genuinely wish to be a part of a new culture, and that you do not hold yourself up above the people of any nation.

It will also enable you to make friends faster, and to assimilate yourself in the businesses, markets, and neighborhods of your new Central American home.

It’s never too late, and you’re never too old, to become bilingual!

If you relocate to Costa Rica, be prepared to be occasionally frustrated at the mail service. Don’t be angry with the mail carrier, though; it’s not his fault. It’s not really anybody’s fault.

Costa Rica simply doesn’t have a standardized system of addresses. Most addresses are based on the proximity of the house to the nearest community building, such as a courthouse. These days, an address might be something like “fourth house from Pizza Hut, to the north.”

Before the big tourist and retiree boom, this system worked just fine. Now that the population of the country is growing, however, many people are finding that the old ways just aren’t convenient any more.

Don’t hold your breath for a quick change, though. Costa Rica is a laid-back, comfortable, easy-living country, and eventually everybody gets his/her mail, even if it’s addressed to “Jorge’s grandmother, the maternal one who lives in the red house by the used car lot where the soda fountain used to be.”

In Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama, American retirees are GENERALLY not taxed on pensions, Social Security, and similar income earned in the States.

HOWEVER, the IRS insists that US citizens must file US tax returns, even if they’re not living in the States and even if they have no tax liability. If a retiree earns income while likving abroad, the IRS will exclude as much as $85,000 from federal taxes in 2007 (double that for dual-income couples), but if you earn money from sources in your host country, that income is usually taxable there.

In Central America, property taxes are usually much lower than in the States, but other taxes can be steep, especially on vehicles brought into Costa Rica.

The best advice is to hire a good tax advisor: get one in both countries if you can.

Whatever the outcome, however, an American retiree is pretty much guaranteed a lower cost of living and a better tax deal in Mexico, Costa Rica, or Panama.

Fausta’s Carnival of Latin America is a regular feature, and from now on, you will always know when she posts it because we’ll announce it right here.

Costa Rica also has a 96% literacy rate.

The educational system in Costa Rica is excellent. The typical schooling for a student ends with grade 11, but if a student wishes to go further there are opportunities to do so.

Plus, the four public universities in Costa Rica are as good if not better than universities in any other part of the world.

The largest of the public universities in Costa Rica is La Universidad de Costa Rica, in San Jose. With departments in the sciences, social sciences, fine arts, education, engineering, medicine, and more, and graduate programs also available, there are many advantages to taking classes at La Universidad de Costa Rica.

In the Heredia province, there is La Universida Nacional Autonoma Costa Rica, which specializes in language, finance, cultural identity, art, and technology. Students can pursue post graduate degrees here, also.

El Instituto de Tecnologico de Costa Rica has three campuses, each situated on smaller pieces of land than the two larger universities. These regional campuses focus on biological, architectural, industrial design, and also offers graduate programs.

The fourth university is La Universidad Nacional Estatal a Distancia, a correspondence learning university. This university is populated mainly by students in rural areas, and offers both masters and doctoral programs, as well as work in education, natural sciences, administration, and social sciences/humanities.

Besides the four public universities, there are many private higher learning institutions throughout Costa Rica. In other words, there is something for everyone in Costa Rica!

Retirees and expats often like to take the courses they just didn’t have the time to take; in Costa Rica, that is easy to do!

“What a home one might make among their shady forest, their sunny slopes, their breezy dells, after he had grown weary of the toil, anxiety and unrest of the bustling driving world.”

There is simply so very much to see and do in Nicaragua! Just to walk around in Granada, the oldest city in the Americas, is an education and a delight, rolled into one.

The prices are unbelievable low in Nicaragua. Not just the price of a cheeseburger or an ethnic Nicaraguan meal in a nice restaurant, but the price of EVERYTHING, including real estate.

The culture of Nicaragua is unique, and many people, once they’ve relocated there, have nestled in and have never looked back.

Nicaragua has coastlines on two shores: the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean. It’s the largest of the Central American countries, and it’s easy to understand how it can have such a wide variety of geographical delights: mountains and oceans and forests and flatlands. . . everything you could possibly want is in Nicaragua. 7% of the world’s biodiversity is in Nicaragua: almost 20% of the Nicaraguan land is protected.

As far as having a comfortable climate is concerned, Nicaragua is fantastic. Geographically, it’s a tropical country, but because of the winds from both coasts, the temperature generally remains perfect - warm yet breezy.

Come on down to Nicaragua for a visit. We’re betting that you’ll choose to stay forever.

The climate, the culture, the friendly people, the warm welcome extended to expats and retirees, the beaches. . . there are just too many wonderful things about the Dominican Republic to mention!

The Dominican Republic also has the most beautiful amber to be found. Remember the amber in the movie Jurassic Park? That’s what I’m talking about here. Beautiful golden amber. In fact, the north coast of the DR is nicknamed The Amber Coast.

Dominican amber is one of the most popular items bought and sold here. If you’re lucky, you might even come across an item made of both amber and larimar! “Happy Hour” is found only in the Dominican Republic.

Amber is a hot commodity in the Dominican Republic. Cost depends, naturally, on the quality and color. If there’s “something” trapped inside, it costs a bit more, of course.

I don’t think anybody is going to be cloning any dinosaurs any time soon, though.

This is not a scary or morbid day, but rather a day for celebrating the lives of the beloved dead. Graves are cleaned off, flowers are planted, sugar skulls are eaten, and families have large reunions.

In this video, you will see many resemblances to our Halloween, but added to the masks and makeup you will also see and hear music, dancing, costumes, flowers, and many people having a good time.

It’s Dia de los Muertos!

In Belize you will find birds - more than 500 species of birds live in Belize.

Belize has rainforests - lots of them - and the Belizean people (including expats like YOU) love to hike through these beautiful, lush jungles.

Belize has rivers. You can picnic beside them, fish in them, wade in the shallow parts, skip stones, canoe, boat, and explore the places the river meanders through.

Interested in the past? The REALLY LONG-AGO past? Belize has all kinds of ancient Mayan temples and ruins to explore. Bring your camera.

Caves? Belize has tons of caves. Depending on which cave you choose, you can spelunk by yourself or with guided tours. Wear your old clothes and bring a flashlight with fresh, strong batteries.

Do you like the beach? Belize is just the place for you, then. Swimming, snorkeling, skiing, surfing. . . if it can be done on the beach, it can be done on a Belizean beach. Besides, Belizean beaches are the most beautiful in the world.

Convinced that Belize is a retiree’s paradise? Good. Come on down. Don’t forget your dog; Belize is great for pets as well as people. Bring your cell phone, too. Belize is as modern as New York City.