Italy’s Elections: The End of Berlusconi’s Reign of Corruption?



Silvio Berlusconi

By Jamie Douglas

For all too many years now, Italy has suffered under the autocratic rule of the local equivalent of a Rupert Murdoch gone completely mad, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Like Murdoch, Berlusconi owns a media empire, the dimensions of which should have never been allowed, as he gained unprecedented control over the press in Italy, always suppressing articles that were critical of him or would have exposed his liaisons with underage prostitutes and the orgies that were organized for him by third parties.

Now don’t get me wrong. Orgies are an age-old tradition in Italy, dating back to Roman times, and when in Rome...

This past weekend saw the culmination of all that, in the election results rendered by the people of Italy. His handpicked candidate for the mayoral race in Milan resulted in a devastating rout in his hometown, where a leftist defeated the current candidate by 55% to 45%. But things got even worse for him in Naples, the garbage capital of Italy (seriously – they have major problems with garbage collection there), where a relative unknown newcomer defeated Berlusconi’s right-wing candidate by 65% to 35%.

Italy has had a rocky road to democracy since the end of WWII, having suffered through more than sixty different changes in leadership. In 1994, during another upheaval, Silvio Berlusconi was elected as Prime Minister for the first time, but he was forced to step down in January of 1995, due to the withdrawal of support of one single member of the coalition. During his time out of office, he continued to acquire all types of media companies, gaining ever-greater control of public opinion by heralding all the news good to him and his party, while oppressing dissenting opinions. He also used his editorial platforms to attack the judiciary, which because of his many malfeasances was always having some investigation or another open against him, by calling judges “a cancer of democracy.”

As Berlusconi, Italy’s true cancer on democracy, is losing his grip on power, his problems with his “Bunga Bunga” parties are multiplying by the day. His turbo vixen dental hygienist, 25 year old Nicole Minetti, who he appointed as a regional counselor, is currently facing charges of solicitation for having procured at least thirty three prostitutes for the Prime Minster, amongst whom is the underage Moroccan heartbreaker, Karima El Mahroug, who according to her passport and the prosecutors, was barely 17 when she was paid for sex by Berlusconi. Prosecutors, in laying out their case, also claim that Minetti, herself a former TV starlet, along with two associates, recruited all the girls for the wild parties held at his villa near Milan. All of the young women invited were models, beauty contestants, and TV personalities, and were all willing participants in this lofty endeavor.

Berlusconi’s solution: Simply move the cases away from the judges that “have it in for him” (his words) to areas that are more friendly to him while short circuiting the judicial processes in the many cases where he is facing trial for corruption, bribery, financial misdeeds involving his business empire, tax evasion, and more.

At the speed with which Italian justice moves, it will be years before there will be a final resolution to all of his legal problems, and he will be an octogenarian, unlikely to face any prison time, in spite of Italy’s proud history of hanging the people they formerly shouted their voices raw for in the public square, thereby absolving themselves of any complicity with the deceased despots.

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

 

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Canary Islands’ Day (Día de las Canarias)

Monday 30 May is a day for all Canarians, and all those who love the Canary Islands, to be proud! Proud of our beautiful islands, our rich heritage, the way of life and the enjoyment that they give to so many people. This is the day when the Canary Islands, a Spanish Autonomous Community, became integrated into the European Union as a peripheral territory deserving of preferential treatment. It marks the anniversary of the autonomous Canary Islands’ Parliament's first session, which took place on May 30, 1983.

The Canary Islands are a long way away from the Spanish Peninsular, yet are very much part of Spain and also part of Europe. It is easy to forget that Gran Canaria is at the southernmost tip of Europe and our closest neighbours are those parts of Africa with a more European outlook. The islands are a bridge between Africa and Europe with a strong link to parts of America. It is worth remembering that America opened its doors wide for the thousands of Canary Islanders who crossed the Atlantic in times of hardship looking for a better future. Many have since returned with their children and grandchildren. Europeans, Africans and Americans meet in the Canary Islands, a true intercultural link and an open, welcoming land for the millions of tourists who come to discover the beauty of these islands.

Many cultural activities and celebrations are arranged for Canary Islands’ Day each year. Schools make a special point of teaching children about the rich history and culture of the Canary Islands and organise parties and events for children in the days before the special day. Many people hold private parties at home or in restaurants on the evening of May 29. It is a time for great celebration and joy.

Now for the history and geography lessons. The Canary Islands consist of seven inhabited islands off the coast of Africa, which are: Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Tenerife, El Hierro, La Palma and La Gomera. There is also the Chinijo Archipelago, which includes the tiny islands of La Graciosa, Alegranza, Montaña Clara, Roque del Este and Roque del Oeste. Although these islands form an autonomous community within Spain, they are closer to Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Romans too were aware of the Canary Islands, but they remained independent until the Spanish invasion of the islands in 1402, when the islands became part of the Kingdom of Castile in 1495.

This is a day when we celebrate with pride and wish to share just a taste of these wonderful islands with our visitors, as well as those who live and work here. If you have never visited us, maybe one day you should.

About the author: Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He is still enjoying life in the sun as a writer and author.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: www.barriemahoney.com and www.thecanaryislander.com or read his latest book, ‘Letters from the Atlantic’ (ISBN: 978 184 386 6459).

© Barrie Mahoney

Time to Visit Cuba - Plus: Question and Answer Solicitation

Dear Readers,

Every week, we receive numerous inquiries covering a variety of subjects that are important to you. Now, we would like to invite all of you to participate in our new feature by submitting questions that are relevant to expat living, whether you are planning to retire, work abroad, study, wander, or are just curious about life as an expat.

We encourage you to submit your questions to us, and beginning in June, we will post our answers here on Expat Daily News on Fridays. This is an effort by your editors, all experienced travelers and expats, to serve you better, and have you share your curiosities with your fellow readers.

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Click here and ask your question.

Your Editors,

Susan, Julie, and Jamie

The Great Theater of Havana (via Wikipedia)

Time to Visit Cuba

By Jamie Douglas

Cuba is a truly magnificent destination in terms of scenery, beaches, historic dilapidated cities and towns, as well as perhaps the largest repository of pre-1960’s cars on the planet. If you can’t wait for freedom to return to Cuba, it may be a little depressing to take it all in as it is today. While Cuba prides itself on having a brilliant educational system that allows many to become Doctors and Biologists, the sad truth is that the everyday citizen is just now, after more than 50 years, getting a chance at making important personal decisions.

While I spend a lot of time criticizing governments, I think enough has been said about this subject that my North American readers need no further reminder of the failed Marxist model that has caused so much suffering to the average Cuban José.

Alejandro de Humboldt National Park
(image via Wikipedia)

The time to visit Cuba, before it gets overrun with Gringos coming off the ferries from Key West, Fort Myers, and Florida’s east coast, seems to be now. This large island nation has spectacular scenery to offer those who venture to the extremes of the island. Mountains, valleys, rivers, and many historic towns beckon the uninitiated visitor. There of course are the famous Cuban cigars to be had, world class Havana Rum, irresistible music, wonderful people, and great food. Accommodations are not always up to world class standards, especially if you happen to be a Middle Eastern visitor in the not so hospitable part of the nation, held in perpetuity by the USA, the Guantanamo Naval Torture center, one of the biggest stains on Americas so-called democracy, a democracy that has freedom for those who can afford it.

The west end of the island is home to some amazing geological features, and some of the friendliest and most curious islanders. You can travel by bus, but if it is in your budget, I highly recommend a rental car, as that allows you to go anywhere you want, with as many stop-and-chats as your heart desires.

Photographic opportunities are manifold, but don’t drag out your very expensive Canon camera. Stick to reasonable digital cameras that have a nice display on the back, allowing you to share the image for a moment with bystanders.

Economic inequities between you and the locals of course will require you to watch out for petty and grand larceny, as you would in any impoverished nation. The road network is extensive, but generally speaking not in great shape, and no matter where you go, by 4 PM or so, you should be starting to look seriously for the night’s accommodations. Should you have difficulties finding something, stop at a local police station, and in all likelihood, they will either direct you to a pension or someone’s house where you can rent a room with meals for the night.

There is hope for citizens of the USA as well. New rules issued by the Obama administration will allow for much more relaxed travel to Cuba, with a people to people program. The next few weeks will tell, if all goes as planned. Already of course the Cuban-American lobby is in full swing, denouncing the proposed changes, with the children of Cuba’s Robber Barons, who were driven into exile, being the most vociferous of the bunch. But the only effect almost 50 years of embargoes have had is the continuing hard-line communist party regime’s hold on power, and the abject poverty of the population. It is time for a change, not for business reasons, as some in the USA wish for, but for humanitarian reasons. Give the common people of Cuba their lives back. The rest will soon fall into place.

Viva Cuba Libre!

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

Jamie Douglas is an Adventurer, Writer and Photographer with an amazing array of Nikon equipment, and a lifetime of experience traveling and documenting. To contact him for assignments and new adventures, email: jamie.douglas [at] yahoo.com

See more expat articles by Jamie at

Expat Daily News Latin America.

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Nomading in the Caribbean



Laid Back Life in the Caribbean (image via Wikipedia)

 By Jamie Douglas

In many of us, the Caribbean stirs up fantasies of coconuts, beaches, hammocks, Mai-Tais and pirates! That is likely what you will encounter there, right down to the pirates, but particularly the Mai-Tais and beaches.

While most people only consider this region in terms of those few lovely islands that you see in Islands Magazine, with sun bronzed turbo vixens in minikinis relaxing on the beaches while the handsome 6 pack adorned male models are frolicking in the surf, there is actually a bit more to it than that.

The official Caribbean Sea extends from the Yucatan Peninsula to Cuba and on past the Windward and Leeward Islands to Venezuela, including not just the islands but the entire coastline of Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, right back to the Yucatan. It covers an impressive 1,063,000 square miles, but only 92,541 sq mi of that are on land, a mere 8.7%, and it is populated by 36,320,000 people of Afro-Caribbean, Indo-Caribbean, Amerindian of the Arawak, Carib and Tainos tribes, as well as quite a number of European and Asian descendants and migrants, leading to an average population density of a whopping 392 people crowding onto 1 square mile.

Those figures of course are a bit misleading, as some of the islands harbor large population centers, such as Havana, Cuba; Kingston, Jamaica; Port au Prince and other cities in Haiti; Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and then skipping down to Trinidad and Tobago’s overcrowded Port of Spain. Heading west, the lesser populated ABC’s, Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, along with most of the islands not mentioned in that list, are relatively under populated, offering great natural experiences for those seeking the true spirit of the Caribbean. The Bahamas and Bermuda are sometimes thrown into the Caribbean mix, although this is just some clever marketing, in my opinion.

Some of the destinations are but tourist resorts, from where they offer day junkets in resort-owned vans, where you get herded from one souvenir shop to the next to buy the obligatorily items that you could have purchased for 20%-50% less, had you not arrived in the resort owned cattle car.

Then there are the captive tourists who arrive on cruise ships for their 6 hour shopping trip to St Thomas, Montego Bay, St Martin, and of course those “Caribbean pearls,” the Bahamas, where you can take a five day cruise across the 50 mile wide Gulfstream and shop in appropriately named Freeport, then Nassau, and with any kind of luck, you will spend a few hours in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Cruises of course are a great way to see a little bit of several different places, while enjoying being pampered, gorging yourself on food and booze, and gambling your grandkids’ inheritance away. (More power to you. It’s your money. Spend it while you are alive).

Other ways to enjoy the region involve a little more immersion in the culture of the very mixed populations of these magnificent islands, no two alike. Each one has its own unique history, customs, dialects and several different languages are spoken. Spanish, English (sort of), French, and Dutch are most prevalent, while some of the older Danish settlers in the US Virgin Islands still use Danish to communicate amongst each other.

In the following week or two, I will offer you several great options of places to visit. Some can be 1-2 day trips while others may hold your fascination for weeks on end, and invite you to stay. The lifestyle in the region can only be described as “laid back,” and it is very easy indeed to find yourself in hammock with beverage service.

Those of you interested in a particular destination please drop me a line, and I will try to feature that. It is incredibly easy to go from island to island here, without any custom or immigration hassles, and people are very friendly and happy to have you.

And if you want to participate in some of the world’s most vibrant celebrations, start making plans now for Carnival 2012!

Jamie Douglas        

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is always fine!

I encourage you to write to me, jamie@expatdailynews.com with any questions or suggestions you may have, and if necessary, we can establish a voice communication via Skype. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel related business. My advice is based on my own experiences, and is free of charge. (Donations accepted). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Jamie Douglas is an Adventurer, Writer and Photographer with an amazing array of Nikon equipment, and a lifetime of experience traveling and documenting. To contact him for assignments and new adventures, email: jamie.douglas [at] yahoo.com

See more expat articles by Jamie at

Expat Daily News Latin America.

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10 issues expats face with leaving home and pets when going away

We often face the dilemma of who will look after our homes, pets and gardens when we go away. It is worth considering the potential risks and how to best avoid them.

1.    Many report burglary as a big concern when leaving a property empty. Properties in home nations can be at risk too. In the USA, there are over 2 million burglaries every year. (US Census Bureau).

2.    Is you insurance valid? With more of us going away for longer, homes left empty for more than 30 days usually risk a void policy.  Insurance companies generally prefer use of a house sitter so that a home remains occupied while away.

3.    Taking pets to kennels is often traumatic and can expose pets to unwanted illnesses such as kennel cough.  According to Veterinary Surgeon, Katie Blackburn, “Pets generally prefer to remain in their natural surroundings. Cats in particular can get highly stressed when out of their usual environment, especially when put in close proximity to other cats. My rescue greyhound gets very traumatised when hearing other dogs barking, so I prefer not to take him to kennels".

4.    For expat homeowners, it can also prove challenging to find suitable kenneling facilities nearby.

5.    Who takes care of domestic emergencies while away? If the air conditioning breaks down or your electricity supply is interrupted the result could be inconvenient and expensive if not dealt with promptly.

6.    In some regions, arson attacks can be a risk when properties are left empty.

7.    Looking after plants and garden – indoor and outdoor plants are at risk of withering away if left without water for anything more than a few days.  It doesn’t take long before the grass grows and provides a natural advertisement to potential burglars that you are away.

8.    Holiday home upkeep – all of these concerns apply to holiday homes too. If left unattended for long periods of time, do you really want to spend half your vacation clearing the house and garden when you have limited time and just want to relax?

9.    Expense - Having to pay traditional style house sitting agencies can cost up to $100 per day. If overseas, the cost and hassle of arranging security or moving a local family into your home can prove to be prohibitive.

10.     Asking the neighbours / family / friends to look after your home when away can be a drag. And can you really rely on your neighbour’s 16 year old nephew to care for your house, pets and plants and not turn your home into a party pad while you are gone?
Unique new service http://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ offers free house/pet sitting in exchange for providing a comfortable place to retreat to.

Trustedhousesitters.com profiles many ideal mature and experienced house sitters, including veterinary staff, retired police, magistrates, animal rescue centre workers, medics, even retired FBI, keen to look after homes and pets free of charge to save on the cost of retreat accommodation.

This provides a great win-win for all, particularly in today’s economic climate.

Homeowners can securely advertise and search for sitters, read reviews from other assignments and relevant pet sitting experience. They can also view references, photos, video profiles and police check information to help give peace of mind.

Finding a house sitter via TrustedHousesitters.com helps homeowners overcome these dilemmas, significantly reduces unwanted costs and also opens up a world of travel opportunities for potential sitters.   

Homeowners and house sitters only pay a small subscription to join Trustedhousesitters.com ($15 USD for a month, to $60 USD for a year’s membership), although if you’d like to trial the site free of charge with a six months complimentary membership, visit http://www.trustedhousesitters.com/ and enter promotional code “expatdailynews”.

Tulips and Cheese: Holland at its Finest

Holland Photomantage (via Wikipedia)

By Jamie Douglas

If the Nomadic Retiree in you is looking for flatlands, no place else compares to The Netherlands. A good portion of the country is reclaimed from the North Sea. The nation’s highest point is actually about 4350 miles away, on the Caribbean island of Saba, while the lowest point also doubles as the lowest point in all of the European Union, Zuidplaspolder, close to the city of Nieuwerkerk an de Ijsell, where it drops down to a breathtaking 23 feet below mean sea level. This honor is shared with Lammefjord in Denmark.

Holland in the spring and summer is a delight. Long, mild summer days with cool nights make for most enjoyable trips to parks in the larger cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht.

Famous for tulips and cheese, Holland also enjoys a great reputation as a haven of free thinkers, liberalism, and polycultural tolerance, something that has been pushed to the limit in recent years., as evidenced by the murders of film maker Theadoor van Gogh and politician Pim Fortuyn.

Holland, like all other former colonial powers, has absorbed over 1 million Muslim immigrants into its society in a program of multi culturalism. This of course has led to a lot of friction between the human rights oriented Dutch citizens and its new arrivals, which in turn has led Holland to become one of the more difficult countries to gain residency. The 3 month limit on stays in the Schengen area is strictly enforced here, and it does not matter whether you buy property here or are loaded with money. Immigration is nowadays strictly and officially discouraged. If you are a retiree with assets to support yourself who wants to live in the Netherlands, I recommend contacting your nearest Royal Netherlands Embassy or Consulate for more information.

If however you are more interested in passing a while in this countryside, 3 months are sufficient to experience it all. Once you get your fill of lovely pastoral flatlands, head up to the highest point on the Holland mainland, Vaalserberg, which is a hill with an elevation of 1059 feet. The summit is shared with the neighboring countries of Belgium and Germany, and is referred to as “Three Country Point.”

Amsterdam of course is in a league of its own, with the Royal Palace, Dam Square, all of the canals, the Heineken Brewery, a grand assortment of Museums that are loaded with works of the great Dutch Masters (not the Cigars), and the world famous Amsterdam Philharmonics, better known as the Concertgebouw. The Museumplein, facing the Rijksmuseum, is the home of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Dutch Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the Dutch Chamber Orchestra.



Vondel Park, Central Amsterdam
(via Wikipedia)



While you are in the neighborhood, you are also within walking distance to the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the beloved Vondelpark, where one can while away many summer days, lazing in the grass or walking about. You will enjoy the people watching as well as the free concerts and other shows at the open-air theatre during the summer months of June, July, and August.

see: http://www.openluchttheather.nl



The park was built on 8 hectares of land at the edge of Amsterdam in 1864-1865. By 1877 it had become so popular amongst Amsterdammers, that enough money was raised to expand it to its current size of 45 hectares. Amsterdam grew up around this park, and today it is still central to life in the city.

Film Museum, Amsterdam (via Wikipedia)

For the kids, the Film Museum puts on children’s performances on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons.

But Amsterdam is by no means the only place in Holland worth checking out. It is very easy to reach the cheese making town of Edam, and further north, you may stumble across the little boy who saved Holland by sticking his finger in the dyke.

And then of course there are all those still functioning windmills. So much to see, so much to do, but do it in the summer as the fall and winter months tend to be cold and humid.

Enjoy life and be happy. Love each other!

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine

I encourage you to write to me, jamie@expatdailynews.com with any questions or suggestions you may have, and if necessary, we can establish a voice communication via Skype. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel related business. My advice is based on my own experiences, and is free of charge. (Donations accepted). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Jamie Douglas is an Adventurer, Writer and Photographer with an amazing array of Nikon equipment, and a lifetime of experience traveling and documenting. To contact him for assignments and new adventures, email: jamie.douglas [at] yahoo.com

See more expat articles by Jamie at

Expat Daily News Latin America.

We would love to hear your comments on this article email us at editor@expatdailynews.com

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Two Great Free Online Language Learning Aids

by Julie R Butler

Learning a foreign language has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, and I encourage anyone who is interested in communicating with other human beings to keep on working at their foreign language skills (I still have much to learn, myself). Happily, there are many helpful resources available on the internet that can be taken advantage of for free. Here are two of my favorites:

WordReference.com

This site features translation dictionaries for all of the major languages of the world. The home page has fairly recently been updated and simplified. Next to the prominent search field where you type the word or short idiom you would like to translate, the drop-down menu offers a list of sixteen languages in combination to translate from and to. These dictionaries are more helpful than a translator such as Google’s, because the words get the full treatment, i.e. the parts of speech, different usages, example phrases, compound forms, and some common idioms. There are verb conjugation charts available at the click of the mouse, as well as explanations of what the grammatical terminology means.

My favorite feature of the website is the forum. All forum discussions involving the word you have just looked up are listed at the bottom of the page. This is where some real learning about usage and idioms happens. You can look at the forums freely, but if you have a question, you will have to register. However, at this point, just about any question you could think of to ask has already been asked, multiple times. The great thing is that the discussions lead to all kinds of understandings about how words work and how they are used. For example, I just learned that the translation for “I think, therefore, I am” is “Pienso, luego existo.” Who’d a thunk it?

wikibooks.org

The tag line for this site is “Open books for an open world,” and there is some useful, straightforward instruction about languages available here.

How to learn a language 

This heading offers up some encouraging advice about how to approach language learning in a way that will work for you. In the introductory section, I particularly like how the issue is framed:

"As a learner you are putting together a mosaic of brightly coloured pieces that will fit together into meaningful shapes. Small and clunky at first, but bigger and more natural as you make progress. When they start moving and interacting with you, take on life, you are well on your way to mastering the language. And remember that every shape you make, however primitive it might seem to you, can be used in real life - nothing is wasted."

The article goes on to lay out four basic methods, and then points out that any method that is based entirely on a single approach has been proven to be ineffective. That is to say that parrot-like repetition, grammar analysis, and translation are learning tools that should be combined with other methods that focus on learning to understand and communicate.

The following categories give strategies and great tips for learning vocabulary, speaking and understanding, pronunciation, reading and writing, and polishing up by going back over the basics in different ways. You will find a “see also” section with links to other online learning aids at the end.

Subject: Languages

This page lists languages by groups. The Spanish book is listed separately on the left, and although quite dry, it covers all the basics. There are also further resources listed on that book’s introductory page.

These are just two very helpful sites. With so much info and assistance on the internet, there is little excuse to not get going on language learning. The rewards for any effort are infinite.

To contact Julie regarding this article, email: julie@expatdailynews.com

Julie R Butler is a traveler, blogger, freelance writer, and editor who has authored several books, self-published as eBooks, including Nine Months In Uruguay and No Stranger To Strange Lands (click here for more info).

See more Expat articles by Julie at

Expat Daily News Latin America.

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Invitation to Our New Question & Answer Segment

Dear Readers,

Julie and I have had the pleasure of bringing you what we hope is an informative and enlightening daily dose of news, happenings, advice, and more since January 2011. Thank you for being our readers.

We enjoy what we do very much, and personal interactions with many of you have been very positive, as has the feedback. We have communicated with many of you, and would like to broaden this part of our interaction with you by having a forum-type Question and Answer feature, where we invite you, the reader, to submit your questions to us, and we – that is Susan Beverley, the Editor of escapefromamerica.com, along with Julie R Butler, the Editor of expatdailynews.com and expatdailynewslatinamerica.com as well as myself, Head Writer and Rebel Rouser – will answer from three different perspectives, selecting from the most relevant and perhaps intriguing inquiries we receive during the week.

The subjects that we recommend are matters that are relevant to working expats, retired expats, as well as potential expats who are looking for guidance in their future lives.

What we have to offer is a combined century of living and traveling all over the world, and a unique desire to help our fellow explorers of this marvelous planet, as others have advised and steered us in our lifetimes of the unique journeys that have now brought all three of us to the same place.

Destiny perhaps, but hopefully to the benefit the many of you out there who have the desire to do what we did some time ago, and that was to cease being slaves to our very existence and live our lives, fulfilling many of the dreams and desires to experience foreign places that existed deep inside of us.

So, please use our Contact Form to ask the editors of the Expat Daily News sites and Escape from America Magazine to ask us the questions that you would like answered, and beginning in June, we will post our responses each Friday.

We look forward to this new interactive format, and hope that it will serve a useful purpose for as many people as possible.


Click here and ask your question.

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

We would love to hear your comments on this article email us at editor@expatdailynews.com

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A Bit of Expat Confusion

by Julie R Butler 

After six month of writing articles for and about expats on a daily basis, I have identified a couple of points of possible confusion for expats and those who are trying to plan for a life abroad. These situations come up for reasons that revolve around financial matters, as well as the fact that there are two distinct types of expats – working expats and retiring expats (I have also seen them labeled as “lifers” and “silver expats”), whose needs are, in many ways, in opposition to each other – yet many people are hybrid versions of the two, and so it can be difficult to know what information that you find on the internet applies to your individual circumstances.

Maxims such as, “It takes money to make money” and “You get what you pay for” apply in general to expats as much as to anybody else, but as I have written about before, the expat experience tends to include complications due to such factors as unfamiliarity with the culture, uncertainty in political, financial, and legal situations, endless bureaucracy, etc, so very often, the seemingly simple is not so simple after all. Add to this an infinite amount of scattered information and advice for expats, plus the variety of expat experiences that do not all fit neatly into the target audience, and you have this confusion.

Property Markets

Wherever the latest “expat hotspots” are, property markets are a large part of the draw. But there’s a dilemma: while the properties are being sold as investments because the prices are rising, so, of course, you need to Buy Now! in order to take advantage of the situation, well, the prices are rising there, pushing many people out of the running who are looking for a good bargain rather than an investment in a boom market. Suffice it to say that many people at or near retirement age have suffered enough over the state of their nest eggs, and so in order to avoid further trauma, a major retirement investment in overseas properties should not be a rushed or rash decision. There are good deals to be had in excellent locations for expats, and the best way to find them is by taking the time to check around and weigh your options. For those looking for good investment properties, I would just say to learn all that you can about the market, and here is another one of those maxims: “If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.”

Cost of Living Indexes

I recently attempted to find some useful information about the cost of living in Latin American cities, only to end up realizing that the indexes are geared toward working expats, whose spending habits are quite different from those of retired expats, so the information gleaned from them is only somewhat useful for the latter. All of the indexes I am aware of relate to cities where job opportunities for expats exist, and one of the sites I was looking at factors in costs for enjoying the nightlife, restaurants, and gyms, as well as gadgets such as plasma TVs and video games. For those of you in the younger crowd, having a vibrant social scene or access to sports activities or cultural happenings are important, and these costs should be balanced with your income. But for retirees, even those who are youthful and active and seeking cultural atmosphere, there are quite different priorities, such as availability and costs of medical care, to consider.

Another observation about this is that the indexes and other information that is geared toward younger professional expatriates often assume that you will be joining an expat community abroad. There is a cost to doing this, as rents and properties and specialty imports generally command higher prices than living on the local economy in a local or more mixed area do. Of course, independence from the expat community requires a degree of tenacity, if not knowledge and experience in navigating a foreign language and culture, and is certainly not for everyone.

Also, the fact that the indexes deal with major cities reflects a higher cost of living than in rural areas and most smaller cities in the same country (with the exception of tourist destinations). But then again, the big cities have better medical services, and they are home to embassies and consulates and other services, along with being transportation hubs, which all incur added travel expenses and hassles for those who live far away.

My intention is to point out the importance of paying attention to who is giving advice, and who the advice is intended for – not to mention (but I will) the importance of making sure that the advice is timely, because situations change surprisingly rapidly. There are no pat answers for everyone, just advice that hopefully points people in the right direction for them.

To contact Julie regarding this article, email: julie@expatdailynews.com

Julie R Butler is a traveler, blogger, freelance writer, and editor who has authored several books, self-published as eBooks, including Nine Months In Uruguay and No Stranger To Strange Lands (click here for more info).

See more Expat articles by Julie at

Expat Daily News Latin America.

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Energy Island

We hear a lot about global warming, renewable energy and climate change nowadays. The need seems to be clear enough but, as yet, only around 12.9% of the energy supply required by the world comes from renewable sources. Of that, about half comes from the burning of wood for heat and cooking in developing countries, which causes other problems. In addition, these sources are not always renewable, because they depend upon new trees being planted, which is often overlooked.

The fastest growing technology is solar electric power, yet this continues to be among the most expensive option and will continue to be so for several more years. The good news is that a recent report on climate change says that renewable technologies could provide 80 per cent of the world’s energy needs in the next thirty years or so. However, there is a solution closer to hand than we may think, and that solution is just a few hops across the water to one of our beautiful islands - El Hierro, once known as ‘Fire Island’.

El Hierro gained its original name of ‘Fire Island’ name from its origins of volcanic eruptions many years ago, and although volcanic activity has now gone, the natural Earth forces of water and wind remain. These power sources are now due to be harnessed so that by 2012, this small island in the Atlantic will be the first to be able to generate all of its electricity needs from sources that are renewable.

There is plenty of wind on El Hierro and visitors will have noticed that the reason that most plants and trees seem to be suffering from osteoporosis is that they have become bent by its force. There is enough rain to meet the needs of the 10,700 inhabitants of the island, and the five wind turbines in the north east of the island will produce enough electric power to supply all of the island’s energy needs, as well as pumping water from a reservoir near the harbour to a bigger reservoir at a higher level within a volcanic crater. What if there is no wind? Well, in that case, water is released from the higher reservoir through these pipes that will drive hydraulic turbines to create electric energy. Therefore, electricity can be produced by wind or water power. Clever stuff!

This project in El Hierro is the first that does not use electricity produced from traditional methods, and contributes to moving the island towards being totally self-sufficient. When the project is completed in 2012, this renewable energy project will produce three times the island’s needs for electricity, including electricity for 60,000 tourists who visit each year. Also, when there is a surplus of electricity produced, this will be used for three desalination plants to convert seawater into fresh water for irrigation.

In 2012, the oil-fired electricity power station that currently produces electricity for the island will close, reducing carbon emissions and saving on the cost of importing 6000 tonnes of oil each year. Although this renewable energy project will have cost €65 million, future income from this energy source will eventually repay this investment, cover future maintenance and replacement costs, and still make a profit.

This project alone means that the island will meet 100% of its energy needs by 2015, but El Hierro has launched other sustainability projects too. The island is mainly agricultural, and is a leader in organic farming, as well as in projects that convert sewage into fertiliser and methane.

Even more energy savings are planned after 2012 by replacing all the cars on the island with electric vehicles, and although the investment costs for charging terminals and purchasing the vehicles will need a similar investment to the wind energy project, this would be repaid in ten years, assuming that drivers are charged the same price as for petrol. Yes, there is always a catch!

About the author: Barrie Mahoney was a teacher, head teacher and school inspector in the UK, as well as a reporter in Spain, before moving to the Canary Islands as a newspaper editor. He is still enjoying life in the sun as a writer and author.

If you enjoyed this article, take a look at Barrie’s websites: http://www.thecanaryislander.com/ and www.barriemahoney.com or read his latest book, ‘Letters from the Atlantic’ (ISBN: 978 184 386 6459).

© Barrie Mahoney

Political Turmoil in France

Official Portrait,
Dominique Strauss-Kahn

By Jamie Douglas

This coming week, many of France’s weekly magazine covers will feature the current head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, declaring him to be the most likely candidate to defeat the President of this discombobulated Western European nation.

The picture I would really love to see on the cover instead of what they will have is of a naked, overweight Dominique Strauss-Kahn chasing a terrified maid down the hallway in his $3000 a night hotel room in New York City. (This leads us to the question of why he has to stay in a $3000 a night establishment while being financed by the organization whose mission supposedly is to help nations manage their finances.)

Once again, New York’s finest managed to pull an accused criminal out of the first class section of an Air France jet, moments before takeoff, and return him to Manhattan, where he was booked on sexual assault charges and subsequently picked out of a lineup by his alleged victim. I just wonder if they gave him the same card to read that they had in the lineup in “The Usual Suspects” (You had to see the movie).

Dominique Strauss-Kahn is known as “DSK” in France, but media there has also dubbed him “the great seducer.” His reputation as a charmer of women has not hurt his career in France, where politicians’ private lives traditionally come under less scrutiny than in the United States. After all, Sarkozy’s bitter divorce and subsequent involvement with the super model Carla Gilberta Bruni Tedeschi, who was to become the future Madame Sarkozy, did not seem to hurt him at the polls, as the French are not as puritanical about their politician’s private lives.

Strauss-Kahn took over as head of the IMF in November 2007. The 187-nation lending agency provides help in the form of emergency loans for countries facing severe financial problems.

In 2008, Strauss-Kahn was briefly investigated over whether he had an improper relationship with a subordinate female employee. The IMF board found that the relationship was consensual, but called his actions “regrettable” and said they “reflected a serious error of judgment.”

Then you look at a top US Presidential contender, former US Congressman Newt Gingrich, who is pleading with the public to not judge him on his past, which includes 2 messy divorces where he abandoned his terminally ill wife, and divorced her for a woman he had a long running affair with, something that he repeated in his second divorce. What is it with these guys?

But the complications of Strauss-Kahn’s problems this time carry far more consequences than his previous indiscretions, which were overlooked by the IMF, where he has been at the helm since 2007. He has been charged with 3 separate sex offenses by the New York City Police, for sexually assaulting a 32 year old housekeeping employee of the very upscale SOFITEL Hotel near Times Square. NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said Mr. Strauss-Kahn had been charged with a criminal sexual act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment relating to an incident involving a 32-year-old woman. The timing could not have been worse. He was widely expected to challenge Nicolas Sarkozy for the Presidency of France as the banner carrier of the socialist party.

Strauss-Kahn was supposed to be meeting in Berlin on Sunday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about increasing aid to Greece, and then join EU finance ministers in Brussels on Monday and Tuesday. The IMF is responsible for one-third of Greece's existing loan package, and Strauss-Kahn’s expected presence at these meetings underlined the gravity of the Greek crisis.

Strauss-Kahn was cited for his "steely vision at a moment of crisis" — for convincing Germany to help bail out Greece's debt-laden government, and for helping to put the brakes on defaults in Hungary, Pakistan, and Ukraine.

Of course one must always remember Richard Nixon’s “Plumbers” and assume that DSK is innocent until proven guilty, at which point the chamber maid may just retire to a beachfront villa in the Caribbean, where she will give backrubs to Rep. Charlie Rangle. But until then, the presidential race in France has been turned upside down.

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

I encourage you to write to me, jamie@expatdailynews.com with any questions or suggestions you may have, and if necessary, we can establish a voice communication via Skype. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel related business. My advice is based on my own experiences, and is free of charge. (Donations accepted). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Jamie Douglas is an Adventurer, Writer and Photographer with an amazing array of Nikon equipment, and a lifetime of experience traveling and documenting. To contact him for assignments and new adventures, email: jamie.douglas [at] yahoo.com

See more expat articles by Jamie at

Expat Daily News Latin America.

We would love to hear your comments on this article email us at editor@expatdailynews.com

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Schengen Accord Update

Woman Wearing Niqāb
(image via Wikipedia)

By Jamie Douglas

The Schengen Accord, an EU-wide agreement that lets resident travelers from the member countries travel freely within most of the European Union, appears to be on its way to the morgue, or at least put under wraps for a while.

At a meeting last week, EU member states overwhelmingly voted to go ahead with the abolition of passport-free travel within the zone, which does not include the UK.

Denmark already took the unilateral step of reinstating passport controls at its borders with Germany and Sweden in order to stem a flood of illegal migrants emanating from the conflict nations in North Africa and the Middle East.

The great experiment of multi-culturalism in Europe has reached its limits, as in “Das Boot ist Voll”, or “The Boat is Full,” a Swiss movie that deals with the influx of Jewish refugees who were trying to enter Switzerland seeking sanctuary from persecution during the era of the Third Reich.

The situation this time around is similar, with many of the refugees fleeing from their North African homes not only to get away from the turmoil in their countries of birth, but also to better themselves economically, something that seems to have become a human entitlement.

But as is evidenced from the great Australian experiment with multi-culturalism, in the period when that nation was trying to remove itself from the “White Australia” policies that had been in force for more than 100 years, the extreme changes mandated brought about unexpected problems caused by an influx of cultures introducing customs and faiths that were “incompatible” with the white Anglo-Saxon communities that welcomed them with open arms.

The main problem was that the new arrivals did not assimilate into their new environment like earlier immigrants, such as the Greeks and Italians, who gladly became new members of their adopted homeland, accepting the language and customs had done. Most of all, they did not set themselves apart by bringing age old customs of keeping the females wrapped up like mummies and depriving them of the civil rights that all human beings are entitled to of liberty, freedom of speech and expression, and the most basic of human rights, communing with fellow human beings of all sexes, races, and religions.

All-white Europe tried the same experiment at about the same time, allowing immigrants from all parts of the world to partake in the “Wirtschaftswunder” of Western Europe, allowing immigrants from much poorer regions of the world, particularly Africa, into their societies, where many were absorbed, educated, and integrated into the prevalent lifestyle.

As is to be expected with any cross cultural transmigration, some problems arose, problems that had never really been encountered in 20^th and 21^st century Europe, such as human trafficking, and a manifold increase in drug related crimes, but on the whole, those were problems that were expected, and the initial spike in that “unacceptable behavior” eventually subsided to a degree.

It was more the refugees from the Balkan Wars, bringing with them Islam, that started a shift in public attitudes, a radical shift to the right, wanting to preserve secular independence in the region, in a time when minarets were sprouting up all over Europe, which of course, until this time, was largely Catholic and Protestant, with a sizeable number of citizens in many countries claiming no allegiance to any religion. As in France, which recently passed a law against woman in public being demeaned by the wearing of full-face veils in public places, the rest of the continent also felt insulted by the presence of these foreign “invaders” who brought their ancient customs of female subjugation into their lands. Europe was at the forefront of equal rights for all, and the Islamic customs were a direct affront to the progress that had been made in civil rights for woman.

So the Schengen agreement is very much up in the air right now. France and Italy came to a diplomatic impasse a couple of weeks ago, when the Italian government issued EU residency permits to a few hundred North African trans-migrants who had made it to the Italian island of Lampedusa and then put them on special trains heading to France, where they were promptly stopped by the French immigration authorities, leading to an international diplomatic incident. Within days Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi and French President Sarkozy agreed that something urgent needed to be done in regard to passport-free travel, and a meeting was convened.

On Wednesday, March 11, that meeting took place and all the signatories to the Schengen treaty were present. In a serious blow to one of the cornerstones of a united, integrated Europe, EU interior ministers embarked on a radical revision of the passport-free travel regime to allow the 26 participating governments to restore border controls.

15 of the 22 signatory nations strongly supported the return to individual migratory controls, while 4 opposed the changes. Before it can change, it needs to be presented to the European Parliament, where it is likely to meet strong opposition. I will follow the developments carefully and keep my readers informed, as it will affect all travelers.

Jamie Douglas

San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec is always fine!

I encourage you to write to me, jamie@expatdailynews.com with any questions or suggestions you may have, and if necessary, we can establish a voice communication via Skype. Disclaimer: I am not in any travel related business. My advice is based on my own experiences, and is free of charge. (Donations accepted). It is always my pleasure to act as a beneficial counselor to those who are seekers of the next adventure.

Jamie Douglas is an Adventurer, Writer and Photographer with an amazing array of Nikon equipment, and a lifetime of experience traveling and documenting. To contact him for assignments and new adventures, email: jamie.douglas [at] yahoo.com

See more expat articles by Jamie at

Expat Daily News Latin America.

We would love to hear your comments on this article email us at editor@expatdailynews.com

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