Q&A: Take Another Look At Mendoza



Mendoza Province (photo by Jamie Douglas)

 By Jamie Douglas

Thanks to all of you who have responded to our call for questions about Expat living.

Last week I asked for help from our readers with the difficult question, of how to deal with an Alzheimer’s or Parkinson afflicted person while traveling. As that is fortunately a situation that is not very often encountered, I was pleasantly surprised to receive the reply below from a woman who has been in touch with me before. Thank you Ellen!

Hi Jamie,

This might be helpful to your reader, Lori Ann, who asked about facilities for Alzheimer's patients. As my father had the disease and I was attempting to find a facility for him in Latin America, I think the answer is Costa Rica. There's one very small facility in San Jose. It had a very high ratio of personnel to patients and six years ago when my father was still living it was very affordable. I can try to find the name of it if she would like me to look around on my computer.

It's very challenging to take elderly, ill parents to live abroad, but as I mentioned once before, a friend of mine took his two elderly parents, one suffering with Alzheimer's and one with Parkinson Disease, to India. They lived there comfortably until both died, about two or three years after moving from Miami to India.

Hope this helps a little.

Ellen

 

Now on to the next subject: This question comes from John in Santa Fe, NM.

How did you make the decision to reside in Mendoza, the land of a 1000 pickpockets or "picked-pockets", take your choice! Mine was picked, twice. When traveling there a couple years ago I did find a few goods parks and restaurants, plus a great hot springs a few miles out of town. Would be interested to know if, in your opinion, I should take another look at Mendoza and the Wine Country? And why?

Still looking!

Thanks

Thanks for the question John. I have never (knock on wood) had my pockets picked. For starters, I do not carry my billfold in my rear pocket, but in one of my front pockets. I make sure that I am aware of people around me when I am in crowded places by doing things like looking in store windows, making abrupt U-turns, crossing streets etc, to see if anyone is following me. When being crowded, I turn around and give the person “Stinkeye” (Hawaiian slang for a “dirty look”).

I had me some fun a some years ago, when I was in Bolivia. I went out to a place called Copacabana, a few hours out of La Paz, to photograph a very colorful religious festival. Right away, the locals warned me to be on the lookout for Peruvian pick pockets and robbers, so I was alert and carried absolutely nothing in my pockets. But sure enough, while I was in the cathedral, someone decided to stick their hand into my back pocket. This brought about an immediate swinging of my trusty Nikon F-2, which landed squarely in his face. Ten-point hit. The instant reaction from the pilgrims was astonishing. They dragged him out of the holy place, and beat him senseless out front and then tied him to a tree. It was the closest thing to a lynching I had ever seen.

Now about Mendoza: I do not live in Mendoza City, but a few kilometers south of San Rafael, in Mendoza Province. I have yet to feel any bad vibes from anyone living here in this rural town or in the city (which is more like a big town than a city), but I do take care not to stand out too much. I generally dress down to go to town, as there is no one I need to impress. When going out to take photos, I generally carry my camera and lenses in a shopping bag, and when necessary, have my wife watch my back.

The wine is great, the climate is wonderful, as are the people, the spaces are wide open, and the cost of living is definitely lower for us here than in Patagonia. For the foreseeable future this will be home. I do suggest you give it another chance, if for no other reason than to get away from the world’s worst drivers in Santa Fe. And remember, you don’t need to buy property. You can rent much easier, so that if your pockets get picked again, you can take your belongings and split in a hurry.

Jamie Douglas
San Rafael, Mendoza

Where the Malbec Wine is always Fine!

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Australia Photo Essay by Jamie Douglas

Old and New. Sydney


To see many more fabulous photos click on the "read the full article" link below 

French Polynesia Photo Essay by Jamie Douglas

Catamaran in Fare “Harbor”


To see many more fabulous photos click on the "read the full article" link below

Retirement in French Polynesia is Possible



Huahine, French Polynesia



By Jamie Douglas

The names alone, Bora Bora, Moorea, Raiatea and of course Tahiti, conjure up images of green mountains rising out of blue waters and a friendly local population of Polynesians who are always smiling and drinking from coconuts, while catching their breath between free diving for pearls…

Sound too good to be true? I am afraid it is.

The main island of Tahiti, home of the Faa’a International Airport is also home to most of the population in this lovely French Overseas Territory. As a newcomer, it is always helpful, when meeting new acquaintances, to let them know that you are not French, as most white settlers from the “Motherland” are not all that welcome. There has been a troubled history for several centuries. It of course did not help matters very much that the French military chose Maruroa atoll in the Tuamoto Archipelago to continue their nuclear testing, after having to abandon the Algerian Sahara in 1972 when Algeria became independent. 1995 saw some bloody riots and destruction, when the French announced they would resume their testing at Fangataufa atoll. The protestors won. On my birthday, Jan 27^th 1996, France exploded the last of their nuclear devices, and two days later it was announced that they would accede to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Things have been peaceful ever since.

Expat Observations on a Busy Weekend

By Jamie Douglas

And what a weekend it was! The weather in this part of Argentina could not have been better: daytime temps around 20° C with nice cool overnight sleeping temperatures and crystal clear skies, allowing for some great viewing of the International Space Station, in particular on the evening of the 20^th, when it passed directly overhead. While we were watching it in all its glory, it approached the southern cross and passed directly through the eastern most star in it – a most definite “Huzzah!” moment. For those of you interested in following the space station who would like to find out when it passes overhead where you are, go to Heavens Above. After entering your latitude and longitude, which you can find on Google Earth or Wunderground.com, you can see when that marvel will pass overhead, too.

On Friday night, if you looked really closely, there were about 100 new stars in the northern skies as a result of a lone wolf in Oslo having gone completely mad, setting off a massive bomb in downtown Oslo, and then going out to a lovely little island not far from the capital and indiscriminately massacring close to one hundred innocent young people who had gathered there for an annual ritual that includes visits by prominent Norwegian politicians. It was an island retreat for youngsters who were interested in serving their country in one capacity or another. Certainly most of my readers have had their reality shattered by the events in Norway, so I will not dwell on this incredible tragedy.

Q&A: Expatriating with Medical Concerns

by Jamie Douglas

Thanks to all of you who have responded to our call for questions about Expat living.

This week, I will address two different questions, both having to do with traveling compounded by medical problems. In both inquiries, I will try to enlist the feedback of my readers, as this is a relatively new issue in Latin America. Of course, the ADA does not extend beyond the southern border.

We are considering retiring outside the US, and are wondering if Central and South American countries are generally "handicap accessible"? I have recently been diagnosed with a degenerative nerve condition in my legs, requiring me to use a scooter when I want to travel very far outside of a vehicle. This includes shopping and site seeing. I have not seen this topic discussed in any of the web sites dealing with relocating for retirement, just the topic of available medical care. Thanks.

Lowest Cost of Living in the World: Former Soviet Bloc

by Julie R Butler

In a series of follow-ups to Jamie’s listing of the least expensive cities in the world for expats to live in, I am providing brief outlines of the more attractive of those cities, which fall into three categories. Central America, the former Soviet Bloc, and South America. This is the second article in the series, with South America still to come (watch for that at Expat Daily News Latin America next week).

Tbilisi, Georgia

The country of Georgia is located in the South Caucasus, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It is a culturally unique location, at the crossroads between Eastern Europe, Western Asia, the Middle East, and the Slavic world. Throughout its long history, the Georgians have maintained their own cultural identity despite attempts at subjugation by the Byzantine, Arab, Persian, Ottoman, and Russian empires. This region was one of the very earliest enclaves of Christianity, with the name “Georgia” referring to St. George, the Dragon Slayer. Its geo-political importance as a transport corridor extends from trade routes of ancient times to all-important oil and gas pipelines. Despite its magnificent history, Georgia is probably best known in the United States today for the war that broke out in 2008 between this former Soviet Republic and Russia over the independence of South Ossetia.

The capital city of Tbilisi is tucked into the foothills of the Trialeti Mountains. It is a beautiful city that constitutes the cosmopolitan beating heart of the nation. To the east is the world’s oldest wine region, and elsewhere, the country’s mountainous terrain provides for an amazing variety of climates and geography. Tourism here is based on the many, many historical and cultural sites, natural splendor, and the more than 2000 mineral springs. Unfortunately, there are very dangerous regions in Georgia where separatists are in constant conflict, and the country’s shaky relations with Russia are exacerbated by the president’s strong push to join NATO and his sucking up to the United States. His anticorruption attempts have also been rocking some boats, while democratic principles have been undermined by authoritarian practices.

Tivoli Gardens and Copenhagen’s Many Charms

By Jamie Douglas

Copenhagen, or in its native Danish, København, has been a part of my life for over half a century now. Ever since I was a youngling, there have been weekend family outings to one of three places: Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Stockholm. All of these destinations were just a few hours away from Zürich, compliments of our in-house free airline, Swissair, a great airline that fell victim to not just the 9/11 attacks, but to its own over ambitions. But that is a whole other story that might have led to a war between Belgium and Switzerland, two otherwise peaceful nations, over the demise of SABENA, Belgium’s national airline, which was run into the ground by Swissair Group.

Of all the European weekend destination, my favorite by far was Copenhagen. My outings would inevitably include Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement park in the world. It opened in 1843 and has pleased children and adults alike. Interestingly enough, the founder of the park convinced King Christian VIII that having this type of diversion would keep commoners from discussing politics. Perhaps he was right, perhaps not, but in any event, the king granted him a 5-year charter to run the park, ceding to him about 15 acres on which to develop his idea for 945 kroner’s per year.

To this day, Tivoli gardens is one of Scandinavia’s top attractions, featuring a very exciting wooden roller coaster that was built in neighboring Malmö, Sweden, a city which at that time was isolated by the Øresund, the body of water which separates Denmark from its Scandinavian neighbors. The roller coaster was built across the waters in Sweden, tested, and then dismantled and shipped over to Denmark, where it was re-assembled in 1914, and has operated continuously to this day.

Health Insurance for Expats

By Jamie Douglas

First off, let me state that this is not an advertisement for expat health insurance! I have been fortunate enough to never fall seriously ill while traveling, but as is well known, stuff happens, and sometimes at the most inconvenient of times. You and your partner have just settled into your new expat home in Parador, when one of you suddenly falls very ill. There are 3 possible scenarios that will apply to you.

1. You have no health insurance.

2. You were smart enough to have bought health insurance locally, as soon as you realized that you would be in Parador for an extended period of time.

3. You purchased traveler’s insurance before you left to cover you worldwide.

Scenario 1. Most travelers from the United States have no health insurance that will cover them outside the USA. Medicare is even more useless outside the country than it is at home. It will not cover anything anywhere anytime. Assuming you have no insurance coverage, your experience will depend greatly upon where you fall ill or injure yourself. Medical professionals in most countries that are south of the US border have not fallen into the general practice of ripping you off for as much as possible while you are still alive.

I am a Type II Diabetic, suffering in recent years from frequent complications caused by a lust for life and my not really wanting to live forever with a severely reduced quality of life. But overall, I try to maintain my blood glucose level to an acceptable level. That of course involves infrequent visits to doctors, with a very occasional visit to a specialist. Here in Argentina, where my wife and I are currently living, the cost of visiting a doctor is probably higher than in many other civilized countries. A regular visit costs me about US$20. Complete blood and urinalysis is about $35, and that gives me results that a layperson can interpret. Last week I went a dermatologist who turned out to be a highly educated European specialist who spent close to an hour with me, without even having an appointment. He was very thorough in his examination and prescribing. Total cost: $30! Filling the prescriptions for 90 days: $35. End result: I am 95% improved, on the way to full recovery from my wanton neglect, with a lot of very helpful information that was handwritten for me by the doctor himself. Patient’s status: Happy! ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

Scenario 2. Good move! In some countries, such as Costa Rica, health insurance is mandatory, and I have been told it costs about $35 per month, covering pretty much everything, while the costs for insurance in other countries are generally higher. For myself, that option was not available in Argentina, but would be in Costa Rica, as you cannot be excluded in Costa Rica for a pre-existing condition, whereas here in Argentina, my Diabetes automatically rules me out, as they give you a full once around before insuring you, and that of course includes the sugar revealing blood test.

Scenario 3. Generally not recommended, as this involves many hassles for expats. First of all, you can’t walk into a clinic or hospital expecting your foreign insurance to be accepted. In almost all cases, you pay 100% of the bill, and then get reimbursed by your insurance company, for however much they feel like giving you. If you are on a budget, like many expats on a fixed income are, be prepared to wait for a long time (90 days) or more to be reimbursed, with some companies wanting your medical records transmitted to them, after having them translated into English, of course.

Rest assured, most companies selling that type of insurance will make it as difficult as possible to get your out-of-pocket expenses back into your pocket. Keep in mind as well that, as a foreign resident, the process is made that much more difficult, and the policy will have limitations and exclusions and end up costing you much more than purchasing a policy in you host country would.

Check it out for yourself. I would really appreciate hearing from some of my valued readers with experience in this arena, whether positive, negative, or critical of my assessment. It is my goal, over the next few months, to include as many of your voices of experience as possible, to share with all readers, worldwide.
Thanks in advance and stay healthy – a glass of red wine with dinner is still considered to be one of the best medicines in the world!

Jamie Douglas
San Rafael, Argentina
Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

(photo by Jamie Douglas)

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

If you liked this article and want to receive an email when new content is posted, simply enter your email address below. You will be asked to confirm your subscription before we send you any notifications. You can opt out of receiving emails from us at any time.:
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Living in the Canary Islands: Head for the Mountains!

I had a ‘significant birthday’ a few days ago. Birthdays are strange things, and I guess I now take the view that if we are lucky enough to celebrate one, it means that we are still alive which, I guess, is something of a plus. However, what to do and where to go was initially something of a problem.

Frankly, I didn't fancy the idea of a party, dinner and the like this year, but really wanted to go somewhere, and well away from the tourist route, where my partner and I could both relax, enjoy a change of scene, eat good food (we are both vegetarians, which can still be an issue in the Canary Islands) and would, hopefully, provide a stimulus for my next novel. I really didn't want to travel too far, and have the hassle of flying, nor did I want to leave the fluffies (Bella and Mackitten) in their respective kennels and cattery for too long either. All in all, it was a tall order, but one which we resolved remarkably easily.

We finally headed to the Parador at Cruz de Tejeda, billed as being in “the heart of Gran Canaria”. What a treat! Not only did this Parador offer the most spectacular views in the most peaceful of settings, but the food was exquisite, the service remarkable, and facilities second to none. Best of all, this Parador was only about 30 kilometres from home - although it seemed much further, because of the winding mountain roads.

The whole experience was a delightful, as well as an enriching experience that I would happily recommend to anyone, but it has set me thinking about exploring more Paradors in some of the other islands, as well as in Peninsular Spain too.

In the UK, I was a member and supporter of the National Trust, and we would often enjoy time exploring some of the magnificent buildings and gardens open to the public. In many ways, the Paradors in Spain fulfil a similar purpose - that of both preservation and accessibility.

Paradores de Turismo de España is a chain of luxury hotels that was an idea initiated by King Alfonso XIII, as a way of promoting tourism in Spain. What a good idea it was too. It is now a profitable state-run enterprise and the hotels are situated in palaces, palaces, convents, fortresses, monasteries and other historic buildings throughout the country.

There are 93 Paradors in Spain that operate from Galicia in the north-west to Catalonia and Andalusia in the south of Spain. There are five Paradors in the Canary Islands, as well as in the Spanish cities in North Africa. They are not particularly cheap to stay in, and prices vary according to room, region and season. However, there are often special discounts for residents (as in the Canary Islands) and other offers from time to time.

There is an equivalent organisation also operating in Portugal. These are called, the ‘Pousadas de Portugal’, and were founded in 1942, and I am told that these are very similar to the Spanish model.

During our stay, I spoke to one gentleman who has visited many Paradors over recent months. Both he and his wife are truly hooked on the experience. Sadly, he has a life threatening condition, but both he and his wife are determined to make as much of the time that they have together as possible. They have the financial resources and, as a result, they visit Paradors throughout Spain for part of each month throughout the year. It seemed to me a very good way of spending your money, if you can afford it, and to enjoy it whilst you can. As for cost, they actually compare very favourably to the price of a night in a Premier Inn in the UK, particularly if you take advantage of the special offers, and the food is much better too.

As for my next book? Yes, it did the trick and I am sure that the influence of the Parador in Cruz de Tejeda will make an appearance in a future novel.

For more information about Paradors in Spain, as well as Pousadas in Portugal, have a look at the Expat Guide information page on my website: http://www.barriemahoney.com/.

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.

Cost of Living: The Least Expensive Cities for Expats

By Jamie Douglas

For many potential expats, in today’s pending economic chaos, which is actually already in progress, it is becoming more and more important to keep the overhead down, something that is not possible by choosing to live in Switzerland, Singapore or Sydney.

However, if you are willing to forego many comforts that life has to offer, there is a range of other options to consider, that range from Botswana to Belarus to Bosnia to Herzegovina. Below you will find, in descending order leading to the least expensive place, the 25 least expensive places for expats to live (?) while waiting for the grim reaper to come. Please bear in mind that this is a lighthearted look at these places:

25. Tripoli	Libya	Not right now, thank you!
24. Tbilisi	Georgia	Perhaps a possible maybe
23. Sarajevo	Bosnia-Herzegovina	Booming reconstruction industry
22. Minsk	Belarus	The cultural Capital of Belarus
21. Chennai	India	The 2nd capital of outdoor toilets
20. Gaborone	Botswana	Nice minerals and a civil war
19. Quito	Ecuador	Cheap if you live like to locals
18. Winston/Salem	North Carolina, USA	3 churches for every 100 souls
17. Windhoek	Namibia	A good place to hide from reality
16. San Salvador	El Salvador	See whatupelsalvador.com
15. Tirana	Albania	Soon to be part of Schengen Zone
14. Skopje	Macedonia	Lots of mass graves to unearth
13. Kampala	Uganda	Walk in the footsteps of Idi Amin
12. Kolkata	India	The 1st capital of outdoor toilets
11. Asunción	Paraguay	Steamy, but has a great casino
10. Nouakchott	Mauritania	Better than Timbuktu
9. Ashkhabad	Turkmenistan	Stay away from ...bads and …stans
8. Tunis	Tunisia	Hurry, the revolt is almost over
7. Tegucigalpa	Honduras	Short runway, cheap mud huts
6. Islamabad	Pakistan	They will love you there!
5. Bishkek	Kyrgyzstan	Another ...stan
4. Addis Ababa	Ethiopia	Best airline in Africa! Now what?
3. La Paz	Bolivia	Very high altitude socialism
2. Managua	Nicaragua	Sea Level Socialism and Marxism
1. Karachi	Pakistan	They are waiting to blow you up!

So, you see, you always get what you pay for. There is some good news though. With Dubai having become somewhat insolvent, an apartment with pre-crisis rents of 12,000 to 16,000 US dollars per month can now be had for a mere 8000-12000 dollars. Living in the desert, surrounded by manmade monuments to the absolute ruler, Sheikh Mohammed has never been more affordable. The dream of 1001 Arabian lights has gone out one by one.

see: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html%20

There are still many places to live affordably, if you need to watch your budget, but I doubt you would want to choose Karachi. There are a few towns in the mountains of Nicaragua, Peru and Ecuador in this hemisphere, which remain extremely affordable. And there are many more places in the world that are reasonably inexpensive. The question is, will the low cost be worth it?

Enjoy!

Jamie Douglas
San Rafael, Mendoza
Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

We will resume with the Question & Answer segment next Friday, so keep sending us your questions about moving and living abroad.

Click here and ask your question.

 

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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The Cost of Living: Most Expensive Cities in the World to Live In



Luanda, Angola

 By Jamie Douglas

Here at Expat Daily News as well as Expat Daily News Latin America, we receive many inquiries about the cost of living in various places. I spend hours researching the answer, mostly by going to newspaper advertisements and actual store websites to find pricing fluctuations in various countries. But yesterday I received a press release from Mercer that did all the work for me. Below, you will find listed the 50 most expensive cities to live in the world. If you are wealthy and plan on retiring to any of the following listed cities, I sort of doubt that you would pick #1, #3, #12, #23, #28, #44 or #49. However, if your company wants to transfer you to these outposts of humanity, I urge you to look for another job in a hurry, because obviously, your boss hates you!

Having been to the cities and countries involved on my to-be-avoided list, I can state that there is nothing there for expats. The quality of life is at the bottom of the tank, and your personal safety is what makes these places so expensive. Most of them are not even nice to visit, never mind live in. So here goes the countdown:

These figures can be enhanced by this spreadsheet, which shows actual items used to create a cost of living index.

Should you be looking for more economical destinations, don’t fret. They exist, and if you can hold on until my next installment, I will present you with the least expensive, most affordable places to live. Mind you, some of those do not really offer much more than the seven I picked on in this article, but at least you won’t be spending thousands of dollars to live in a somewhat secure “luxury” apartment with machine gun equipped guards at your door.

Jamie Douglas
San Rafael, Mendoza
Where the Malbec Wine is Always Fine!

[Editor's note: Here is a short discussion on cost of living indexes.]

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

If you liked this article and want to receive an email when new content is posted, simply enter your email address below. You will be asked to confirm your subscription before we send you any notifications. You can opt out of receiving emails from us at any time.:
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Pamplona and the Running of the Bulls



Pamplon, Spain (image via Wikipedia)

 By Jamie Douglas

Ever since Ernest Hemingway immortalized the running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain in his novel The Sun Also Rises, people have been drawn to the San Fermín Festival in Pamplona, a city in the Basque region of Northern Spain. The festival is held annually from July 6-14, bringing heroic (read stupid) young and not so young men from all around the world to prove to later generations how brave they were when younger (and dumber).

The total length of the run is a mere 826 meters or 903 yards, but a lot has happened in that short stretch. Since 1910, miraculously, only 15 people have been killed proving how macho they were, while every year a few hundred are injured, though most not seriously.

The final tally for this year has not yet been completed, as the San Fermin Festival will go on until Thursday. I attended this festival once as a spectator and photographer, having paid a substantial sum of money to the owners of one of the homes lining the encierro to photograph from their balcony. I got a distinct impression from the spectators that many were actually there to see blood and gore emanating not from the bulls, but from the young men in white, with their blood red sashes, the day’s newspaper in hand to fend off the bulls, sort of like disciplining a puppy that has wet the rug. I doubt it does a lot of good, except maybe to piss the bulls off a little more.

The whole daily shindig begins with all the participants singing a benediction at the statue of Saint Fermín, the patron saint of the city and the festival: “We ask Saint Fermín as our Patron to guide us through the encierro and give us his blessing.”

Promptly at 8 AM, a rocket is fired to announce the opening of the corral gates. A second rocket lets the runners know that the beasts have been released (six bulls and six oxen). The reason there are oxen is because they will lead the pack and guide them, while an additional three steers that have been released two minutes later bringing up the rear. The whole frenzied affair is over in less than five minutes, when the animals arrive in the bullring where the event comes to an end, causing two more rockets to be launched.

Local knowledge of course is very helpful when photographing the event. While I was able to get some decent shots from the balcony I was on, I soon discovered that there were photographers in the storm drains along the road. I am certain that all of the sewer spots were taken up by long established sewer rats/photographers, who made a very good living selling photos of individual runners during the event. I mean, you can’t not buy a photo of yourself while you have a bull’s horn up your rear!

Unfortunately, when I was there, PETA had not started their new tradition, the “Running of the Nudes,” something that I am sure would have really helped me with my photographic career.

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

If you liked this article and want to receive an email when new content is posted, simply enter your email address below. You will be asked to confirm your subscription before we send you any notifications. You can opt out of receiving emails from us at any time.:
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Nomadic Expat: Sydney, Australia

by Jamie Douglas

We rented a campervan in Melbourne for our return to Sydney, so that we could take in some of the countryside. Fortunately I gave the vehicle the once around, and discovered that the tires were all bald. I insisted that they be replaced before we start our journey, after which we drove a few hours to get out of town. We spent our first night at the top of a very steep dirt road next to a microwave relay tower, something we had learned in Mexico, where we had a magnificent view of waves of blue eucalyptus-covered mountains in one direction and the flatlands spreading to the southern coast in the other.



The next morning we pushed on to the big city, because we had a very important date to keep. We had purchased tickets to go to the Sydney Opera House for a Flamenco show two months prior. After our second day of driving up the southwest coast, we found ourselves on a hillside at the outskirts of the city just in time to spot the McNaught Comet blazing its path toward the horizon as darkness set in for another starry Australian night.

The Stars Smile Down on You

Those who have easy access to BBC television may have seen the recent series, ‘The Wonders of the Solar System’, hosted by the equally wondrous Professor Brian Cox, which has inspired me to take much more notice of the night sky. After all, the Canary Islands are very well placed for stargazing. During these programmes, I also wished that I had been taught by such a passionate and enthusiastic teacher as Brian Cox during those interminably boring physics lessons when I was a pupil at school. Apart from one memorable experience, my studies were a very boring diet of what seemed like useless information and regurgitated facts that had no relevance to the world that I lived in. Why were we not told more about the wonders of the universe and information that related to our very being? No, the highlight of my career in physics was a pinhole camera that I made after one lesson about light, when I was suddenly and surprisingly inspired. This happened to be the beginning of my interest in photography and so possibly those boring physics lessons were not completely wasted on me after all.

Q&A: What About Argentine Patagonia?

By Jamie Douglas

Thanks to all of you who have responded to our call for questions about Expat living.

Here is this weeks question:

My wife and I want to retire to Patagonia. We’re neither poor nor rich, and we are looking for someplace with a different climate than Europe. Can you tell me about the cost of living, availability of housing, and life in different parts of Patagonia, and anything other you think we need to know. Thank you

Dear Reader,

I assume that you have done your homework on Patagonia or have visited this spectacular destination. I will make some assumptions here, based on the many Europeans who have made this region their home; one of them being that you are talking about the mountainous area in extreme Western Patagonia, and not the flatlands ending at the lonely shores of the Atlantic Ocean. For the sake of this article, I will limit my response to Argentina, and I will be happy to follow up about Chilean Patagonia, if you or another reader would like to know about that as well.

Melbourne, Victoria

By Jamie Douglas

Melbourne Skyline (image via Wikipedia)

After falling in love with Adelaide, we reluctantly said our goodbyes and boarded a bus that was to take us to Naracoorte, a small town near the border between South Australia and Victoria, where we spent time with some friends, visiting a huge cattle station and then the cold seashore at the end of the Great Australian Bight (and watching Kangaroos get run over by inattentive drivers). After a lovely few days (other than the part about the roos), we boarded another bus, this time to Melbourne, where we arrived late in the day, completely unaware that we had stumbled onto another major sporting event: the Australian Open tennis matches.

Adelaide, South Australia



By Jamie Douglas

Whilst playing the part of the Nomadic Expat in Australia a few years ago, I decided that one land trip across the Nullarbor was enough. So I booked a very economical flight on Virgin Blue, now Virgin Australia, from Perth, Western Australia, to Adelaide, South Australia. After a most enjoyable stay in the southwestern corner of Australia, it was time to work our way back east, starting with the green city, Adelaide.

My wife and I departed Perth on a late afternoon flight and arrived in Adelaide after dark, with a full moon shining down onto city and surrounding waters. The view from the air, at the end of the nearly 3-hour flight, showed just how spread out the city was. The distance from the shores of the bay to the foothills is merely 13 miles, but from north to south, the city stretches more than 60 miles (96 kilometers). Coming in for the landing on that crystal clear night, it was easy to see the full extent of this, the fifth largest city in Australia, home to 1.3 million inhabitants. It was truly impressive.

One of the great charms of the city is its layout. Created by Colonel William Light, it became known as “Light’s Vision,” This vision was not universally accepted by it early inhabitants; however, being a Colonel, Light stuck to his guns, and the benefits are now evident. In spite of a lack of motorized traffic in 1835, Light, who had become the newly appointed Surveyor General, proceeded to lay out the city on a grid, with five parks in the center, and plans for 1700 acres of parks to surround the city, providing a rejuvenating atmosphere. The main streets were wide boulevards, which even today can easily accommodate the large amount of traffic the city is creating daily.

Perth, the City of Lights

By Jamie Douglas

I have to state upfront that I don’t like cities – the smell, the noise, the pretentiousness of every burg to call itself the capital of something or another... I enjoy country living, yet don’t mind having an urban center nearby that offers good shopping, entertainment, and other such cultural stimulation. Fremantle and its nearby environs would fit that bill quite nicely, with the added benefit of having a big sister like Perth, which is repeatedly judged to be one of the most livable and cleanest cities on the planet.

My last arrival to Perth was the culmination of 4 days and 3 nights on the Indian-Pacific trans-continental train from Sydney. After liberating our luggage from the luggage car, we found our way from the East Perth terminal to the central Perth station, arriving a little before check in time at our lodgings in the CBD. We put our belongings in storage and proceeded to walk this pleasant pedestrian friendly city of about 1.7 million inhabitants. The streets were immaculately clean and the people friendly as could be, a welcome change after Sydney’s heavy traffic and the many homeless that were evident everywhere.

The Land of Oz, from West to East: Fremantle

Arther Head, Fremantle, Western Australia

By Jamie Douglas

Australians, or Aussies, love to refer to their chunk of land as Oz, and rightly so, as the entire country is imbued with a sort of magic, whether it is along the more than 16,000 miles (25,600 km) of coastline – 37,000 miles (59,200 km) if you include islands – which circle this great continent, or in the mysterious and forbidding interior, all of which was the undisturbed home to the nomadic indigenous population for some 40,000 years.

Having no land borders with any other nation, Australia is surrounded by the waters of several oceans and seas. Going counterclockwise from the south, there is the Great Australian Bight, the South Pacific Ocean, the Coral Sea, the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Arafura Sea, the Timor Sea, and finally the Indian Ocean. It was in the southern reaches of that great body of water, where a 27 year old Captain James Stirling, commanding the HMS Success, explored the western coastline of Australia, and after sending a very favorable report back to England, Captain Charles Howe Fremantle, in command of the HMS Challenger, received instructions to establish a settlement on the west coast of New Holland and take possession thereof for the British Crown. The 29-year-old Captain Fremantle raised the Union Jack on May 2^nd 1829 in what is now known as Arthur Head and took possession in the name of King George IV.

Q&A: Relocation for Over 70 and Still in Excellent Health



Kealakekua Bay, on the Big Island of Hawaii (via Wikipedia)



by Jamie Douglas

Thanks to all of you who have responded to our call for questions about Expat living.

This week’s question originates in one of the USA’s colonies, the Northern Mariana Islands:

I am in my late 70's and have an internet business (writing and web design) with a Nepali partner (I am the writer and he is the web master). He also has an A+ and we can do trouble shooting and repair.

My question is: given the above circumstances, what countries would accept us, given my age? I have health insurance that is good outside the US under my widow's benefits and will have a second policy under my NMI retirement. I am in excellent health and really do appear younger as I work out and am very active.