Nov. 12, 2009
San Rafael, Argentina
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A Land of Opportunity
In one place in the Americas there exists a natural wonderland... Where you can find everything from posh new seaside condos to peaceful and affordable beach homes fit for hammock retirement...from big city high-rise apartments to getaway mountain villages where life centers around the daily market...
Where the long list of incentives, benefits, and advantages for the would-be retiree, investor, and adventurer is unparalleled:
- First World health care at Third World prices...
- A full range of 14 resident visa programs, so if you don't want to retire, you have other options for staying...
- The world's Gold Standard program of special benefits for retirees...easy to qualify for and offering generous discounts on everything from medicine to movies, plus much, much more...
- One of the world's few remaining offshore tax havens (meaning you can live here tax-free)...
- A U.S. dollar-based economy (since 1904), meaning zero currency risk for dollar-holders...
- Safety and security...for you and your money...
The best place in the world right now to start a business...and much, much more...
Learn More About This Land of Opportunity Here
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Dear Live and Invest Overseas Reader,
I've been introducing you this week to the charms and attractions of
San Rafael, in the heart of Argentine wine country. This Old World country town makes a great deal of sense on paper. It's charming and historic...safe...walkable...friendly...interesting...with great weather, solid infrastructure, and a highly affordable cost of living. (I detailed a budget for you yesterday showing that
you could retire well in San Rafael on less than US$800 per month if you own your own home, forgo investing in a car, and don't require full-time household help.)
I've spent time in this part of the world, and I'm sold. This is a place where I could imagine settling in long term, certainly part-time...
Thinking real world, beyond the spreadsheet, what would living in San Rafael be like? How would you spend your time?
Your life could be active, if you'd like it to be. In this Mendoza province of Argentina, you could ski, hike, and climb...go bird-watching, white-water rafting, kayaking, even kite-surfing. If you're a golfer, rejoice. Argentina has more golf courses than the rest of Latin America combined.
After a day on the rocks or waters, you could tango the night away at one of the many entertainment venues...or relax at the spas of Pismanta, treating yourself to a hydro-massage or perhaps a little mud therapy.
On the other hand, in San Rafael, you could retire to your front porch or back patio, just soaking up the beauty all around...the views of the Western Hemisphere's highest point (the 6,959-meter-high Cerro Aconcagua, or "roof of Americas") and the rolling vineyards that have made this region famous among wine aficionados around the world.
You could get around on a bicycle or using your own two feet. You could enjoy long lunches and afternoon siestas and dance into the wee hours. You could study Spanish.
If you fall for charming, laidback San Rafael, you might never need to visit Mendoza City, located 235 kilometers northwest. But, now and then, you might enjoy a trip to the big city. This one offers real cosmopolitan distractions, including a sophisticated and polite people who dress carefully and mind their manners. You could travel to Mendoza for the five-start restaurants, the shopping, the performing arts...all on offer for prices to rival those of, say, Mexico.
Mendoza is not only lively and bustling but also livable. As in San Rafael, cycling is a preferred means of transportation. Vuelta Ciclistica de Mendoza is a primary road for cyclists. And, again as in San Rafael, this city's streets are shaded by sycamore and acacia trees, making rambling a pleasure. The whole of the city is clean and well-kept.
An earthquake devastated Mendoza in 1861, and, when the Argentines rebuilt it, they did it right. The landscaped plazas are adorned with fountains and intricate tile work, including murals that tell tales from Argentine and Spanish literature. Look, and you'll see the story of Don Quixote.
The four pedestrian-only blocks of Plaza Independecia are the pulse of the city, where people gather for events and concerts and to shop at the weekend crafts fair. The Teatro Quintanilla and contemporary Museo Municipal de Arte Moderno are located here. East of the square is Paseo Sarmiento, decorated with Argentina's national colors of blue and white.
Sixteenth-century Mendoza was isolated in its early years. It wasn't until the arrival of the railroad that its wine industry was linked to Buenos Aires and the rest of Argentina. Wine continues to be the big draw in this part of the country, for both investors and visitors.
Kathleen Peddicord
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