Thanks to all Sunday Session readers for your kind words. This was the first time in a few weeks I wasn’t writing from a noisy pub or an airport lounge, so I was extra glad to read your responses. I’ll follow up on some of the other points in future musings. Cheers!
Joel, had to come back and re-read this one as a prep for next week. I’m intrigued by the land you now inhabit, and I’ve added it to my list of possibilities for when we’re ready to jump ship. If you had to offer advice to a potential expat making their first trip to Argentina, what would said advice be? TIA! Feel free to email if the reply is too lengthy for this arena.
Excellent. I'd say plan to travel the country a bit while you're here. As Bill mentioned in his column, about 1/3rd of the population live here in the capital, but the area is vast and varied... from the Andean mountains up where Bill is, in Salta, to tropical rainforest in the northeast and glaciers down in Patagonia. Condors, toucans and penguins, respectively. Domestic flights are cheap, as are the buses (which are surprisingly comfortable). Mendoza is lovely, too, as well as Bariloche and Villa La Angostura... like mini Switzerlands. Maybe also consider a day trip/weekend over the Rio de la Plata to Uruguay. Lots of Argentines bank there (in USD). More in the Sunday Sesh...
Thanks for the great piece, keep them coming please! Love your response to "aren't you taking advantage of the poor", you and your family have done more to bless the hard working people in your sphere of influence than any hand wringing do gooder can even imagine.
It seems from your latest epistle that you are as close to your personal Valhala as you are going to get. Here in NZ our papers are full of articles about people that were so stretched by the Copvid Lockdowns that their work-life balance became severely compromised. They suddenly found that they didn't have to work all day everyday to be able to live. Stressed out and in an unhealthy mental state maybe they should take a leaf out of your book of life and enjoy the wine and steaks - while we are still allowed to eat them.
My family are currently searching for real estate in other countries, waiting for the final collapse of our current banana republic and for the day Eva Paron comes back from the dead (AOC) and is placed on a pedestal by our corrupt media to be Presidente of these United bankrupt States….we love a good dry aged prime steak with a bottle of Caymus and some of the worlds finest beef comes from your part of town 😋
Joel, you picked a Hell of a time to visit my former home town. It's hot and shitty season in H-Town Bro. As for BA, the steak & wine is reason enough. Always look forward to your commentary and sarcasm. Dave
Great article! “ No illusions that the next election or government program will change anything.” I am almost there; I have no faith in those that run America, but I do have faith in the American people and God. Our history is a good foundation for believing and hoping although it looks mighty dark.
PC, Honduras, 1968-70. I traveled by land from Columbia to Santiago, Chile, in 1970, and flew back on Air France, the trip $350. The dollar was king, traded dollars for Escudos on the border at Portillo a week after Allende was elected. Could see the stupidity of American CIA policy pasted on all the walls. First time I questioned my country. Train ride from Cusco to Salta and a bus ride to Mendoza, best little town I ever visited, then we walked across the mountains to Chile, even had a hot spring bath.
I am not much for open borders but the people I lived with and met in SA were the best I ever encountered. Always wanted to move back. Maybe, that is why I read Bonner and have read Casey, you can throw in the great David Galland. You are similar to David, always erudite and unique.
Bill has competition! Your weekend emails have been eagerly awaited and this one in particular answered the question (sorry, couldn't resist pointing this out!) that I asked of you some time ago. The one regret I have is that I am NOT rich at all. I only have a UK State pension, so the price of a subscription would be too high, as I haven't the money to invest on the basis of paid advice. However, I will say that as a 'free subscriber' for many years, what free money I did have I have invested according to the ideas I picked up from you all. So far, I've done far better than those who thought the Tech companies were the places to make wealth. (Or Crypto's for that matter.)
I enjoyed all of your articles but this one the most honest about cost ect. Hope to read more very interesting even for a 81 year old I send them to my grandchildren . Maybe they will learn something .Thanks keep writing about your travels I miss Tom writing about his family travels. Shannon
Mexico? I abandoned my place there about 20 years ago. Too much gun violence....and I was in a fishing encampment. One old gringo didn’t make it out alive, but they killed him with a “garden implement” instead of a gun. Never going back.
You presume wrong. I’m from the Midlands. The countryside is beautiful in the U.K. I’m just sick of the endless media psychodrama & division, which of course isn’t just the U.K.
I got the idea/urge to move to a foreign country from Bill’s International Living magazine. In 2010 the #1 retirement country was Ecuador. Mostly for the excellent weather & inexpensive prices. So off we went traveling the country for the best place to be. We ended up in the small beach town of San Clemente, Manabí, about 30 miles from Manta. Purchased a brand new ocean front condo, 2 story, 2.5 baths, 650 sq Ft rooftop terrace for 68k, our clubhouse was the Hotel Palmazul with gourmet restaurant, ocean front pool, tiki bar, tennis courts. Spectacular beach. The locals were much like your Argentine locals and we supported them the same. Fortunately, or not, the currency there is the US dollar so no having to figure out exchange rates. Price for lobster dinner with all the fixings plus cocktails and wine? $30 for two total. Met just amazing people from all parts of the world. We lived there for a blissful year but the wrangling to get our “residency” and continued frustration with the “little things” we gave up. Plus it was not the “Paris of the South” as you say. Otherwise, we might have stayed😊Amazing experience anyway. Thanks for writing Sunday Sesh! Always a highlight.
Thanks to all Sunday Session readers for your kind words. This was the first time in a few weeks I wasn’t writing from a noisy pub or an airport lounge, so I was extra glad to read your responses. I’ll follow up on some of the other points in future musings. Cheers!
Joel, had to come back and re-read this one as a prep for next week. I’m intrigued by the land you now inhabit, and I’ve added it to my list of possibilities for when we’re ready to jump ship. If you had to offer advice to a potential expat making their first trip to Argentina, what would said advice be? TIA! Feel free to email if the reply is too lengthy for this arena.
Excellent. I'd say plan to travel the country a bit while you're here. As Bill mentioned in his column, about 1/3rd of the population live here in the capital, but the area is vast and varied... from the Andean mountains up where Bill is, in Salta, to tropical rainforest in the northeast and glaciers down in Patagonia. Condors, toucans and penguins, respectively. Domestic flights are cheap, as are the buses (which are surprisingly comfortable). Mendoza is lovely, too, as well as Bariloche and Villa La Angostura... like mini Switzerlands. Maybe also consider a day trip/weekend over the Rio de la Plata to Uruguay. Lots of Argentines bank there (in USD). More in the Sunday Sesh...
I always like your essays, but this is one of your best. Worth the wait today!
Thanks for the great piece, keep them coming please! Love your response to "aren't you taking advantage of the poor", you and your family have done more to bless the hard working people in your sphere of influence than any hand wringing do gooder can even imagine.
It seems from your latest epistle that you are as close to your personal Valhala as you are going to get. Here in NZ our papers are full of articles about people that were so stretched by the Copvid Lockdowns that their work-life balance became severely compromised. They suddenly found that they didn't have to work all day everyday to be able to live. Stressed out and in an unhealthy mental state maybe they should take a leaf out of your book of life and enjoy the wine and steaks - while we are still allowed to eat them.
My family are currently searching for real estate in other countries, waiting for the final collapse of our current banana republic and for the day Eva Paron comes back from the dead (AOC) and is placed on a pedestal by our corrupt media to be Presidente of these United bankrupt States….we love a good dry aged prime steak with a bottle of Caymus and some of the worlds finest beef comes from your part of town 😋
Wonderfull article! Especially ( nosotros tenemos um equema). We know a Guy!
Joel, you picked a Hell of a time to visit my former home town. It's hot and shitty season in H-Town Bro. As for BA, the steak & wine is reason enough. Always look forward to your commentary and sarcasm. Dave
Over 100 degrees today... too hot even for an Aussie to bbq!
Great article! “ No illusions that the next election or government program will change anything.” I am almost there; I have no faith in those that run America, but I do have faith in the American people and God. Our history is a good foundation for believing and hoping although it looks mighty dark.
PC, Honduras, 1968-70. I traveled by land from Columbia to Santiago, Chile, in 1970, and flew back on Air France, the trip $350. The dollar was king, traded dollars for Escudos on the border at Portillo a week after Allende was elected. Could see the stupidity of American CIA policy pasted on all the walls. First time I questioned my country. Train ride from Cusco to Salta and a bus ride to Mendoza, best little town I ever visited, then we walked across the mountains to Chile, even had a hot spring bath.
I am not much for open borders but the people I lived with and met in SA were the best I ever encountered. Always wanted to move back. Maybe, that is why I read Bonner and have read Casey, you can throw in the great David Galland. You are similar to David, always erudite and unique.
Call me flattered. I forwarded this comment to David, btw. Great guy. Maybe I’ll ask him on the Fatal Conceits podcast one of these days...
Bill has competition! Your weekend emails have been eagerly awaited and this one in particular answered the question (sorry, couldn't resist pointing this out!) that I asked of you some time ago. The one regret I have is that I am NOT rich at all. I only have a UK State pension, so the price of a subscription would be too high, as I haven't the money to invest on the basis of paid advice. However, I will say that as a 'free subscriber' for many years, what free money I did have I have invested according to the ideas I picked up from you all. So far, I've done far better than those who thought the Tech companies were the places to make wealth. (Or Crypto's for that matter.)
Reading the essay is like looking at myself in the mirror jajajaja .. Regards from a porteño ( born and living in Buenos Aires)
Joel, excellent piece! I thoroughly enjoyed this one. May be your best one yet.
Brilliant article, Joel!
I enjoyed all of your articles but this one the most honest about cost ect. Hope to read more very interesting even for a 81 year old I send them to my grandchildren . Maybe they will learn something .Thanks keep writing about your travels I miss Tom writing about his family travels. Shannon
escapeartist . com has good information on living abroad. I would definitely recommend moving to young people. The golden years of America are over.
I wonder if that coincided with the rise of the left whinge and wokery ;-)
It coincided with the rise of rents, home prices and health insurance prices.
which were probably caused by left whinge and wokery ;-)
Don't assign any blame where blame is actually due, friend.
Rule #1: Don't criticize team Lefty, no matter how warranted...
Very interesting. I’ve just escaped the insanity of the U.K. for Mexico. Maybe I should give Argentina a try.
Mexico? I abandoned my place there about 20 years ago. Too much gun violence....and I was in a fishing encampment. One old gringo didn’t make it out alive, but they killed him with a “garden implement” instead of a gun. Never going back.
That’s still an improvement on the U.K.
it appears pretty safe where I am in Puerto Vallarta.
I presume you lived in London, the bits of the UK outside it are beautiful.
You presume wrong. I’m from the Midlands. The countryside is beautiful in the U.K. I’m just sick of the endless media psychodrama & division, which of course isn’t just the U.K.
Hey Joel,
I got the idea/urge to move to a foreign country from Bill’s International Living magazine. In 2010 the #1 retirement country was Ecuador. Mostly for the excellent weather & inexpensive prices. So off we went traveling the country for the best place to be. We ended up in the small beach town of San Clemente, Manabí, about 30 miles from Manta. Purchased a brand new ocean front condo, 2 story, 2.5 baths, 650 sq Ft rooftop terrace for 68k, our clubhouse was the Hotel Palmazul with gourmet restaurant, ocean front pool, tiki bar, tennis courts. Spectacular beach. The locals were much like your Argentine locals and we supported them the same. Fortunately, or not, the currency there is the US dollar so no having to figure out exchange rates. Price for lobster dinner with all the fixings plus cocktails and wine? $30 for two total. Met just amazing people from all parts of the world. We lived there for a blissful year but the wrangling to get our “residency” and continued frustration with the “little things” we gave up. Plus it was not the “Paris of the South” as you say. Otherwise, we might have stayed😊Amazing experience anyway. Thanks for writing Sunday Sesh! Always a highlight.
R