Dominica

Dominica also known as nature island is a sovereign island country. Originally ruled by the French untill 1963 and then Great Briainn. At which time English was established as the official language. The island gained it's independence in 1978. In a 2011 census this 290 Sq mile island had a population of about 71,000 people. 

Places of Interest 

 Morneau Trois Nation Park is home to Boiling Lake. This 200 ft lake is filled with boiling grayish water. Boiling Lake is the second largest hot lake in the world. It's shoreline  temperatures range from 180 to 197 degrees F. There are no direct roads to this natural wonder but if your feeling adventurous its only an 8 mile hike to Boiling Lake from Laudat.

 Emerald Pool is another beautiful attraction in Morneau Trois National Park. This one you can swim in. A short 1/4 mile hike on a groomed trail through the rainforest will lead you back to this must see waterfall and emerald colored pool.

 Titou gorge is a popular narrow gorge and swimming destination on Dominica. This sun streaked, high walled gorge is also a filming spot for Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man'said Chest.  

 This island is jam packed with hot springs,nature reserves, botanical gardens, waterfalls and pools. 

Cost of Living on Dominica 

As far as Caribbean islands go the cost of living on Dominica is on the lower side, but don't let that fool you. There is quite a hefty import tax on most items.  Dominica is a poorer island. They don't have as much of a tourism industry as some of the easier to get to islands in the Caribbean do. If you idea of paradise is natural beauty and you don't mind putting in the hard work to grow your own fruits and vegetables in this hearty volcanic soil than this island just might be what your looking for. 

Buying a Home on Dominica 

 If you a foreigner looking to buy land on Dominica and want to purchase more than 1 acre for private residency or 3 acres for Comercial use you will need to apply for an Alien Landholding License. There is a fee equal to 10 percent of the property cost when applying for the land holding license. You will also be responsible for a 4 percent stamp duty and any fees occurred from the realtors and lawyers. It usually takes between 60 and 90 days for the paperwork. 

 You can get a reasonable amont of home for under $300,000 here.  The price per square foot is cheaper than most U.S. cities but the condition of the homes aren't as good. You may need to do a little fixing up on some of the cheaper homes. Keep in mind that having items shipped in to renovate can become very costly and take longer than your used to where you live currently.  You can't just run down to the Home Depot and pick up a new sink. 

Working on Dominica 

 You must apply for a work permit before starting employment. A work permit with a term of employment for six months or longer automatically equals residency,  however residency doesn't  exempt you from the Alien Landholding License act.  Work permits have to be reneyed  annually and can be done so through the Dominica Labor division.  If you have reservations about Dominica and want to stay for a set period of time before you make a final decision you can do so visa free. You must have proof of funds to cover your stay, a return ticket home and a valid passport.  

 To sum it all up. If you love nature and you value peace and quit over hustle and bustle you could live happily ever after on Dominica for a reasonable amount of money. The handier and more resourceful you are the easier your new life will be. I can see this being an exceptional island for off the grid living.

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Martinique

 Martinique is an overseas French Region, its mix of French and West Indies culture reminds me a little of New Orleans. Martinique is a very mountainous island, making for awesome views to be had from just about anywhere.


In Fort de France, Martinique's capital lies a stunning garden. Balata Garden is a magical place full of wonder and beautiful flora. Owner Jean-Philippe Thoz brought his love of botany to his grandparents Creole home and created this wonderland for all to enjoy. Once you've taken in all the gardens have to offer from the ground you can climb into the trees and get a birds eye view of the gardens from the tree top walk. Weather your moving to the island or planning a vacation on the island it's an absolute must see!

Stuff to do on the island
 Night life and nature lovers, come one and all. La Savonet is centrally located in Fort de France. This bar and restaurant lined garden park has much to offer. Imagine taking a romantic stroll through the park after dinner with your sweetheart, sitting on a park bench and snuggling up close to each other as the sun fades off in the distance and the music from the local bars fills the air. Just across baie de Fort de France (Fort de France bay) lies Anse Noire, a beautiful black sand beach known for its excellent snorkeling and fishing. If all that's not enough to make you want to pack your bags and move to Martinique than maybe its adventures and thrills your looking for and Mount Pelee has you covered. This semi active volcano is ready for you to come explore. Don't worry the last major eruption was way back in 1902.

Cost of living
Martinique prices run a little higher than other Caribbean islands when it comes to cost of living. What you will find on Martinique that you won't find on most of the other islands is it's availability of high end French imports. If luxury is what your looking for Martinique is your island. You can have it all here! Fine French imports and tropical weather. Life doesn't get much better than this.

Property for sale on Martinique 
 Martinique doesn't limit the amount of property foreigners are able to buy however finding a larger piece of property will come with a large price tag. There are oodles of 2 bedroom apartments for sale under $300,000 usd but if your looking for a single family home plan on paying closers to $600,000 usd. That's a little to rich for my blood but if you've got the cash this island is amazing.  French meets Caribbean, two lavish lifestyles smashed into one with a price tag to match.

Language 
The primary language spoken is French.  It would be a good idea to brush up on your on the language of love before moving to Martinique.

Working on Martinique 
 If your coming from Europe getting a job shouldn't be a problem, however finding a job will be tricky.  The unemployment rate is high and unless you work in the medical field it may be tough to find a job. If your coming from the U.S. or somewhere outside of Europe you will need to apply for a work permit.  Because Martinique is an overseas region of France all work permits will need to be applied for through the French consulate.

Staying longer than 90 days.
 If your planing a short trip your current passport will allow you to stay up to 90 days. If your planning to make a permanent move to the island you will need to apply  for a visa through the French consulate in your place of residence. If you plan to retire in Martinique  you will need to show a source of income along with your standard paperwork,  such as photo identification and letters of upstanding citizenship from local authorities when applying for the visa.

Martinique in a Nut Shell
 This sometimes overlooked island is one of the Caribbean's hidden secrets. It's a jewel to be found. The French and Creole heritage blend wonderfully together enriching everything from the food to the luxurious way of life on the island. Nature lovers, Food lovers, Adventurers and Life lovers will be constantly in awe of this gem.

If this sounds like a place for you to call home, why not share this post with your family and friends. Let them know why Martinique is the place for you.

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St. Lucia

 St. Lucia, is known as the "Helen of the West Indies" because of its constant change in rule between the French and the British during their many wars. Eventually in 1814 the British would win the island and hold there rule on it.  In 1979 St. Lucia became an independent state of the Commonwealth of Nations.  Due to all its "flip flopping" in rule it has a mixed up legal system, meaning it's part English common-law and part civil law.  So what does this mean for anyone wanting to move there?  Let's find out.

Living on St. Lucia 
 St. Lucia has everything from dramatic mountains and waterfalls to lush gardens and beautiful sandy beaches. It's an outdoor lovers paradise.  With snorkeling,  sailing, hiking, swimming and climbing your adventures would be never ending on this island.
 If your a night life lover they've got that too. Being a cruse ship port Castries (the Capitol) has plenty to offer in dinning and drinks.

Moving to St.Lucia 
 When first entering the island your given six weeks to stay, if you plan to stay longer you must apply for an extension with the immigration department.  After two years of living on the island you can apply for permanent residency and after seven years you can apply for citizenship.
Here is a list of documents you will need.
1. A completed application on prescribed form.
2. A bank statement.
3. A police certificate of character.
4. An original birth certificate.
5. A medical certificate from a registered practitioner.
6. Four (4) passport size photographs certified by a Justice of the Peace.
7. A reference letter from a reputable person from the country of origin.
8. A letter stating date of arrival, purpose of visit, and the activities to be
engaged in. *Invest Saint Lucia 

Fun Facts
St. Lucia is named after a female saint, Saint Lucy of Syracuse. You go girl!

Housing
 You will need to apply for an Alien Landholding License. The same paperwork is required here as it is with the permanent residency application.  As always it's recommended to have a lawyer to help you through the paperwork when buying foreign land. While I was doing my research I came across many instances of people saying property is very cheap on St. Lucia.  When I actually searched Realtors listing service I came to a different conclusion.  To me the property is priced about average.  I found 1 empty lot overlooking the beach for $169,000 usd. Anything right on the water was priced well above $500,000 usd. There are many homes inland for under $200,000 usd but they seem to be smaller, only two bedrooms.

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St. Vincent and the Grenadines

 If the thought of living on a volcanic island excites you than St. Vincent and the Grenadines might be your paradise. With an active volcano  (last eruption in 1979) you could spend your days searching though lava rocks and exploring St. Vincent, the largest island of the country St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This would make a great band name, don't you think?

 Coincidence or not, St. Vincent and the Grenadines also gained it's independence from the British that same year. 1979 was a big year for them. It's population of 100,000 (2012) is a mix between African American,  East Indian,  Carib People, Mixed Race and White. The population is spread out over its six main towns, Kingstown being it's largest with a population of about 25,500.

Fun Facts
 95 percent of St. Vincent's beaches have black sand while the Grenadines have white sandy beaches.
 Pirates of the Caribbean:  The curse of the black Pearl used St. Vincent as one of its filming locations.

Real Estate 
 There are some very unique and beautiful styled homes for sale under $200,000 usd in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  If you have a bit more to spend on a home there is a bed and breakfast/smaller hotel for sale priced at $970,000 usd. It's not bad for that price. It would be a great investment property.

Living and Working on St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
 The process is simpler here than on some of the other islands in the Caribbean.  You simply pay a fee and submit a request for the permits along with some basic proofs of ID and statements from your bank and local police departments back home. If you are applying for a work permit longer than the standard 6 month permits issued, you must also apply for a residency permit. The process is even simpler if your coming from a British Commonwealth.

 Fitting in, working and living on St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be less of a headache. Keeping with the laid back lifestyles of the Caribbean islands S.V. and the G's (even better band name) have it all. They've managed to protect most of their heritage while growing with the times.

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Halloween in Northern Michigan

It's that time of year again when all the ghost and goblins come out to play. My children are grown now and don't participate in the worlds largest candy scavenger hunt anymore so I usually tag along with one of my nieces or nephews on Halloween nigh to help out my sisters and to have an excuse to get dressed up. I love seeing the children dressed up as their favorite characters from this years popular movie, running from door to door hoping that this house gives out the full sized candy bars.

The name Halloween 
The word "Halloween" has evolved over the years. It's earliest appearance in the English language was back in 1745. Before that the day was referred to as All Hallows Evening. The day before all Hallows  day or all saints day. A day for honoring all Saints known and unknown. As time past All Hollows Evening was shortened to All Hollows Eve ( this term is still heard today) and then eventually into Hallowe'en and then Halloween.

Why we celebrate Halloween the way we do.
 There are rumors that Halloween has both Pagan and Christian roots. The name Halloween is of Christian origin but some of the traditions we still practice to this day resemble the Celtic Harvest Festival and it's Pagan influences.
 The custom of "Trick or Treat" didn't start in North America until some time in the 1920 where as Britain and Ireland have been doing it sense the early 1600's. In the beginning children would go door to door wearing masks and perform a simple task, like singing a song or reciting a poem for treats. The threat of a trick if no treat was given didn't start until more recent years and is more common in North America.
 Bobbing for apples is another popular Halloween practice. Bobbing for apples was first introduced to the Celtics by the Romans when they brought apple trees to Britain after their invasion.  It was originally a way to find a husband or wife. Unmarried youths would Bob for apples, the first to retrieve the apple would be the next to marry. I'm sure glad we don't still do that. I wouldn't want to marry the first guy to get an apple.
 Jock-o'-lanterns: the practice of carving gourds for lanterns has been around for over 700 years. They were said to keep evil spirits away and would be carried for protection or placed in the windows of homes to protect the home from spirits. Sometime in the 19th century Ireland popularized the practice of carving jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween time and the tradition stuck. Today there are contests to see who can create the most elaborate designs in their gourds.

Halloween in a Nut Shell or rather a gourd shell
 All in all weather permitting (it's snowing/raining as I write this) Halloween is a magical time in young children's lives where they can dress up as anything their imaginations can create and go out door to door asking for candy. Halloween isn't just for the young though. Many parents look forward to letting themselves shed some of their inhibitions and dress up as well. I heard a statistical on the radio yesterday. For every two pieces of candy the child gets the parent eats one. 
 So go out into the night you beautiful princesses, scary goblins, super heroes and mermaids.  Have fun but practice safety.  Make sure to be with an adult. Always check your candy before eating it and make sure your visible to traffic.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

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Grenada

 Also known as the spice isles Grenada is comprised of the main island Grenada along with six surrounding smaller islands.
 If fall is your favorite season than Grenada might be the place for you. Nutmeg is one of Grenada's main exports. The smell of Nutmeg always reminds me of pumpkin pie. Who needs pumpkin spice everything when you live in the spice isles? No need to run down to Starbucks for a latte, you can add a little fresh ground nutmeg to your coffee right at home when you live in Grenada.

Interesting things to do on Grenada 
 Grenada is home to the words first under water sculpture park. It's absolutely breath taking. Regardless of whether I move to Grenada or not seeing this underwater park is going on my bucket list.
Check out these amazing sculptures here.
 In late August Grenada has a two day long music carnival. This is a perfect time to immerse yourself into the local culture. You will be able to sample foods from around the Caribbean and dance long into the night.

Cost of living
 Cost of living seems to be higher than the other Caribbean islands I've researched so far. For instance a dozen eggs will run you close to $3.17 usd.

Jobs in Grenada
 The unemployment rate is high in Grenada so if your going there expecting to find work it may be difficult. You must have a job lined up to apply for a work permit. Your employer will initiate the work permit process for you. Work permits  are good for 1 year and can be reapplied for each year after that.

Becoming a Resident 
 If you find that you love the spice Isles you must live in country 2 years before applying to become a permanent resident.

Dual Citizenship or Citizenship by Investment
 Grenada offers something called citizenship by investment. In order to qualify you must meet certain criteria. You must be of out standing character, hold no criminal record, be in good health and have a high personal wealth. Along with that you must make an investment in one of the fallowing.
* Invest in a pre-approved Realest Investment,
* Invest $350,000 usd plus an additional $25,000 usd per dependent in the Mount Cinnamon Project or
 *Donate $200,000 usd plus an additional $25,000 per dependent to the National Transformation Fund.
  There are many perks that come with this such as no taxes world wide on income and Visa free travel to over 100 countries. Personally this is not an option, but for some it  would be beneficial and well worth it.

Health Care
 As with most of the other Caribbean islands any major procedures have to be done at one of the mainland Hospitals. Without private insurance the medical bills can really start to pile up.

 Housing
 There are many options when buying a home for under $200,000 usd. on Grenada. Homes that would go for over $300,000 in the U.S.  sell for as little as $100,000 usd here. I found 18 homes under $200K most of them 3-5 bedrooms,  2+ baths. You could live quite comfortably in one of these homes if you have a steady income coming in from somewhere else.


Schools
 Grenada offers both public and private schools. Their public school system is based on the British school curriculum.  If you choose private schooling for your child the curriculum is closer to that of the United States.

Do you know someone who might be interested in learning about Grenada? Why not share this post with them?


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Curacao

Curacao is the first Dutch Caribbean island I've come across so far.
 There are six in total. The Countries Aruba, Curacao, St. Marten and the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba are referred to as the BES-islands. Three individual public entities within the country the Netherlands. Dutch Caribbean Legal Portal

Willemstad with its beautiful pastel-colored buildings is the capital of Curacao and is home to the Queen Emma Bridge. The Queen Emma Bridge is a floating or pontoon bridge  across the St. Anna bay. At one time it was a toll bridge but now a days is free to cross. Other areas of interest on the island are the Hato Caves and the Savonet Museum.

Language
 Papiamento is the most widely used language on the island. Papiamento is a mix between Portuguese, Judaeo-Portuguese, Spanish, Judaeo-Spanish, English and Dutch. While English and Spanish are widely used on the island it is recommended that you learn Papiamento if you plan to move there.

Become a Resident 
Moving to Curacao does require applying for a residency permit which can take around 4 months. That gives you time to start working on your Papiamento. In order to apply you must show some sort of revenue coming in or else your permit will most likely be denied.


Schools
They offer both the American high stress style of learning as well as the more laid back approach of the Netherlands. It's nice to have both options. A child that struggles with the American style of learning may perform better with less pressure where as a child who craves structure may thrive in a more rigid learning atmosphere.


Cost of Living and Home Prices
Due to its location in the Caribbean it sees far less hurricanes than most of the other islands. Making your property investment safer.
Cost of living is comparable to a larger U.S. city but as far as Caribbean islands go falls lower on the list. For example a dozen eggs will cost you around $2.00 U.S.
A 4 bedroom home not on the water will run you around $220,000 USD or 395,000ANF. 

Fun Facts
Blue Curacao (the drink) is actually orange colored and flavored. It's dyed the beautiful blue color.

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Turneffe Atoll and the islands of Belize

Turneffe Atoll is actually one of three atolls of the Belize barrier reef. 

They include Turneffee island, the largest atoll ( 30 miles long and 10 miles wide) in the Mesoamerican barrier reef system, Glovers Reef, home to the Glover's Reef Marine Reserve and Lighthouse Reef know for it's underwater sink hole. Three of the four Caribbean atoll's are in Belize making this a very unique spot to live. These atoll's are sublime for snorkeling and a fly fisherman's dream come true.

 Ever heard of The Great Blue Hole? It's a massive sink hole in Lighthouse Reefs lagoon. Jacques Cousteau made it famous in 1979 when he brought his ship the Calypso there to measure it's depth. Through his research a depth of 125 meters or 410 feet was recorded. Jacques declared it to be one of the top 10 best snorkeling sites in the world.

Property on Turneffee 

Buying property in Belize is quite simple for expats. There are no regulations for foreigners who wish to purchase property. There is no Capital Gains Tax. Excellent! There is a stamp duty tax of 5 percent payed by the buyer at closing but the first $10,000 is excluded, so on a $100,000 dollar sale you pay 5 percent on $90,000. That's not to bad as far as I'm concerned.  I'm starting to get so excited about Belize. This might just be the place for us. 

Absolutely amazing retirement benefits.

The Belize retired persons incentive program for people over 45 (YEP I SAID 45!) Is amazing. You do have to have a pension that pays out a minimum of 2 grand a month and you and your family can not work once excepted to this program but it offers tax benefits and all sorts of cool stuff. This is the best place so far to retire in the Caribbean.  

It's also amazing for people not ready to retire. The property prices are simply wonderful. I found a freaken island for sale for $249,000. A 1 acre private island all to yourself, ready to be built on. I wish I was ready to move right now.

Working in Belize

Similar to Cozumel working in Belize can be difficult.  You need to apply for a work permit and if your looking to do a job that a Belizean can do your chances of getting the permit are slim, but not impossible.  However if your looking to start a business (especially one that will bring locals jobs) it's a little easier to get a work permit. There is of course all the paperwork, forms and permits that will need to be filed when starting any business and the process can take a month or two but your not restricted to the amount of property you can own and stuff like that. I could absolutely do my wedding business here or the snorkeling and boat tours. 

Cost of Living

Cost of living in Belize is considerably  lower than in the U.S. an ocean front view will cost you on average $300 to $800 a month. Local food is reasonable as well. If you buy all imported it will cost you but if you live as the locals do you can live very well for under $1000 a month.

Know someone who wants to start a small business?  Why not share this post with them? Belize might be your Paradise.  Let me know your thoughts in the comments.


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What's an Atoll? Whare are they and can you live on one?

I am extremely excited about this post. I love rare and unique things, atolls are just that. I am over the moon excited and I cant wait to tell you all about them.

 How did I pick the islands to research? Basically I brought up Google maps, zoomed in on the Caribbean and followed the coastlines picking out anything that sounded interesting. When I hit Belize I found Turneffe Atoll. At the time I hadn't realized exactly what an Atoll was, so before I post about Turneffe I want to tell you a little about Atolls and how their formed.
  An atoll ( /ˈætɒl/, /ˈætɔːl/, /ˈætoʊl/, /əˈtɒl/, /əˈtɔːl/ or /əˈtoʊl/),^[1][2] sometimes called a coral atoll, is a ring-shaped coral reef including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands/cays on the rim.^[3](p60)[4] The coral of the atoll often sits atop the rim of an extinct seamount or volcano which has eroded or subsided partially beneath the water. The lagoon forms over the volcanic crater or caldera while the higher rim remains above water or at shallow depths that permit the coral to grow and form the reefs. For the atoll to persist, continued erosion or subsidence must be at a rate slow enough to permit reef growth upwards and outwards to replace the lost height. Wikipedia 

Crazy stuff right? But wait it gets crazier!

Because Atolls are often remote and hard to get to the government,  and not just the U.S., but France and Britain as well thought they would make great places to test nuclear weapons.  In fact the first hydrogen bomb was tested by the U.S. on Bikini Atoll and between 1947 and 1962 was home to more than 100 other nuclear explosions. Unfortunately as a result of this testing many Atolls were destroyed or damaged.
National Geografic.organization

Major bummer!

 I don't know an exact number of Atolls in the word, in fact no one really does. It's estimated to be around 400 but there are arguments out there that some of them don't completely qualify as atolls. People more qualified than myself have used satellite imagery and to their best guess it's around 400. So we will go with that number. Out of the 400 a lot of them are deserted or uninhabitable but there are some that are amazing. Did you know the Maldives are atolls? I didn't either but they are.
 I can't wait to find more Atolls during my research to live on. It's  my new passion! I must live on an atoll.
Up next Turneffe Atoll, Belize

Aren't Atolls amazing?  Know anyone who wants to learn more about them? Why not share this with them? Have a question about Atolls?  Leave me a comment.

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