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armandatitlan replied to the thread Internet in Antigua on the Guatemala forum on June 19, 2013:

classy initially posted:

I am moving to Antigua on Friday. I run a business online and need streaming video for my online workshops and client calls. I will be in Antigua for only 6-7 months and need a viable 4Gig Internet. I will have a tiGO stick as a back up, but that is not good enough for streaming. Please advise of companies I can speak to that will give me reliable service and I can talk to in English.

armandatitlan replied 18 minutes ago with:

Your best Choice is to find a rental with a hard line phone so then you can get a DSL kind of line ..I have one at my office it works very well.. it would be with the Claro company...Welcome to Antigua. Armand

molar6 replied to the thread Moving to Antigua, Guatemal on the Guatemala forum on June 19, 2013:

Austen initially posted:

Retiring and entertaining the thought of moving. I have a friend that is very happy since he relocated. Any comments, I will not be looking for work.

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molar6 replied 2 hours ago with:

Come down and try it first. Stay for six mos. and then decide

pato23 replied 10 hours ago with:

Visit your friend for 2 or 3 weeks, or you can stay in hotel or hostel cheaply if your friend has no room, check out the pros and cons, Antigua is charming but it's charm has been known to fade for many ex pats after the 'honeymoon period' I was mainly a Guatemala City ex pat but woked in tourism and hospitality for 4 years in Antigua, after 3 months found myself driving into Guate City every day I was free. Stay away from those expats who gossip and 'one up' on you, there are plenty, many empty rooms/apts. here in September after the July and August hordes go home. Prices go down in Sept and Oct. back up in November for the 'Snowbirds' Learn as much Spanish as possible not to be dependent on other ex pats, more Spanish Students and Tourists in and around Antigua than Ex Pats, many live in villages outside town as rents are high in Antigua's center city, tuks tuks everywhere for transport $3 up, buses to the City every 15 minutes all day $1.25 The Quetzal is roughly 7.70 to 1 USD. Exchange in Banks ATMs charge commission.

pato23 posted Antigua on the Guatemala forum on June 19, 2013:

http://www.aroundantigua.com/ in English, with maps and all getting around Antigua information, there are no street signs in town, so you will need to walk around and orient yourself, great place to meet people is the Rainbow Room Café and Bar, Used Book Store et al 7 Avenida Sur No. 8 between 6th and 7th Calles Poniente , Sur is south, Avenues go north and south and the Volcanoes are South, Hill of the Cross is north, if staying way out of town or on outskirts the town is not well lit late night and yes crime exists, especially on weekends when young wahoos come in from Guate City to drink,.drug..whatever. So walk in a Group home, if intoxicated and female get a tuk tuk or taxi, young men in Guatemala are Macho, like it or not.

CatOSmith replied to the thread Furnishing a home on the Guatemala forum on June 18, 2013:

CatOSmith initially posted:

I understand there is little or no secondhand furniture market in Guatemala. We are coming for a year and I looked into renting furnishings for unfurnished houses and the quote I received seemed outrageous to me. Should I just focus on renting furnished? Thanks Catherine

CatOSmith replied on June 18, 2013 with:

Thank you. Very helpful. Moving to antigua with kids by the way. Forgot to include that info in first post.

Guategringo replied on June 18, 2013 with:

Catherine, There is a store in Zone 13 in Guatemala City call El Martillazo. Their address and link to FB is below. They take on consignment second hand furniture. Very popular with expats who leave the furniture to be sold and then depostied into a bank account. There is also very good furniture to be purchased. I bought a living room set and dining room set years ago that was very inexpensive compared to retail prices for good furniture. The other route is to buy typical furniture they make here (the inexpensive type is made of pine), but it far less expensive then cedar or some other woods they use here. 15 Av 10-26 Z-13 Guatemala, Guatemala https://www.facebook.com/pages/El-Martillazo/157847497691735

A reader commented on the Expat Report Living in Guatemala-City, Guatemala on June 18, 2013 19:06

If a friend of yours was thinking of moving to this city or town from far away, what other advice would you give them.

It is a great country to live in provided you have a certain income and are willing to accept the restrictions the insecurity imposes. (Continue)

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A reader replied on June 18, 2013 15:06 with:

We lived for 21 years in Guatemala (now live in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico). The biggest problem living in Guatemala City is violent crime (robbery, kidnapping & rape). Please take this into account if you are thinking of moving there!

GteVisitor replied to the thread Retirement questions on the Guatemala forum:

Fercho initially posted:

Greetings! My question to anyone who has retired from the US to Guatemala is how. I currently live in Maryland and wanted to establish residency in a lower tax state, is this necessary to do first since I will be retiring in Guatemala, any suggestions? Do you consult with a tax attorney ? amy suggestions on that in the Rockville MD/ Washington DC area? Thanks

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GteVisitor replied on June 18, 2013 with:

Article today which touches on the issue of states going after people even after they've moved away... http://money.cnn.com/2013/06/18/pf/taxes/state-tax/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

mikee57m replied on April 28, 2013 with:

http://www.taxesforexpats.com/expat-tax-advice/state-taxes.html check out this web site on State taxes

Blog Santa Cruz la Laguna, Guatemala posted on the Guatemala Network

English language website/blog for the extranjero communities of greater Santa Cruz la Laguna, Guatemala and the Lake Atitlan area.

roadapple replied to the thread Gays in Guatemala on the Guatemala forum on June 14, 2013:

IM1UB12 initially posted:

I am a gay white male that is moving to Guatemala next year and would like to make friends and correspond with other gay males. Please respond to ramim1ub12@ Hotmail .com. Thank you, Max.

roadapple replied on June 14, 2013 with:

Hi Max...What area of Guatemala sre you thinking of.I will be in Panajachel Lake Atitlan in Sept.Looking for an apt .

classy replied to the thread Spanish translator on the Guatemala forum:

bd4224 initially posted:

Hi~I was planing to have a trip to Guatemala from U.S with my partner who was original born in Guatemala speaks Eng and Spanish. There was something going on so he have to cancel the trip. But I'm still want to go there. If things work out maybe I'll fly to Guatemala once a month. I'm looking for a translator who can also keep the confidential. I can only afford 800Q for 3 days(not one day, 3 days 800GTQ). Can anybody give me an idea? Or email me crncatering@gmail.com Thank you!!!

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classy replied on June 14, 2013 with:

I'm sorry, this was not my post. Perhaps someone else?

miguelon56 replied on June 14, 2013 with:

Are you looking for a Spanish/English Translator for written documents, or an Interpreter for professional appointments. It sounds like you might just be looking for a bi-lingual tour guide to go places with you for 3 full days. I am just trying to understand your needs. I am a trained court and medical interpreter in Spanish/English and I do a little Translation work on the side for extra cash, but I am still in the US for now.

Ten Things You Should Know Before You Move To Central or South America by Donald Lee

Article Summary: Lee offers ten tips for people contemplating a move to Central or South America. (Continue)

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A reader replied most recently with:

Loved your article, we are going to Ecuador this week, planning to retire there, your advice was right on the nose for us, we will spend one month looking around , Katie Adams

A reader replied recently with:

From what I read like anything in life, like even getting a new job, it is critical to have a mentor. How do I find one? I am learning Spanish now. I do not like to gossip. How do I find a mentor so I can learn how to live there in peace and find a safe place to live? Thanks, Melinda (Ohio, USA)