Margarita Island, anyone heard of it?

[MadSheeple]

I stumbled upon http://escapethestates.com/default.aspx , a website apparrently run by a couple that's been living there for 3 years. They make it look like the best place in the world to live considering our situation.

Quotes from website :-335 sunny days a year, white sandy beaches and affordable living
-cheapest gas in the world at about 4 to 12 cents a gallon
-only Caribbean island with all the infrastructure and ammenities for an American style lifestyle
-unique real estate market; when the world real estate market is falling, Margarita's is growing, and when the rest of the world is doing good Margarita's real estate is still doing good. There is just growth and more growth here

There is alot more, but I'll leave it to you guys to go check it out and express your thoughts on that supposed paradise.

[Carol]

I wonder what the sea level is and given that the western US is going to be under water by Jan 2013, living there may be a high risk.

And personally... rain is really lovely and waters the garden.

[Humble Janitor]

I wonder what the sea level is and given that the western US is going to be under water by Jan 2013, living there may be a high risk.

And personally... rain is really lovely and waters the garden.

It is going to be under water in 2013? From what?

Rising sea levels? I thought global warming was debunked? I'm lost. Heh.

[TheObserver]

As far as i know the only thing debunked was that solar system warming was unique to earth HJ.

[Reader]

I bet Margaritaville is the Capital and Jimmy Buffet the Governor

cheese burger in paradise

[Reader]

Okay, Sorry,
I checked in to it and it really is what looks like a nice, "real" place

[MadSheeple]

Okay, Sorry,
I checked in to it and it really is what looks like a nice, "real" place

Maybe it's not too good to be true. I was thinking about going to Chili this winter after my semester @ university, but now I'm thinking about going on a trip there instead to check it out for myself.

[Deevie]

I wonder how the residents of the island get along with the Venzuelan government? I've seen the web site before and mentioned it to a friend who has lived in several countries in that part of the world. He said his main concern regarding where he lives (his employer sends him various places) is always is how Americans are viewed not just by the locals but TPTB of that country.

[Operator]

Try to contact Asteram, he lives on Isla de Margarita. The actual name is spanish because it belongs to Venezuela.

The island is in the same neighborhood as the island that I live on. I can only confess that the south caribbean is a wonderful place to be.

[sjkted]

Take a look at how Venezuela rates in terms of economic freedom. http://www.heritage.org/Index/Country/Venezuela

They have nearly the lowest possible rating as far as property rights is concerned.

--sjkted

[Sideshow Shaman]

Take a look at how Venezuela rates in terms of economic freedom. http://www.heritage.org/Index/Country/Venezuela

They have nearly the lowest possible rating as far as property rights is concerned.

--sjkted

In their own words...
http://www.heritage.org/Index/About.aspx
"Experts
For over a decade, The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, Washington's preeminent think tank, have tracked the march of economic freedom around ..."

Any org describing itself as "Washington's preeminent think tank" should be dismissed straight away when it come to any discussion of Venezuela. They really should be ignored in any context though.

From personal experience, i can recommend the mid Caribbean as a place to live. But then i do not live in fear, which is sorta required.

[Fredkc]

Maybe it's not too good to be true. I was thinking about going to Chili this winter after my semester @ university...
MadS... take it from a guy who lived for four years in Santiago, and Concepción...

Chile is a country in South America.

Chilli is a lethal substance which I manufacture on my stove. ;)

Fred

[Fredkc]

From the FAQ (http://escapethestates.com/FAQ.aspx):

Q:Can foreigners own property on Margarita Island?
A:Yes they can and your private property is protected under the Venezuelan constitution.

Q:Can the government take your property?
A:No they can not, no more then they can in the United States.

Q:Is the government stable?
A:Yes it is stable with a democratically elected president.You should probably do your own research on this, a little poking around and you will see that the U.S. corporate media demonizes lots of different countries in Latin America, most of all Venezuela.

http://www.sunshineestates.net/reg_sum/reg_sum_images/venezuela/margarita-island-map.gif

Hmmmm.... Says I.

Fred

[THE eXchanger]

i have a friend steve, who writes me, from there

he claims he can fill up a truck for $10
that, would cost me, about $110 here

he loves it

[sjkted]

In their own words...
http://www.heritage.org/Index/About.aspx
"Experts
For over a decade, The Wall Street Journal and The Heritage Foundation, Washington's preeminent think tank, have tracked the march of economic freedom around ..."

Any org describing itself as "Washington's preeminent think tank" should be dismissed straight away when it come to any discussion of Venezuela. They really should be ignored in any context though.

From personal experience, i can recommend the mid Caribbean as a place to live. But then i do not live in fear, which is sorta required.

So, are you denying the Venezuelan government has absolutely no respect for property rights, especially for property being held by non-locals? If I were looking to live on the island, that would be kind of important to me.

--sjkted

[sjkted]

i have a friend steve, who writes me, from there

he claims he can fill up a truck for $10
that, would cost me, about $110 here

he loves it

I've heard about this from numerous sources. From what I understand, they have a limited local supply of oil and are refusing to export it. Good for them! Someone in their government didn't sell out.

--sjkted

[Sideshow Shaman]

So, are you denying the Venezuelan government has absolutely no respect for property rights, especially for property being held by non-locals? If I were looking to live on the island, that would be kind of important to me.

--sjkted

What i am saying is that Washington D.C. think tanks should not be trusted in anything they have to say about Venezuela (or anything South/Central American).

This is grade school level media awareness.

[sjkted]

What i am saying is that Washington D.C. think tanks should not be trusted in anything they have to say about Venezuela (or anything South/Central American).

This is grade school level media awareness.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but who should we trust, the Venezuelan government? The whole region has quite a reputation for being shall we say a little unstable.

--sjkted

[Humble Janitor]

So, instead of changing our unsustainable lifestyles, we just find a place that can support them?

That's kind of counter-productive in my opinion. Cheap gas and sunny weather are not as important to me as being able to just survive.