The Expat Files: Living in Latin America

#1-  Why have some Latin countries like Guatemala suddenly appeared on Trump’s new blocked travel VISA list while other Latin countries don’t:  

#2- How Latinos use time-tested immigration scams to get legal USA 90 day travel visas, 

#3- A funny thing happened on my way to the USA embassy:

#4- An update on taking Gold and Crypto assets across country borders:

#5- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

[email protected] 

#1-  My personal history of being scammed in Latin America (by popular listener demand):

Yes, we all get scammed in our lifetimes and have the scars to prove it, some more than others but hopefully we learn. There are bad people out there, though sometimes we're asking for it. We're just stupid , gullible, unlucky or ill-informed and thus become marks. Since no one is 100% immune from scams, before you start crying and whining about your own history of being clipped, you’ll want to hear this story…

#2- Beware!!! With silver at over 100 bucks an ounce and gold over 5000, if you are lucky enough to have some, what are you supposed to do with it? 

It’s a dangerous time to buy, especially when there are tons of near perfect counterfeits out there on ebay and other online sites…

#3- Will Latin Americans ever accept self-driving cars and robots? Will the technology ever make it down to Latin America in a meaningful way?

#4- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

[email protected] 

#1-  The best and worst case scenarios when one attempts to build or remodel a house or property in Latin America:

Today we cite examples at both ends of the spectrum… a gringo house building project that went very smoothly and a project that became a complete disaster…  

#2- When your Latino neighbors have bodyguards:

How might it affect you and what are you to make of it?

#3- Crazy Latin American floor patterns and abrupt staircase height changes are common:

Be extra careful or someday you will surely trip and fall on your ass…

#4- When a building contractor's verbal and implied warranties,

Descriptions - EXPAT FILES SHOW #1490, FRI, JAN 16 (01-16-26): 

#1- What Latin American Spanish rags are saying about the Maduro capture:

Here’s what 1st world captured media won’t tell you…

#2- The “macho” culture restaurant effect- in reverse:

Why does the lone gringo at the table so often get guilted into picking up the check?

#3- Crazy Latin American relationship facts- PART 2:

A continued rant on why so many beautiful Latina women have unattractive, low-value husbands, boyfriends and errant kids…

#4- How to kill a formerly nice, popular gringo tourist spot:

Might decapitating five or six locals and mounting their heads on poles at the beach do the trick?

#5- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

[email protected] 

#1- The Maduro capture and after effects in a few words:

#2- Gringos looking for love in Latin America:

#3- Why do so many beautiful Latina women have unattractive, low-value husbands and boyfriends?

#4- How to lose 2 points on your gringo attractiveness scale:  

#5- Those ultra, ultra, super cheap gringos and expats who make all of us look bad: 

#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

[email protected] 

Descriptions - EXPAT FILES SHOW #1488, FRI, JAN 02 (01-02-26): 

#1- What expats need to know about Chat GPT and other AI platforms:

#2- Expat Insider seminar stories that will amaze you:

#3- When the will to “get out of dodge” diminishes with time:

#4- Will your wife or significant other thwarts your Plan B efforts:  

#5- No good deed goes unpunished (that goes for Latin America too): 

#6- 10 most dangerous jobs:

#7- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

[email protected] 

#1- The ins and outs and proper steps to having your SS check deposited in your Latin American Bank Account:

#2- Why despite your natural resistance and repusion to brain numbing USA buerocracy …you really need to set up a personal account on the US Social Security website:

Setting up a personal account on the SS  website will eliminate a lot of headaches when things go wrong (and they will go wrong eventually)

#3- DYK that in order to get residency in certain Latin American countries, there are multiple dreaded vaccine requirements?

Yes, this is bad news, but some countries like Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador don’t enforce those rules at all….

#4- Disgusting Latin American culinary surprises you will encounter:  

#5- Tips for gringos and expats who are able to buy Latin American properties with CASH: 

#6- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

#1- 3rd world optimism versus reality:

#2- Why 3rd world countries remain 3rd world as 1st world countries slwly slip into 3rd world status:

#3- How Latinos score on the big 5 personality traits as compared to gringos and expats:  

#4- Getting the Nobel piece (of shit) prize:  

#5- Latin Americans have a certain idea of what your previous life in the USA was like…. and it is all wrong:

#6- Latin American party etiquite:    

#7- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

[email protected] 

#1- Expat landlords in Latin America:

Is being a landlord worth the hassle?

#2- 3rd world landlord rental property dilemmas you won’t encounter in the 1st world:

#3- Why Latin American real estate deals don’t seem to make sense to gingos and expats:

You need to look beyond the obvious. Chances are you're not analyzing the secondary factors...

#4- Yo must get it into your head that Latin America is a “renter’s” market:  

#5- How smart Latin American real estate owner’s low-ball their property tax bills:

#6- Why it's true that for most Latinos owning a home is practically the only way to beat inflation:    

#7- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

[email protected] 

#1- Latina eating habits that bug gringos and expats:

Should you mention them or hold your tongue?

#2- Poor food safety and bad hygiene habits in Latino markets:

#3- The foolish dating app traps gringos and expats routinely fall for:  

#4- Guilty pleasures -Part 2:  

#5- The Latin American minimum wage battles:

#6- Data shows we are about 20% worse looking and less handsome than we think we are:

Is that good or bad news?     

#7- Our own Expat Captain Mango has developed a unique one-on-one Crypto consulting and training service (he’s been deep into crypto since 2013). To get started, email him at:

[email protected]