Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age
of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this
financially independent lifestyle, they invite you
to take advantage of their wisdom and experience. |
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Things to
Do in Antigua, Guatemala
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Spanish conquistadors
founded present-day
Antigua in 1543. At the time it was called Santiago de los
Caballeros and for 200 years it served as the capitol of the Kingdom of
Guatemala which included the current states of
Guatemala,
Belize,
El Salvador,
Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and the modern state of
Chiapas in Mexico.
During its
development and splendor, it was known as one of the three most beautiful cities
of the Spanish Indies.
In 1776, after the
Santa Marta earthquakes destroyed much of the town, the capitol was moved to the
current location of Guatemala City. Santiago de los Caballeros was then referred
to as Antigua de
Guatemala, or “Old Guatemala.”
These days you can
still savor the beauty of the ruins in the city of
Antigua, but there are lots
of other things to do in this international city as well.
Below are some
suggestions you will enjoy.
Visit
Valhalla Macadamia Nut Farm. This is an amazing rancho
where macadamia nuts are
grown, employing many of the
families in the area.
Lorenzo, the owner, is quite
an innovator and won a gold
medal in Geneva for his
environmental work. In the
world of nuts and berries,
macadamia nuts are almost as
precious as gold. This is a
must-see.
Wine tasting. Visit
Tobaco y Vinos. Nestled under the
famous Catarina Arch on 5a Avenida Norte, this friendly wine and cigar bar
welcomes you in. What a treat! They offer over 350 types of wines and cigars
from all over the world. You can have a glass of red wine, chilled white wine,
or a classic Cuban cigar from their large humidor and watch people meander down
the street.
Visit
Sobremesa Ice Cream Shop. This closet-of-a-size shop has everything you might want from
an ice cream store. You can order Italian coffee, cappuccino or a soda and the
list of exotic ice creams available are written on the board. Some of the
flavors listed are Chocolate Chile Cobanero, Strawberry Merlot, Strawberry Parmesan,
5x Chocolate, Apple Chipotle, Pistachio Cardamom, and Coffee Rum Walnut.
The
Snug Bar and Travel Menu are side by side. Both
offer live music and camaraderie, and Travel Menu offers various selections of
food. The Snug is an authentic Irish bar owned by an Irishman. Located at 6th
Street between 5th and 6th Avenues it's in a quaint space with an
Irish clover hanging outside.
Catch
some live music. Live music is happening all over town in bars
and restaurants. At certain times of the year, there are
free open air concerts with
international musicians that are not to be missed.
Visit a steak house.
There are lots of these in town offering you a great selection.
Cafe Escobar is a famous steak
house but there are lots more. You can check out our
Antigua Home Page and look
specifically under Restaurants for listings of places to go.
Visit
Casa Santo Domingo. Historical
buildings have been modernized into restaurants, hotels and shops. One of the
most beautiful of these is Casa Santo Domingo. Bring your camera. There is a
museum, some restaurants and a bar.
For a glimpse into
the past, take a horse drawn carriage ride. It’s an experience that will take
you into the past as the Spanish well-to-do must have lived. Bring your camera.
Climb a volcano.
Antigua is surrounded by handful of volcanoes waiting to be hiked. The most
popular volcano to hiked, Volcán Pacaya, is located just an hour outside of town. Or you might be interested in hiking either the active and lava
spewing Volcán Fuego or the dormant but tallest volcano in Guatemala, Volcán
Actenango. Visit a travel agent for more information.
Participate in the
Sunday walking Street
activities. On weekends, the
Plaza fills up with vendors
and musicians and there is
an Andador, or walking
street, where traffic is
shut off for the day. Wander
around, watch mimes and
clowns do their shtick,
taste wine, go souvenir
shopping or watch people
meander by.
Go to the
Chocolate museum. Located on 4ta calle oriente numer 14, Tele: 7832. 4520 or
ChocoMuseo
Calle del Arco, 5ta avenida norte numer 15 C Tele: 7832. 0219. Enjoy the
making of chocolate and the final product. Purchase chocolate tea, chocolate
bars and other souvenirs for family and friends.
Eat BBQ.
Pappy's BBQ is some of the
best we have had. Done in the southern Texas style, you can get ribs, chicken,
brisket, wings, mixed plates, hamburgers and more. Ask for Blake, the owner, and
tell him we sent you!
Lose yourself in the
Mercado. Antigua has a good market which sells fresh vegetables, fruit,
clothing, shoes, cell phone covers, CDs, ready-to-eat-food and more. Take your
time. Wander around and visit the bus station that is attached. These dozens and
dozens of buses will take you to anyplace in Guatemala you might want to go.
Go to San Miguel
Duenas where
Chicken Buses are made. Have you ever wondered
what happened to that old yellow bus that took you back and forth to school?
Probably not, and neither did we... That is until we found them!
Take Spanish
lessons.
A great place to learn Spanish is in Antigua, Guatemala. There is a big selection from which to choose. A school, an academy, immersion
with a family, one-on-one with a tutor.
Visit coffee shops.
Guatemala is Coffee Central. There are countless
coffee shops and bakeries all around town. Go to a different one each day.
Have
fresh French pastry, a piece of
chocolate cake, breakfast or simply an
afternoon cup.
Visit
La Casa Del Ron, House of Rum. Sugar cane,
from which rum is made, grows all over Central America. Guatemala is known for
its good tasting rum. Casa del Ron is a relatively new addition to the Antigua
bar and restaurant scene. Stop by in the early afternoon to check it out and
make arrangements to have pre-dinner cocktails later in the evening.
If you
visit Antigua, Guatemala, plan to stay for several days. Immerse yourself in the
culture and fun!
For more stories, photos and information
about Antigua, click
here
For more stories and photos of Guatemala, click
here
For more on Retirement
Topics, click here and here
About the Authors
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are
recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on
topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of
information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com,
they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since
1991. They wrote the popular books, The
Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your
Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website
bookstore or
on Amazon.com.
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