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.

Hotel Movich Cartagena de Indias

Cartagena, Colombia

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

We were on the hunt for Rooftop Bars.

We discovered Hotel Movich and its rooftop bar online. Let me tell you, these places are great fun.

Engaging music sometimes with a live DJ, open air views of the Colonial City below, delicious appetizers and full plates, famous mixed drinks, and these rooftop bars are beautiful places to socialize.

Hotel Movich was one of our favorite places.

Take a look below.

The understated elegance of the entrance, Movich Cartagena de Indias

Here are a couple of service personnel taking a break. The menu is posted on the wall behind them.

When we first arrived one afternoon to check out the hotel, we didn't really comprehend the sophistication that Movich offered. Sure, we had already made our appearance at some of the most popular rooftop bars already. They were hip, young, had pumpin' music and fancy umbrella drinks to offer.

It was easy to underestimate Movich, as we were about to find out.

The rooftop pool at Hotel Movich

The evening we decided to try out Movich's rooftop bar, we arrived before sunset and took the hotel elevator up to the sixth floor.

We knew it had a pool on the top floor. We also knew one could spend the afternoon at the pool, eating a meal and having a drink or two while enjoying the 360 degree view of the entire city.

We might try that on our next visit to Cartagena.

Another view of the pool

If you look to the upper left in the photo, you'll see where the rooftop bar is. This is where we were headed. It was just a little after 5pm.

The view of the Colonial City of Cartagena from Hotel Movich

This view, which you might recognize by our other stories and videos of Cartagena, is looking towards Boca Grande. The church you see on the center right is St. Peter Claver Church, the patron saint of the city of Cartagena and of the slaves whom he once served here.

The body of water on the right is the Caribbean Sea.

A panoramic view of the City of Cartagena from the rooftop of Hotel Movich

You can see more of the Caribbean Ocean from here, more of the city of Cartagena, and as you notice, the sun is beginning to set. The live DJ is pumping out the music, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition with this Colonial city below.

The men sitting next to the DJ are playing dominoes, a favorite game in the tropics.

Beautiful European women checking out the menu

As we took our table, we watched the international crowd pour in.

Young men and women from France, Asia, the US and Canada, other locations in Europe and of course South America came to Movich to watch the sun set over the sea.

Hotel Movich was cozier than Cafe del Mar, and we were enjoying everything about it.

Rooftop Bar Menu

Large appetizers to share, salads, and casual food like burgers and sandwiches are on the menu.

Carpaccio de Pulpo

Carpaccio, thinly sliced raw beef or fish, is named after the Italian Renaissance painter, Vittorre Carpaccio.

Our delicately sliced octopus was simply outstanding.

It only took one bite to know that this octopus was so fresh that it was probably caught earlier in the day. The saffron mayonnaise complimented this dish perfectly, and the edible flowers, fresh mango, papaya and baby lettuces all made for one of the most memorable appetizers we have had in recent memory.

Distinctive, delicious and highly recommended.

Mixed Bruchettas

Smoked salmon, Serrano ham, roast beef, and tuna bruchettas served with a sweetened soy sauce drizzle.

The "Young and Restless" at Hotel Movich

There were two decks on the rooftop of Hotel Movich. This is the first one, with the pool immediately below.

We sat on the second platform, where the bar itself was located.

Just enjoying the sunset here...

More than likely, sharing social media

This group of friends are probably sharing some social media pics.

Behind them to the upper right is the DJ playing music off his computer. The men playing dominoes are at the table in the middle. The bar is located to the left out of the photo.

We are sitting directly in front of this group of friends.

There are still people to our right, to our left and behind us.

The view of the rooftop from the first deck

We are standing here at the level of the first deck, right beside the DJ looking back at our table. The bar is to the right and here you see some of the people behind us.

The place cleared out a bit at 7:30pm, since the sun had set.

Fireworks in the night sky

Just as we were getting ready to leave, a fireworks display began.

Lasting about 5 minutes, we watched until the show was over.

The night lights of the city

The city looks different at night, doesn't it?

After our visit to Hotel Movich, we wandered around to see the night life of the city.

A private security guard and Akaisha

What a beautiful young man.

Billy loves to take my photo with men in uniform... I kind of like it too!

This man was very obliging to us to allow us to take our photo together.

If you ever make it to the fabulous city of Cartagena, make it a point to visit the rooftop bar, or the lovely restaurant on the first floor for a meal.

Highly recommended.

Hotel Movich Cartagena De Indias

Centro Histórico, Calle de Vélez Danies No. 4 – 39 Cartagena Hotel, Colombia

Phone: +57 5 6642995 Also +57 (1) 521 5050

Website: https://www.movichhotels.com/es/ 

Email: atencionalcliente@movichhotels.com

There are 6 locations in Colombia and Ecuador

Rooms are priced around $250USD per night

For more information on Colombia, with photos, stories and videos, click here

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Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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