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.

The Black Market

Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Currency Exchange

One of the features to see while visiting Ensenada, Mexico, is the Black Market.

No one local seems to know why it is named such, and when I suggested that it might - at one time in history - been an "underground" market selling fish, they seemed to like that idea.

But no one could collaborate.

One of the entrances to the fish market

Fish, fish, fish everywhere and restaurants to cook the items you pick out yourself.

In this way, you know what you are eating and can judge the freshness.

Two kinds of clams

Clams were everywhere in the market and they were sold steamed with butter and wine or in ceviche cocktails in the restaurants.

Stacks of smoked marlin

This is the tastiest stuff!

Smoked marlin has a deep flavor. It is incredible when mixed with cooked tomatoes and onions and placed on tacos, in an omelet or mixed with pasta. It could also make a great sandwich (not too much!) with lettuce, tomato, mayo and anything else you might want to put on it.

Sometimes we will purchase some, use what we want and freeze what's left for later.

Various fresh fish

Here you see sting ray, curvina filet, rock cod, and mako among others.

The pricing is in pesos per kilo.

Currently the Mako steak is going for $7USD per kilo and the manta ray for $6.50 per kilo.

More fish!

Here you see Rock Cod among others, and the cod is going for about $4USD per kilo, or less than $2USD per pound.

How does that compare to your home town?

Clams in an aquarium

In all the places we have traveled, and with all the food we have cooked, we have not seen clams displayed like this before.

These clams are fresh and live, with their foot sticking out.

Jumbo shrimp

At 300 Pesos a kilo, these jumbo shrimp are less than $7USD per pound.

Fresh and delicious!

Various Red Snappers

Billy has not seen Red Snapper this red before. The ones he has cooked have been lighter skinned similar to the other stacks of fish in the photo.

Restaurants line the outside of the Black Market

One after another, these restaurants line the outside of the Black Market. All of them serve pretty much the same menu.

Pricing was good.

One can find fish tacos all over town and we tried several places to compare.

If you look straight to the back in this photo, you would find the malecon and the deep seaport of Ensenada.

For more stories and photos of Ensenada, click here 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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