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.

We Were Derailed on the Way to Faeto, Italy!

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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It was drizzling a bit when we walked up to the Naples train station on this morning to ride the train to Faeto, Italy.

Because the zippers on my old trusty daypack had exploded in Anzio, I had purchased a new $10Euro daypack at the Naples day market. This was just to get me back to Chapala, Mexico where I live so I could buy a decent one later.

Unfortunately, that cheapie pack was already falling apart and I was sewing it together here and there to keep me functioning while on the road.

Map of Italy showing where Faeto is

We arrived early at the station, not knowing what our platform would be.

 Continuously watching the electronic signs to see which would light up, coincidentally, our platform ended up being right in front of where we were standing.

We were taking a train/bus combination to get us from Naples to Faeto, marked on the map above.

The inside of the train we took

Fortunately we found seats on the train quickly.

You can see how modern and clean these Italian trains are.

Convenient baggage storage

The train was so new that these places behind the seats were provided to store luggage, a GREAT space saving idea.

Here you see one of our new rollie bags that we purchased in Naples.

The green countryside from the train window

So off we go to enjoy the countryside of the Italian regions of Campania and into Puglia.

These areas are very fertile and lush.

Vineyards and other crops

From the train window, here you see grape vineyards and other agricultural crops.

Having been in the large city of Naples - where we saw no individual houses - it was wonderful to see these country homes with space around them.

BusItalia

Because there is no direct train route to Faeto, after a bit, we needed to transfer to BusItalia to finish our journey.

It is common in Italy to have trains and buses work together for public transport, moving locals and tourists around the country.

While I realize that Americans love their cars, I would like to have a choice of these terrific transport options in the States.

Clean, safe, professional, convenient, affordable and on time.

On board BusItalia

Inside the bus it is also very modern with large windows to view the spectacular scenery.

At this point, we are waiting for the other passengers to board.

Countryside of Puglia

Once more, it is green, green, green.

Houses dotted the hillsides and it all looked so peace-filled.

Green countryside of Puglia, Italy

The gently sloping hillsides with olive orchards and various rotating crops were mesmerizing.

But we didn't know what was coming next!

Sign for Savignano Irpino

After a few hours of winding roads we finally arrive in Savignano Irpino at the abandoned train station (!)

This place hadn't been used for years, and weeds were overtaking the tracks and the building.

What was going on?

We quickly look around and we see a stream of 8 buffed-out young male migrants speaking a language that was not Italian. They were walking down the hill towards us.

We felt a bit uncomfortable since we were carrying everything we own on us and we were obviously seniors - An easy target should they want it. Why were these men going down this particular hill, as it was a dead end with nowhere else to go?

It was an odd feeling - not quite the "raising of the hairs on the back of the neck" odd - but close.

We walk up the hill towards the main road and just as we crest the hill, a police car stops. The senior cop sternly asks us what we are doing there. Our guess was that he thought we had something to do with the migrants.

Being respectful of police, we answer his questions, but what was curious was that he spoke very fluent English with no accent.

Apparently he trained with American forces which is why his language skills were so good. The other policeman who was with him had no clue as to what was going on.

Unbeknownst to us... there were NO transport options to get to Faeto from here, 20 kilometers away.

There must be some mistake. We checked our ticket app and phones for options, but there was no way out. We were stuck.

Billy is explaining to the policeman that we have a house rented in Faeto, but haven't been able to make contact with them to give us a ride out of here.

"FAETO?!" he asked. "Why? No one goes there, there's nothing there!." Half serious, half joking he says "the only way to get from here to there is on a sheep" We were a bit confused, but went along with his joke.

I whipped out my phone and showed him the photos of my Father's parents and said "This is my Family. They are from Faeto."

Knowingly, he nods his approval and says "OOOOHHHH...

After this, he determined that we were just lost tourists and he relaxed a bit.

Dog on a bench at the bakery

Since we told the policeman our story, he asked for the number of the home rental owner so he could try and make contact himself.

He then pointed at a bakery 30 meters away and told us to buy a pastry and enjoy it while we waited.

Following orders we did just that as he drove off.

We went inside this bakery to use the facilities and to purchase individual berry pies.

This town has no taxis or hotels so we figured we would sleep in the bakery if necessary.

We were feeling somewhat better about our options.

Moments later, the copper pulled up and told us that the Father of the son with whom we had been communicating is on his way and will be here in 20 minutes.

Just sit and wait.

Then once again he pulled away.

Angels in uniform.

Seriously.

His parting words to us were "Don't let anyone take advantage of you up there."

(What did that mean?)

Road signs pointing to Faeto, Italy

Yup.

Right about 20 minutes later Giovanni, the father of Antonio the home owner, comes to pick us up.

He looks a bit put off, as if he didn't want to do this "pick up thing" but he was there and he wanted to get it over with.

Not a conversationalist nor much of a smiler, he has us put our own baggage into his trunk and off we go to Faeto.

Zippity.

Doo.

Dah.

Countryside from Savignano Irpino to Faeto

Billy makes attempts at conversation, but Giovanni isn't having any of it.

He zooms through these winding roads (my Dramamine has worn off by now, darn it) and I'm feeling the curves.

But it's beautiful.

Entrance to Faeto, Italy

It had been a cloudy, semi-rainy day, and we were nonplussed with our first entry into Faeto.

But hey, we were here for family heritage purposes, and we were just going to suck it up.

It turns out that this place was gorgeous, friendly and I was related to about half the town, population 500! Including Giovanni, Mr. Smiley himself!

Can you believe it?

Stay tuned for more...

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