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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Our Sailboat
Trip in Malta
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
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Have you ever been on a bad
blind date?
You know it won't work the moment you meet, and there's this "uh-oh"
feeling with no polite way of escaping.
So, you know, ...
You make the most of it for
the time you promised, hoping there will be some redeeming moment that will turn
it around.
Meanwhile, you keep an eye
on the door or on your watch, ... and make considerate conversation until you
part ways.
That's what it was like
with our commissioned sailing trip on this island of Malta in the middle of the
Mediterranean Sea.
The
44 foot private boat we chartered
When we were in southern Italy, Billy
had arranged for a
sailing trip in Brindisi. There was no wind that day, and it
was a bit of a bust. So, when Billy called Malta Sailing Experiences, he was
hoping for just that.
A sailing experience.
So we go down to the
Grand Harbor in Valletta, the capital of Malta, and meet with the captain of a
44 footer we had rented for the morning.
Our anticipation - and our expectations -
were high for this trip.
Interior of the private boat
The boat is in ship-shape with polished wood
and bleached cushions. There's a nice sized dining table, a place for sleeping
in the connecting room, and you can see the white door of the head straight
through this opening.
Sleeping area and head
The boat is very well maintained, with a
large-ish sleeping area.
Equipped kitchen
The kitchen is pretty manageable, with gas
stove, oven, double sink, microwave and shelving and storage for kitchenware.
This would be a super boat to take for a
week's cruise or longer, just checking out the coast of the historical Mediterranean
Sea.
Captain of the boat
This is the captain who is an expat living in
Malta, which he loves.
He told us right away that there was little
wind today and to put up the sails “would be too much
effort”.
(!!!)
But not to worry, he knew lots about the
history of the Grand Harbor and he would tell us all about it.
Then, for some reason, he felt compelled to
tell us about his EPIC sail yesterday, how we should have been on THAT
trip, and continues on in grueling detail about how the wind was amazing, and
the sail was one of the best ever... and so on.
Then if that wasn't enough, he seemed
obliged to let us know that he had another sail scheduled for when we returned to the harbor.
"The wind should kick up by then" and he can't wait for THAT sail.
Huh?
Remember my bad blind date analogy?
What's with this guy?
Personally, I
think he was too tired from yesterday and was saving his energy for the next
reservation. He could easily have said “there isn’t much wind today, but I’ll
take you out past the point to see if we can catch some there.”
After all, when we got to the point, there
were actually sail boats SAILING.
But the captain couldn't be bothered, and
simply motored our way through the harbor.
Billy was disappointed and I was perplexed.
We paid $300Euros (about $320USD) for a sailing experience, and the
captain made little-to-no effort to provide one.
Did he think we wouldn't notice?
Fort Manoel
This is Fort Manoel, located on Manoel Island in
the Grand Harbor.
Built in the early 1700s as a fort to protect
this harbor, it was a vital naval base for the
Knights of St. John.
These dedicated military men guarded the port
and secured the island from the brutal invasions of the Ottoman Empire, which
was quite a feat.
This fending off of the Ottomans in the Great
Siege in 1565 changed the course of Malta's history forever. And it effectively
stopped the Muslim invasions of Southern Europe at the time.
Fort Manoel was built later to continue the
strengthening of the harbor, and after the Knights left, the fort was used as a military
hospital and a naval base.
St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral in Valletta
In the photo above you see a section of
Valletta's fortified city walls which were built in the 16th century by the
Knights of St. John.
A distinct feature in the center of the photo
is St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral, one of the most prominent landmarks in
Valletta.
Built between 1839 and 1844, this cathedral
was to be used by the British military and civilian community in Malta during
the British colonial period.
Valletta is now a UNESCO
World Heritage Site known for its well-preserved
Renaissance and Baroque architecture.
The Portomaso Marina development in St. Julien's
Portomaso Marina is a luxury residential and commercial development
based right on the seafront.
A marina for yachts, there are also high-end
apartments, penthouses, shops, restaurants and a casino.
This development transformed the St. Julian's area into a vibrant and
luxurious visitor destination. And, truth be told, it's
Malta’s premier integrated luxury yachting destination as well.
The Norwegian Breakaway
Norwegian Cruise Line operates this ship
which can carry up to 4,000 passengers.
Cruise liners are like floating cities, and
have restaurants, bars, casinos, theaters, swimming pools, water slides, spas, fitness centers,
shopping arcades, nightclubs, and children's clubs.
Some ships even have features like rock-climbing walls, mini-golf courses, and
go-kart tracks.
Oh my!
Passengers can stay on board the ship, or they can
explore the ports of call when they arrive.
We have been on many
islands in the
Caribbean, and when a ship with 4-6,000 people disembark, they can literally
take over the island!
Sure, beachside businesses can scoop up
tourism money easily when cruise ships land, but the trade-off is losing some of
the native culture which is never replaced.
Limestone cliffs
These limestone cliffs are characteristic of
the Maltese landscape.
Millions of years ago, sedimentary rock was
deposited here. Limestone is soft and porous, which is why it has eroded into the distinctive
shapes you see here from Grand Harbor.
Offering stunning views of the sea, these
cliffs are popular for
activities like hiking, rock climbing, and cliff jumping.
Looking out over the bow
Here you see an enticing colorful hammock
stretched between the mast and the bow. What a daydream this is to be able to
take a break from sailing while rocking in this hammock!
You also see the mast, which holds the bottom edge of
the sail, and various ropes and cables used to control the sails
and the mast.
There are also all sorts of mechanical
devices and metal fittings used to manage the lines and sails - all of which I
have no clue!
One can walk around the bow if they wanted.
For myself, I preferred to stay in my cozy
seat while someone else led the adventure!
Siege Bell War Memorial in Valletta
This large bell was used to signal alarms during the
Great Siege of 1565, a pivotal moment in Maltese history.
The Knights of St.
John, along with the Maltese people, successfully defended the island from a
massive Ottoman invasion, and the Siege Bell War Memorial stands as a tribute to
their bravery and sacrifice.
The siege encompassed the entire island of Malta, with major
battles taking place at various locations, including Fort St. Elmo, Senglea, and
Valletta. The Ottoman invasion was a massive undertaking led by Suleiman the
Magnificent, the powerful Sultan of the Ottoman Empire
The
siege lasted for nearly four months, from May to September 1565.
The memorial
itself is a circular structure with a colonnade, built into the city walls of
Valletta. It offers panoramic views of the
Grand Harbor, and showcases the city's impressive defensive system.
Fort St. Angelo and the Upper Barrakka Gardens
The large, fortified structure on the left side of this image is
Fort St. Angelo. It played a crucial role in the defense of Malta, particularly
during the Great Siege of 1565.
The green area with the
arches on top of Fort St. Angelo is the Upper Barrakka Gardens. These gardens
also
offer mesmerizing views of the Grand Harbor and the Three Cities.
The colorful ferry in the foreground is a Gozo Channel ferry, which
provides transportation between Malta and the neighboring island of Gozo.
This ferry provides frequent service and in addition to passengers, the ferries can also transport
vehicles. This makes it convenient for those who want to explore Gozo with a car.
Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship docked in the Grand Harbor in Valletta
The Breakaway cruise ship is known for its contemporary design and vibrant artwork on the hull.
Some of the images include the
Statue of Liberty, a rendition of The Universe and the New York City skyline.
St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral in Valletta
If you look in the center of the photo, you
will see St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral.
It was built during the British colonial period
and has
impressive stained glass windows, and a neo-Gothic interior.
Billy and Akaisha after a morning of motoring
through the harbor
The port and waterfront were beautiful and we
saw many historical buildings. The captain was a little short on his promised
historical stories, but nonetheless, we captured some wonderful photos.
No one can guarantee the weather; if there is
no wind, there is no wind.
Right on the website it is stated that once
chartered, there is no refund for the weather - or lack of it.
However, we wish the captain had made more of
an effort to get past the point and join the other sailing vessels - who were
actually sailing.
(Yes, I know. I said that already.)
For information on Malta Sailing Experiences,
see information below.
___________
Malta Sailing
Experiences
Ix - Xatt Taxbiex Roland Marina, Pontoon D, XBX 1028, Ta' Xbiex
Website:
https://www.maltasailingexperiences.com/
Email:
info@maltasailingexperiences.com
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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