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. |
|
Bright,
Colorful Limestone Buildings on the Streets of Rabat, Malta
(Pronounced Ir-rah-BAHT, MAHL-tuh) Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
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By the time we reached
Rabat, Malta, we had seen plenty of rocks and stones.
We had
lived in a cave in
Matera, Italy, had an
astounding meal below the earth in another cave in that
same town. We researched the Sassi and
climbed beyond our bodies' endurance in
one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in Europe.
We saw
castles in Sicily
and on the coast of
southern Italy.
There were
Roman ruins,
amphitheaters, The
Appian Way,
churches,
Cathedrals,
whole Medieval
towns made from limestone,
hikes up big stone hills, and
strategic harbors where
invaders of the entire area of the Mediterranean invaded to lay claim to
resources and take slaves.
Arriving in Malta - to be
honest - we were "stoned and rocked-out".
But there were more rocks
and stones yet to be seen, and it was here in Rabat, Malta, that we saw them.
The main street leading to St. Paul's Cathedral
According to the New Testament’s Acts of the
Apostles, St. Paul shipwrecked in Malta around 60 A.D. This event occurred while
Paul was being transported as a prisoner to Rome, and the ship was caught in a
storm, ultimately running aground on the island of Malta.
The exact amount of time St. Paul spent on
Malta after the shipwreck is not explicitly stated in the Bible, but he made a
big impression on the people by healing the sick, including the island's
governor, Publius.
This cathedral was built centuries later and stands as a masterpiece of Norman architecture.
A narrow side street
Notice this little side street - so narrow,
with no sidewalks and no drains for water run off.
Streets such as these used to be footpaths
centuries ago, which is why they are so slender and circuitous. They were made
for people, and perhaps a food cart pulled by a donkey.
With Phoenician,
Roman, Arab and Norman
influences, the streets have a timeless charm.
Walkway at the side of St. Paul's Cathedral
We took a walk just before sunset from
our apartment to the center of town via this walkway at the side of St. Paul's
Cathedral.
The church has the dramatic
backdrop of the clouds and setting sun shining through them.
It's beautiful now, one can
only imagine how things were during the Medieval Period when it was built.
Front of St. Paul's Cathedral
The front of the Cathedral is made of
limestone, common in this area.
Statues of St. Paul and St. Luke are here,
arched doorways, and a mosaic of Jesus in the center.
Wrought iron street lamps in front give a
rich luster to the church in the evenings.
Colorful boxed window balconies
These window boxes are called gallarijas and
date back to the Medieval period when they served practical purposes like
ventilation and protection from the elements.
But the vibrant colors given to them in
modern times date back to the 19th century influenced by the British colonial
period and a desire to add a touch of individuality and personality to homes.
You can see these gallarijas all throughout
Rabat as well as the extraordinary colorful doors.
The British were also responsible for
bringing the first modern amenities to Rabat. They had a primary school, postal services and
street lighting. They even had a train link to Valletta, the capitol.
Outdoor seating at a cafe
As you walk through the town’s narrow streets, you will see
cozy cafes and charming shops.
Rabat was part of Melita, the ancient Roman city, 2000 years
ago. Later the Arabs named the fortified inner area Mdina. The outer section was
called Rabat, the Arabic word for “suburb”.
Graceful corner
This graceful corner is indicative of Maltese
architecture. Limestone buildings, with a cafe on the corner, there are the
wrought iron balconies and a gallarija on the right.
It's unclear if the sign "Gilder" means the
shop downstairs does gold gilding or if it works on traditional Maltese clocks.
More colorful gallarijas
One has to admit these streets are charming.
And the town is very clean.
We saw no trash or graffiti in town, which
was refreshing.
Notice the spelling of San Pawl on the corner
street sign, the Maltese version of St. Paul.
Sundry and grocery store across from our apartment
This little store sold various items like
yogurt, cheese, canned goods and snacks. Tony, the owner, offered a decent
variety, and if you couldn't find something he'd show you where in the store it
was located.
We visited this store often since
our
apartment was directly across the street. We had a kitchen, so having some foods
for meals was a convenience we took advantage of.
Tony, the owner, is on the left
When we first met Tony, he was a little
peppery. This was the exact challenge Billy likes to take on, so he pressed Tony
with an edgy friendliness. Tony found a kindred spirit in Billy and the two of
them became fast friends.
Tony has been in his store for decades, has
seen all the changes, and knows everyone in town.
He was the perfect connection to get the
skinny on anything we might need.
In this photo, Tony's son is behind the
counter and a regular customer is on the right. Both are leaning to try to get
out of Billy's photo... but didn't succeed!
Cappuccino and croissant
Here we are at a chic cafe having a croissant
and cappuccino.
One can sit here and people-watch while
enjoying the beautiful morning.
Notice the handsome archways of the buildings
left over from the Medieval days, and the bright colors of the doors brought in
through the influence of the British when they ruled here.
Cookies and tartlets
Bakeries were dotted all around town, and
these tartlets and cookies looked tempting!
Almonds are thought to have been brought to
Malta from Phoenician or Roman traders centuries ago. With both medicinal and
culinary uses, almonds were valuable. Malta's climate was also found to be perfect to grow them.
Small circle in front of St. Paul's Cathedral
References to St. Paul are everywhere. But
how many places can brag about a saint being shipwrecked on their shores?
Paul's journey was complicated, since he was
arrested in Jerusalem but needed to get to Rome to be tried.
His travel by sea along the coast of
countries which today are now Lebanon, Syria and southern Turkey, he changed
ships and went on to Crete.
A violent storm came up where the sun and the
moon were not able to be seen for many days, and the ship, with 276 people on
board were blown to Malta where they went aground.
After about 6 months, the Roman centurion
found (or built) another ship and they all left Malta forever.
Even after all these centuries, that event
has marked this country indelibly.
Akaisha sitting at a cafe
Since the weather in Malta is so sunny and
pleasant, there are many outdoor eating places to enjoy a meal or a coffee.
The limestone background is perfect for the
bright colors of these chairs and the flowers to stand out.
Here I am enjoying the climate and waiting to
order a beverage.
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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