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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.

PandeBono Cafe

Cartagena, Colombia

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

As you know, we enjoy coffee and coffee houses.

In Cartagena, we quickly found this corner cafe that served up various coffee drinks, fresh juice smoothies and sweet and savory pastries.

Pan de Bono Cafe underneath Hotel Casa Acqua, Cartagena, Colombia

Pan de Bono Cafe underneath Hotel Casa Acqua

Because our hotel was centrally located in the Walled City of Cartagena, "everything" was conveniently located. Just up the street and on the corner, we quickly discovered this tiny but busy coffee house.

Inside Cafe de Bono, Cartagena, Colombia

A peek inside Cafe de Bono

Every day, between 10 am and 11 am we'd hit up this coffee shop for a cup of Joe and share a pan de chocolate. Billy would have his cappuccino and I'd go for a fresh Mango smoothie.

 

 

 

 

The place was always busy.

Sometimes at early evening, we might stop by and get a savory pastry (spinach and cheese or a Cubano) for dinner or something sweet for breakfast (Guayaba and cheese).

The menu displayed on the wall at Pan de Bono, Cartagena, Colombia

The menu displayed on the wall at Pan de Bono

If you wanted to order a pastry, that began with the women on the right. The drinks were ordered through the man on the left, and then payment was made.

One young woman couldn't take more than one order of something at a time: "I'll take a pastel de chocolate for here."  "Ok, now I'll take a spinach and cheese to go. Ok, now I'll take a Cubano to go." If I said those three items together, she simply crumbled.

Another young woman who worked there was a wiz. I could give her 5 items including our drinks and what were to go and what was for eating / drinking here and she had it all together.

Without a flinch.

La Esquina del Pandebono, Cartagena, Colombia

La Esquina del Pandebono

The sign reads: The Corner of Good Bread. Apparently, there are several cafes called Pandebono around the city.

Women at the baking ovens, Pandebono, Cartagena, Colombia

Women at the baking ovens

This photo gives you a clearer look of the baking ovens and the trays of popular breads served here.

If you ordered something to go, they'd put it into a bag for you. If you ordered something to eat in the shop, they'd heat it up a bit and serve it in a small basket.

Pan of Cubanos and cheese balls

Right out of the oven!

These pastries are right out of the oven. The ones in front are the Cubanos, with ham and cheese, and the round ones in the back have a cheese center.

A closer look at the menu offerings, Pan de Bono, Cartagena, Colombia

A closer look at the menu offerings

We were in Cartagena eleven nights.

The first two times we visited Pan de Bono the line moved so quickly I ordered from habit, not even reading the menu. I felt a bit rushed. But by the third morning, and after seeing what others ordered, I was able to navigate the offerings and prices (with all those zeros) much better.

When I looked at the juices, I had no idea what a Borejo was or a Cunba or a Lulo. I saw people ordering a cold Avena drink, and since it was so very popular, one morning I tried it.

I knew it was an oatmeal drink, but I envisioned it differently; Ice cold, a bit chewy and with cinnamon and honey... I could go for that. Instead it was a thin, cool (not cold) a bit slippery (a nicer word to use rather than "slimey") drink with no cinnamon or natural sweetener.

It was "one and out" for me, but I was glad I tried it. We have a saying: Order what you want, eat what you get.

I stuck with the mango smoothie after that, which was heavenly.

Various goodies for sale in Pan de Bono, Cartagena, Colombia

Various goodies for sale

The top left bread is filled with chicken, bacon, ham, cheese and mushrooms.

The top right is filled with tender corn, sausage and mozzarella cheese.

The bottom left is a snack with cheese, and the bottom right is stuffed with a caramelized milk sweet.

American coffee, cappuccinno and pasttel de chocolate, Pan de Bono, Cartagena, Colombia

American coffee, cappuccino, and pastel de chocolate

 

 

 

 

Our first day we had two coffees and a delicious, flakey and sugar-crunchy bread stuffed with chocolate that was warmed for a moment in the oven.

Gosh, it was good!

Mango smoothie and Guayaba and cheese pastry, Pan de Bono, Cartagena, Colombia

Mango smoothie and Guayaba and cheese pastry

Do you like guava fruit?

It's a perfumed-tasting fruit that is a bit of a "high note" on the flavor scale. Light, delicate, refreshing and almost not there when you have it as a drink. Mixed with a cheese filling it is a really good contrast.

Having been born in the Midwest, having mango (like my smoothie here) available so readily is a "10" on a choice option.

Just. Love. The. Tropics.

Hey, if you get to Cartagena, I'm sure you'll find lots of bakeries and coffee shops. We sure did. But this one is pleasant, affordable, quick and popular.

Try it out!

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

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About the Authors

 
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

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