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. |
|
Stunning Sorrento,
Italy
Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
Currency Converter
We are staying in Naples in
a decent
apartment.
But the weather has been
dreary, and Big City Life isn't really for us.
So, we decided to go to a
beach paradise, just an hour train ride from our location.
Purchasing our tickets at
the Napoli
Centrale train station the day before, we utilized the Circumvesuvia
line to get to our destination.
For a one-way ticket per
person, we spent $4.20 Euros.
The Train Station in Sorrento
Because this commuter train is the same
one that goes to Pompeii, it was absolutely JAM-PACKED with tourists.
It wasn't until people got
off at the Pompeii stop that we even had a chance to find a seat for the rest of
the trip.
Note: The trick is
to walk up to the front of where the train pulls in, getting into the front
cars. You'll have a better chance at having a seat.
This little train station
in Sorrento was almost "cute" compared to the huge station in Naples.
Pastel colored Italian motorbike
We arrived in
Sorrento, and it was beautiful.
It was just what we needed to calm us down
from being smushed around in a grey concrete city.
We loved the quaintness of this place. Look
at the beautiful pastel-colored Vespa!
The view from the center of town
When we arrived, we immediately
purchased a Gelato which was fabulous.
This view is from the center of town looking
from the cliffs down into
the sea and harbor
below.
We had spectacular weather and the sea breeze
was a balm.
Outdoor restaurant seating
Sorrento seemed so cheery and CLEAN.
The streets were not littered and it felt
civilized.
A kitchen store
Not only are there serving platters and large
painted planters for sale, you can see that this store offers cooking classes
daily.
There are also bottles of olive oil and
Limoncello as well.
Lemoncella is a liqueur made from the famous
Sorrento Lemons.
View from the cliffs to the harbor below
There are two sections to Sorrento.
The town above and the harbor, restaurants,
ferries and beaches
below.
There are two Hydro-ferries available. One
goes to Naples and the other goes to the Island of Capri.
The path on the right leads down to the beach
area.
A closer look at the sunbathing area
It's a different style of beach than what we
have seen in the
US,
Mexico,
Dominican
Republic or
Vietnam.
Here, the beaches are much smaller, sometimes
rocky, and sunbathing areas are manmade on piers.
The view looking the other way
Here you see more stunning cliffs that rise
directly from the sea.
Cabanas to change your clothing and lounges
and large sun umbrellas are below.
You can rent a kayak or a small boat to
paddle around, too.
Billy and Akaisha at Sorrento
Here we are at a peaceful beach with stunning
sea cliff views.
As this is more our style, we're home once
again!
Panoramic views of Sorrento
Here you see what it looks like from high on
the cliffs looking down.
On the left is a little park with creamy
pastel-colored buildings.
On the right is another small park with
restaurants and outdoor seating.
From the sidewalk on the left, if you were to
walk straight ahead you'll find a pathway down to the beach.
The switchback pathway to the beach
This is the pathway one takes to get down to
the beach and dock area.
As you can see, it's plenty wide for tourists
coming and going.
We found out later that there is a very small
elevator for those who don't want to walk this far or if they have dogs, use
wheelchairs or if they are using strollers.
Carved angel with sword
Not all angels are peaceful. Some are
warriors, like this one.
They serve as instruments of God and are
considered protectors and guardians. Angels are sometimes seen as participants
in spiritual warfare against evil forces and demons and their sword is a weapon
used to combat evil.
Local hotel growing some of
Sorrento's famous lemons
The climate in the Sorrento
region is well-suited for lemon cultivation. With warm, sunny days and mild
winters, it's the perfect conditions for lemon trees to thrive.
Lemons have been cultivated
here for centuries and these "Sorrento lemons" are prized for their unique
flavor and aroma.
Fragrant, tart, but not
overly sour, this makes them ideal for various uses in cooking.
Examples of this are
limoncello, lemon-infused olive oil, lemon
gelato, marmalade, and various savory
and sweet dishes, including pasta and
desserts.
They are sought after by
chefs, bakers, and food producers around the world.
Chalk board restaurant menu
Here you see the famous "fried
pizza" being
advertised.
Notice that the take away is cheaper because
you don't have to pay the "coperto" or cover charge for sitting at a table.
Novelty store
There is a walking street that runs through
the center of Sorrento.
All along this street are restaurants and
shops.
This one shows all sorts of items for sale,
mostly with a lemon theme; teas, soaps, oils, creams, children's clothing,
pastas, souvenirs and more.
Tiny pedestrian street
There are
many pleasant streets to wander off
and enjoy the surprises that come up.
Here is an old stone church with painted
frescos and arched doorways. Restaurants and shops are on the other side of this
alleyway.
Bicycles parked along the wall
These might be rented bicycles which is a
great way to see the town.
Parked along side a lemon-yellow wall, it
makes for a fun photo.
Walking street
This is the main walking street that goes
through town.
It goes quite a distance in both directions
where you can wander, have a cafe, a meal or go shopping.
With weather like we experienced here in
Sorrento, it was a very charming way to visit through town.
Notice the white and blue streamers
supporting
Naples soccer team. This was a recurring theme all though this
region.
Outside cafe tables
You could have your choice to sit inside or
outside in these restaurant cafes.
It was wonderful in the shade, but if the sun
shifts too far, you may find yourself cooking!
Salumerias are very common in Italy. You can
purchase all sorts of food items like handmade cheeses, meats,
salamis, Prosciuttos,
oils, cookies and more.
Sunning yourself in Sorrento
What a beautiful, relaxing place to chill
out.
These little tub boats seem enchanting as you
drift along looking at the blue skies above.
There's a convenient ladder to use to climb
back up to sit under an umbrella and have a refreshing drink or a snack.
Another sundeck area
This is another area where people can
sunbathe.
As you can see, the water is clear and
inviting, perfect for snorkeling.
Looking up from the sundeck to the cliffs
above
This is the view from that same sundeck in
the previous photo.
Notice the cabanas on the left for changing
clothes.
Atop the cliffs are historical buildings and
private homes. The town itself is just beyond these buildings.
View of pathway and sheer cliff
Looking straight up this cliff from the
sundeck below.
The man in the red hat is standing on part of
the pathway that we took that leads down to the sea.
From this photo, the elevator is to the
right.
Pebbly beach and docks
As you can see here, there's a portion of the
beach in Sorrento that is full of pebbles, not sand.
However, people still enjoy the impressive
views that this location offers.
With the gentle waves, it's perfect for
families or for swimming laps.
Peter Beach
Peter Beach is enjoyed by tourists who want a
laid back beach experience.
The beaches are clean and the water is
crystal clear.
Vistas are gorgeous and memorable.
Woman in a sun hat
Nature is not the only beauty we can observe
here in Sorrento.
The "beautiful people" come out to play at
one of Italy's favored tourist destinations.
Catch the ferry here
One can catch the hydro-ferries here at the
Marina Piccola.
One ferry goes to the Island of Capri and the
other one goes to Naples.
You can also take other excursions down the
Amalfi Coast or to the nearby island of Ischia. Visitors can find various boat
rental services, including traditional wooden fishing boats and larger vessels
for day trips.
Panoramic view of Marina Piccola
This panoramic shot shows you how beautiful
Sorrento's small harbor is.
The water is cerulean blue and the skies
present cloud art.
The whole area is super clean and inviting.
One could easily spend days of their vacation
here enjoying all that Sorrento offers.
We would certainly recommend a visit here!
For more stories, photos and videos of
Italy, click
here
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Retirement Topics,
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About the Authors
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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