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Retire Early
Lifestyle
Retirement; like your parents, but way cooler
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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. |
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St. Maarten
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Billy and Akaisha Kaderli
See VIDEOS below
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St. Maarten, a small
Caribbean island, is one of the most unique destinations in the region due to
its split governance between two nations: the Netherlands and France.
Sint Maarten (Dutch side)
and Saint-Martin (French side) together form part of the Leeward Islands in the
Lesser Antilles. Covering just 34 square miles, it’s the smallest landmass in
the world shared by two sovereign countries.
Despite the division, there
are no border controls, and people move freely between the two sides.
St. Maarten is renowned for
its 37 beaches, with
Maho
Beach being the most famous due to its proximity to Princess Juliana
International Airport.
The island was first
inhabited by the Arawak and Carib peoples before Christopher Columbus sighted it
in November of 1493. The Spanish claimed the island but abandoned it in the 17th
century. In 1648, the Dutch and French divided the island under the Treaty of
Concordia, establishing the border that still exists today.
Residents are primarily of
African, European, and Caribbean descent, with influences from over 120
nationalities.
Tourism is the backbone of
St. Maarten’s economy, accounting for about 80% of its GDP. Philipsburg is a
shopper’s paradise with duty-free stores, and the French side’s Marigot Market
offers local items like crafts and spices.
Note: hurricane
season) spans July to November.
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Chesterfields Restaurant Sint
Maarten, Caribbean
Chesterfields Restaurant is a renowned waterfront dining destination
known for its vibrant Caribbean atmosphere and stunning views of Great
Bay and the marina. Located on the Dutch side of the island of Sint
Maarten, it's the go-to spot for both locals and cruise ship visitors.
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Sint Maarten Happy Hour Learning Curve
You know, you would think
something as easy as going for Happy Hour on a Caribbean Island would be
very simple. Beer. Beach. Sunset. But we're here to tell you, yes, there
is a learning curve. |
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Local Restaurant Philipsburg, Sint Maarten, Caribbean
Staying on a Caribbean Island can
be expensive, and Sint Maarten is no exception. Right across the street
from the many Diamond-and-gold jewelry shops, is this local yellow-shack
restaurant that sells Chicken, Rice and Pork Ribs as their specialty and
at affordable pricing. |
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Ocean Lounge at Holland House
Hotel Sint Maarten, Caribbean
Considered one of the best
restaurants on St. Maarten, the Ocean Lounge is an open air restaurant
with views of Great Bay Beach. It's connected to the Holland House,
which was one of the first hotels built on this island. The restaurant
offers a fusion of European and Caribbean flavors. |
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Shiekas Bistro Sint Maarten,
Caribbean
If you are looking for authentic,
affordable, homestyle Caribbean cuisine, Sheika's Bistro is a fixture in
downtown Philipsburg. As a beloved eatery in on the Dutch side of the
island, it's become a go-to spot for locals and tourists alike. Casual,
lively and community-oriented, it's owned by Betty, a local native of
the town. |
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La Terrasse Restaurant Piano Bar Saint Martin (French side)
We were staying on the Dutch part of
the island of Sint Maarten, but with Billy being a French Chef, we were
eager to try out a quality French restaurant on the other side. Marigot,
the capital of the French island of Saint Martin, is a vibrant cultural
hub. The border between the two countries is casual and people go from
one region to the other regularly. |
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Philipsburg Boardwalk: Sint Maarten’s Waterfront
Philipsburg, the capital of Sint
Maarten, features a lively Boardwalk along Great Bay Beach. Generally a
bustling, scenic promenade stretching along the beachfront, it is lined
with restaurants, bars, shops, and entertainment options. Cruise ships
dock at the nearby port. The port itself accommodates up to eight ships,
and besides restaurants and bars, there are many shops selling duty-free
goods. These shops are a hallmark of Sint Maarten since it was declared
a duty-free port in 1939. |
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The Colorful and Intriguing Streets of Sint Maarten
The mixed and controversial history
of the Caribbean Islands make for many adventurous myths and
story-telling. Sint Maarten is no exception. The colorful streets, the
foods, the murals, and even names of the bars reflect bygone times of
African Slavery, Indian indentured servants and famous pirates like
Blackbeard, Calico Jack, and Anne Bonny - all of whom operated in this
region. |
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Amsterdam Cheese
and Liquor Store Sint Maarten
It was wall-to-wall Gouda - but not like anything we
had ever seen before. Even though we are Foodies, we were quite ignorant
about the varieties of Gouda being offered on this island with a Dutch
past. Gouda (pronounced "HOW-da" in Dutch) is a semi-hard cheese named
after the city of Gouda in South Holland. This cheese has been made
since at least the 12th century, and the city of Gouda became a major
trading hub for it by the Middle Ages.
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VIDEOS
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Our First Day in Sint Maarten
It's Sint Maarten Day on the island and
stores are shut, getting ready for the big parade that will come lter on
in the day. You will see duty-free shops, Philipsburg Boardwalk, the
cruise ship drop off, restaurants and bars. To view this on Rumble,
click here. |
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Our 5th Day on Sint Maarten –
Beautiful Beach View
We leave tomorrow for Nevis, St. Kitts,
but not before Billy shows you the beach at Philipsburg Boardwalk.
Cruise ships drop their passengers off at the pier for them to go
duty-free shopping. Before Sint Maarten's focus on catering to tourists,
they mined salt from the salt ponds which then was shipped around the
world. To view this on Rumble,
click here. |
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Great Bay Beach, Sint Maarten on
Cruise Ship Day
One week later we return from Nevis, St.
Kitts (a 2 island nation) to Great Bay Beach. It's a cruise ship day, so
the beach is packed. Sint Maarten makes its money off tourism and cruise
ship days are profitable for them. The beach is tranquil on days the
ships are not there. To view this on Rumble,
click here. |
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Rainy Day Island Tour, the French
side of St. Martin
Before leaving the
island of Sint Maarten for Nevis, West Indies, we decided to do an
island tour of the French side. Our taxi driver, Fedricka, takes us
around, showing us an iguana park, where there are large orange
iguanas... and one of them is named Donald Trump! Some island humor
there... We hear about Coco Beach, the “Saint Tropez of the Caribbean”
and drive through French neighborhoods. There's a nude beach, and we
have weather changes – rain and shine! You can see the differences
between each side of the island – the side owned by the Dutch and the
side owned by the French. We end up at the famous Maho beach, where jet
planes fly low overhead to land at Princess Juliana International
Airport. To view this on Rumble,
click here. |
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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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