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.

Jardin de las Rosas

Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

We just arrived via bus from Guadalajara to the Colonial City of Morelia, Michoacan in Central Mexico. A friend came to join us on our trip and after getting all settled in, we decided to go find a place for Happy Hour.

Jardin de las Rosas!

Jardin de las Rosas

Restaurants and cafes, table after table, this outdoor seating runs from one end of the block to the other.

Each place serves a different type of food, and pricing varies slightly.

It's relaxing to be able to sit down in this garden area, listen to music, people watch, and have a Mexican brew.

Local musician

As is common in Mexico, wandering minstrels play for tips. Their music adds a lovely atmosphere to the already beautiful garden setting. You can hear the water splashing from the fountain and enjoy letting your mind drift.

On weekends, artists set up displays of their wares, which may be sculptures or paintings.

Have a cup of coffee from one of the cafes or an iced beverage and drink in the tranquility.

More flowers in a wrought iron enclosure

This charming area is known for its well-tended gardens.

On Thursdays at 8p.m., there is a free music performance given by the Conservatory of Roses, a music school located here.

La Guarecita de las Rosas

This sign is missing a few letters but the meaning is "Little Roses." Along with the music school located here, there is also a church dedicated to Santa Rosa de Lima, from where the tranquil park gets its name.

A sample menu

Here you can purchase a plate of cold meats and cheeses for under $9USD. Chicken wings in various sauces run about $4.50. Cheese fingers are just over $3USD, and a plate of Mexican Nachos goes for $6 bucks.

Handsome, charming waiter serving wine

When in Mexico, the beverage of choice is beer. Mexico has great beers and offers them 2-for-1 at happy hour all over the country. Generally the wine is nondescript, but it is often ridiculously priced for what you receive.

However, sometimes the carbonation of beer does not sit well with my stomach, so this happy hour, I asked the waiter if the wine was 2-for-1 also. He assured me it was. I asked again to clarify and "yes, yes," the price is "dos por uno."

Surprised, but pleased, I order a glass of white wine while my buddies are drinking their beers.

See how pleased I am?

So I enjoy my wine, listen to the music, people-watch, and completely relax.

Akaisha, Ron and Billy at Happy Hour

The boys received a bucket of beer at the 2-for-1 price, and I order a second wine, as the waiter and I had agreed upon.

However... that handsome, charming, twinkly-eyed young man... was incorrect about my wine being a Happy Hour deal. Each glass of wine I ordered was three times the price of a single beer!

When Akaisha learned her wine was NOT 2-for-1

I don't know how Billy got this photo of me, but it seemed perfect to place here and share with you, as basically, that was my impression when we received our bill!

The waiter and I had a "little discussion" and he was remorseful, but the total of the bill stayed the same. Of course, in the end the bill was completely affordable, but that wasn't the point.

I can only say that in my experience, Happy Hour drinks vary from place to place, but they rarely include the wine selection.

You are better off drinking 2-for-1 tequilas or 2-for-1 rums!

But in any case, enjoy yourself! It's not worth the few pesos to be upset.

Jardin de las Rosas

Calle de Santiago Tapia 319, Centro Histórico, 58000 Morelia, Michoacan

For more stories and photos of Mexico, click here

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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