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.

Patzcuaro Market

Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Just 45 minutes from the sophisticated city of Morelia, is a colonial town which is true to its indigenous heritage. While you can make a day trip to Patzcuaro, we recommend that you stay a few nights to absorb the true feeling of this historical place.

Patzcuaro's fabulous day market sets up shop at the northwest corner of La Plaza Chica every day from about 9 am to 5 pm. Here you can find fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and meats, as well as real herbal medicines and local arts and crafts.

There are also plenty of places to eat tacos, licuados (smoothies), tortas (sandwiches) and corundas (pyramid-shaped tamales).

Check it out below.

Lady making tacos

The market is a lively place and a great spot to get some local eats.

This woman is preparing for a busy afternoon rush of patrons wanting her tacos. Notice on the right, stacks of fresh tortillas at another stand.

Sweet potatoes baked in honey

A really delicious treat, these hot sweet potatoes are sold in markets all over Latin America, including Guatemala.

A good source of Vitamin A, C, some B's, minerals and fiber, it's an easy food to enjoy.

A close up of the sweet potatoes

Even the bees enjoy the sweetness of honey covered sweet potatoes. Inexpensive and filling, this snack is a favorite of the locals.

A vendor inside the market

This friendly vendor sold fried fish (in pieces and whole), chile rellenos, seafood soup, chicken milanesa and more.

Trying some local dishes

I don't know how many photos Billy has of me with my mouth open, but I'd say - a lot!!

  We ordered some of the fried fish pieces which were served with beans, a small pile of charales (pencil thin fried whole fish) and some lime.

Behind me, you can get a little peek of inside the market.

Vendor selling yogurt and granola mix

These cups of yogurt and sliced fresh fruit are also very commonly sold. He has a variety of toppings in a large rectangle plastic container behind the cups.

Sweet, healthy and affordable.

Purepecha woman eating her yogurt

This indigenous woman purchased one of the yogurt cups and is enjoying her snack now.

Big bags of breakfast cereal

These bags are HUGE! Granola is to the far left and the hojuelas (flakes) are to the front and right.

These are cheaper than the boxed brand cereals you would find in the grocery store.

Baskets, bowls and wooden spoons

You'll find lots of woven baskets and bowls in any Mexican market. These wooden spoons look about a foot long in this photo, but actually they are over 3 feet long!

What in the world are they used for?

Dishing out pozole for lunch

These very large spoons are used to stir large pots of stews, soups and pozole. You can see how big the bowl of the spoon is, and how the handle is longer than this woman's arm!

The bread man

Many vendors wheel their products in wheelbarrows throughout the town. This man is selling fresh bread in a paper lined woven basket. The basket sits on some boards to balance the weight on turns, and it is also tied down so he doesn't lose the rolls, loaves of bread and other baked goods.

At the right of the photo, you can see fresh vegetables on the street sitting on plastic, and also in the center of the photo arranged on a table.

There is a whole selection of goods for sale in these markets.

Soccer balls and electronic goods

Colorful soccer balls hang down in twisted netting, while miscellaneous electronic goods are stacked on the table below.

Fresh cut pork

In the interior of the market you will find fresh meats of all sorts. Chicken, pork, beef and seafood too. No, there is no refrigeration at most of these markets and that is very commonplace.

I remember the first time I saw an open air market such as this, with various cuts of unrefrigerated meat hanging on hooks. This was on the tropical island of Nevis decades ago and I was shocked and astounded.

How could anyone purchase, let alone EAT these unprotected, room temperature food items?

Well, come to find out over the years of our retirement that this is the norm for local markets such as these.

Spicy chicken wings for sale

As you can see, these chicken wings and whole chickens are left out at room temperature as well.

Different countries, different customs.

Mr. Breadman once again

The wheelbarrow really helps Mr. Breadman get around. He's not locked into a vending stall and can wheel his way around town. Many vendors do this and it's to everyone's advantage. As you can see, he has sold some bread and his supply is lower than from our first photo of him.

Notice the young girl selling fresh, local honey.

Children work in Latin America beginning at a very young age. They learn business, how to make change, how to speak to customers, and responsibility. Families work as a unit to bring money into the household. Entrepreneurship is alive and well!

La Plaza Chica is to  the right in this photo.

Another taco stall

This man had a solid business going also. He has various meats cooking on his grill, along with whole and halved onions. In front you see bins of frijoles (beans), salsa fresca (or pico de gallo) and blended avocado salsa.

We ate here one evening for dinner and we swear it was the best tacos we ever had!

Our taco dinner

Three tacos of beefsteak on fresh corn tortillas, with two different salsas, fresh chopped onions, grilled onions on the side and a chunk of fresh lime. Oh yes, and the grilled jalapeño hiding there in the grilled onions.

These were simply outstanding. The flavors were alive and satisfying. Add a squeeze of lime on top of these babies and you have a memorable meal.

Notice the plastic bag over the plate. This is a common way to serve a meal at these market stands if they do not have a way to wash and clean plates. The plastic is removed and voila! You have a clean plate with another plastic bag put over the top for the next customer.

Ears of corn

Aren't these ears of corn beautiful?

Now let me just say that - being from the Midwest and growing up with sweet corn, gentlemen's corn, sweet baby corn and more in the summers, this maiz cannot hold a flag to that heavenly flavor.

These kernels are tough! But maiz is an integral part of Latin America and you will find corn tortillas, atole (a corn drink) corn deserts, grilled corn, and shucked, sliced and chunked corn in soups and sauces.

Clownin' around

It's always fun to see the local clowns and mimes at events and markets. They are so fun.

I have always wondered why someone chooses being a clown as a career - but I have a girlfriend who went to Clown School and did school events, birthday parties, events at hospitals and orphanages. She loved it.

She had to learn how to tie balloons into animals, how to do the right kind of makeup, and to choose a clown name.

It's more complex than I ever thought!

If you are in Morelia, make a visit to Patzcuaro. It's worth your time.

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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