Rovinj (Croatia): Meeting an Irish-Swiss Couple over Dinner at Al Gastaldo and talking about retirement and fear of flying
On my first night in Rovinj I sighted this ultra charming restaurant. I was smitten. But because I was still full from my late ‘Seafood medley’ lunch in Opatija I didn’t elect to have dinner that night, but promised to come back the next evening. In the winter, there are very few restaurants open in Rovinj and I’m lucky enough to have spotted this lovely and dainty place tucked away on a small corner cul-de-sac in the old centre of town.
The restaurant is very homey yet romantic. It’s like Victorian Period Style meets Little House in the Prairie. It is very girly, feminine yet elegant and matured. The design is not really my style but I like it. It has a very pretty ambiance for dining, something the owner I am sure has meticulously spent a great deal of time designing and collecting all sorts of interior paraphernalias.
When I arrived the next evening at the restaurant I was introduced to the menu by a very young wait staff. It’s his first day on the job and he is very conscious about his customer service performance and his English as well. I did my best to behave and not put the boy in a knot but I could not contain my glee at the gorgeous setting so I had to snap some pictures and he had to wait.
I then ordered a starter and a main, all fish. By the time the starter was served, a couple arrived and was seated next to me.
The couple was in their 50’s, although the man could be older for his looks. I cannot remember how I fell into a conversation with them but there was the click that glued us together to continue talking. You know instantly when you have a click with people you just met. It is like meeting like-minded friends, you understand each other without having to explain much.
He is Irish and an exact clone of Robert di Niro minus the mole. The lady is Swiss and very affable. They both live in Zurich and he travels back and forth regularly to Ireland to visit family. I found out that the Irish man is retired, quite early rather compared to his counterparts in the industry reckons the Swiss lady. I am not sure what he did for work before but he seemed to have dabbled in research and higher education professor-ing. The Swiss lady I believe is still working.
Irish man said, ‘You do not have to be THAT rich to retire early. You just need enough that you can live on and enjoy life from time to time, such as this Croatian trip.’
He is actually right. Right however in the sense that you have planned your retirement well and early on in the game. But like anything else, it is always easier said than done.
In order to retire early and maintain a good lifestyle, we all need a very good pension plus money stashed away in the bank. Pension and savings that can last for the next 20 to 30 years without working. So let’s hypothesize a bit, shall we. Let’s say we want to retire at the age of 50, still maintain a western standard lifestyle + holidays and expect to live until 80. We believe we need around 3000 Euros NET after taxes to live on every month for 2 people. Multiply that with 30 years down the line and we will come out at almost 1.1 Million Euros. This is approximately the amount of money (pension money and savings) we need to have at 50 years old.
Well, the sad truth is, not many people out there have 1.1 Million Euros in cash and funds when they turn 50. But do not lose hope, there are other options of course, such as bringing down the monthly allowance, lowering our standards, skipping holidays and delaying retirement in order to put more money into the pension fund and savings.
Anyway, the Irish man is retired and I envy him greatly. I would love to be in his shoes, but then again I am just 44.
What I don’t envy him though is his fear of flying. It is the first time I have met someone who has never flown because of this. Or perhaps he did before and it didn’t plane off as expected which is perhaps the reason why he has flying phobia. I hesitated from asking prying questions anyway. Respecting the privacy of others also entails not asking uncomfortable questions, not only to people you have met for the first time but even to friends as well.
Nevertheless, it was amazing to hear that he has been to so many places in the world but has never flown. When he goes back to Ireland to visit family, he takes the car and hops on a boat. The Swiss lady said they only take vacation trips over land and water. There were times when she did not fancy being stuck inside the car for hours so she takes the plane ahead of time while he battles the road, a boat trip, maybe an overnight sleeper train or a motel.
One thing that educated me from this dinner conversation, aside from the wisdom I have received and exchanged on topics discussed about social and political issues, culture differences and religion, is that... a phobia such as fear of flying cannot derail you from travelling and seeing the world.
I had a really good rapport with the couple that I ended up spending the rest of the evening with them.
The Swiss lady and moi wanted to have coffee but the restaurant broke their coffee machine which means we have to look somewhere else. The Irish man on the other hand wants to watch the FIFA friendly match (this was in March), so the ladies compromised and we went to a sports bar to watch football while we sip our dark espressos and continued talking.
Sadly I did not have a picture of them. But I guess the best things in life, such as the wonderful people we met along the road, are best kept in our memories.
Travel Period: March 2014
Destination: Rovinj (Istria), Croatia
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Al Gastaldo Restaurant is situated in a hidden corner in the old centre of Rovinj.
The restaurant is very homey yet romantic. It’s like Victorian Period Style meets Little House in the Prairie. It is very girly, feminine yet elegant and matured. The design is not really my style but I like it. It has a very pretty ambiance for dining, something the owner I am sure has meticulously spent a great deal of time designing and collecting all sorts of interior paraphernalias.
When I arrived the next evening at the restaurant I was introduced to the menu by a very young wait staff. It’s his first day on the job and he is very conscious about his customer service performance and his English as well. I did my best to behave and not put the boy in a knot but I could not contain my glee at the gorgeous setting so I had to snap some pictures and he had to wait.
I then ordered a starter and a main, all fish. By the time the starter was served, a couple arrived and was seated next to me.
I can see a lot of love and hard work has gone into this restaurant.
This is a special semi-private corner for family dining.
The Irish-Swiss couple sat beside the fireplace, while I sat on the next table.
The couple was in their 50’s, although the man could be older for his looks. I cannot remember how I fell into a conversation with them but there was the click that glued us together to continue talking. You know instantly when you have a click with people you just met. It is like meeting like-minded friends, you understand each other without having to explain much.
He is Irish and an exact clone of Robert di Niro minus the mole. The lady is Swiss and very affable. They both live in Zurich and he travels back and forth regularly to Ireland to visit family. I found out that the Irish man is retired, quite early rather compared to his counterparts in the industry reckons the Swiss lady. I am not sure what he did for work before but he seemed to have dabbled in research and higher education professor-ing. The Swiss lady I believe is still working.
Irish man said, ‘You do not have to be THAT rich to retire early. You just need enough that you can live on and enjoy life from time to time, such as this Croatian trip.’
He is actually right. Right however in the sense that you have planned your retirement well and early on in the game. But like anything else, it is always easier said than done.
In order to retire early and maintain a good lifestyle, we all need a very good pension plus money stashed away in the bank. Pension and savings that can last for the next 20 to 30 years without working. So let’s hypothesize a bit, shall we. Let’s say we want to retire at the age of 50, still maintain a western standard lifestyle + holidays and expect to live until 80. We believe we need around 3000 Euros NET after taxes to live on every month for 2 people. Multiply that with 30 years down the line and we will come out at almost 1.1 Million Euros. This is approximately the amount of money (pension money and savings) we need to have at 50 years old.
Well, the sad truth is, not many people out there have 1.1 Million Euros in cash and funds when they turn 50. But do not lose hope, there are other options of course, such as bringing down the monthly allowance, lowering our standards, skipping holidays and delaying retirement in order to put more money into the pension fund and savings.
Anyway, the Irish man is retired and I envy him greatly. I would love to be in his shoes, but then again I am just 44.
What I don’t envy him though is his fear of flying. It is the first time I have met someone who has never flown because of this. Or perhaps he did before and it didn’t plane off as expected which is perhaps the reason why he has flying phobia. I hesitated from asking prying questions anyway. Respecting the privacy of others also entails not asking uncomfortable questions, not only to people you have met for the first time but even to friends as well.
Nevertheless, it was amazing to hear that he has been to so many places in the world but has never flown. When he goes back to Ireland to visit family, he takes the car and hops on a boat. The Swiss lady said they only take vacation trips over land and water. There were times when she did not fancy being stuck inside the car for hours so she takes the plane ahead of time while he battles the road, a boat trip, maybe an overnight sleeper train or a motel.
One thing that educated me from this dinner conversation, aside from the wisdom I have received and exchanged on topics discussed about social and political issues, culture differences and religion, is that... a phobia such as fear of flying cannot derail you from travelling and seeing the world.
A chilled glass of chardonnay of course.
My starter: Anchovies in vinegar with onions and olives. This was delicious.
My main: Grilled sea bass fish topped with chopped almonds and garlic and served with various grilled vegetables.
For dessert I had the best rakija I have ever had. Actually, perhaps the best digestif liquor I have ever had in my life (I am not kidding!). Swiss lady and I had to ask if we could buy a bottle each but the lady from the restaurant said they are not selling. They make the liquor themselves and have enough only to serve guests. Must try when you are dining at Al Gastaldo. Ask for their honey rakija.
I had a really good rapport with the couple that I ended up spending the rest of the evening with them.
The Swiss lady and moi wanted to have coffee but the restaurant broke their coffee machine which means we have to look somewhere else. The Irish man on the other hand wants to watch the FIFA friendly match (this was in March), so the ladies compromised and we went to a sports bar to watch football while we sip our dark espressos and continued talking.
Sadly I did not have a picture of them. But I guess the best things in life, such as the wonderful people we met along the road, are best kept in our memories.
Even the toilet is charmingly set up.
Travel Period: March 2014
Destination: Rovinj (Istria), Croatia
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
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