From S. Wales to S. America!
 Don Elias' Coffee Plantation We went to Don Elias` coffee plantation today. We`ve been drinking lots of coffee lately (when in Colombia...) so we thought we`d have a look at how it`s grown. Following directions given to us by Tim, the English owner of the hostel, we walked through the countryside for an hour or so until we reached the plantation. It was a nice walk with lots of birds around although it was seriously hot. Don Elias is brilliant. He`s a charming old bloke and he`s the real deal, not just someone who pretends to be something for the tourists. He kitted us out with picking baskets and led us off into the plantation. He showed us how to tell when the coffee beans are ripe and we picked some. We also had a look at the other stuff he grows like mandarins and pineapples. When we had picked enough he took us back to the house where he showed us how the beans are milled and dried and roasted. The tour finished with us drinking cups of the most sensational, fresh coffee and having a good old chat with the Don. Later that night we reluctantly said goodbye to Salento and caught the night bus to Cartagena. We managed to get a 32000 peso discount on our bus ticket by haggling as long distance bus prices are not fixed in Colombia!
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Diary Photos
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Don Elias the Coffee Man |
 Me with some fresh coffee beans |
 Kirsty picking coffee |
 Don Elias milling the coffee |
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