1 We try our hand at the “de-pulping machine” – a hand grinder that

We try our hand at the “de-pulping machine” – a hand grinder that separates the bean from the
pulp.
The pulp goes into a separate container.
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Signs in English are everywhere on the Coffee farm.
The Desmucilaginador Machine.
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This is where the washing and drying of the coffee beans takes place.
Picture-Chart of the entire coffee production process.
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Another guide carefully and accurately prepares a coffee-tasting session for her group.
Elsa and Susie enjoy a hot tasty fresh cup of coffee.
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The next day we took a Willy (taxi) to the Cocora Park for a hike in the Parque Nacional Natural
Los Nevados, Colombia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Nevados_National_Natural_Park
We are ready to explore the 3rd most visited national park in Colombia.
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Susie stops on the trail to drink some water, even though it was a foggy day.
There were five swinging foot-bridges that we had to walk over to cross a cascading stream.
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At times the trail got very rugged, as we had to negotiate our way over rocks and fallen
branches.
We finally decide to take a lunch break and eat some food that we took along with us.
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We continue the hike uphill through a plethora of green trees and lush jungle plants.
Susie loves the approaching scenery of tall wax palms, and she allows me to take a picture of
her.
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We take a final break amongst the wax palms.
The Cocora valley (Spanish: Valle de Cocora) is a valley in the department of Quindío,
Colombia. It is located in the Central Cordillera of the Andean mountains. "Cocora" was the
name of a Quimbayan princess, daughter of the local chief Acaime, and means "star of water"
(Spanish: estrella de agua). The valley is part of the Los Nevados National Natural Park,. It is
the principal location of the national tree and symbol of Colombia, the Quindío wax palm
(Ceroxylon quindiuense). [Wikipedia]
I pose beside a banner depicting the national tree, the Quindio wax palm. The banner says:
“Sendero Bosque de Palmas. Aqui se han grabado la novela alla te espero y la serie los
fugitivos.”
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Back in Salento, I decide to go up 234 steps to the top of the town’s famous Mirador (viewpoint).
Little did I realize that it contained the “Way of the Cross” (14 stations). Not only that, but it
began to rain as I reached the top, and I had to scurry back down the 234 steps to return to the
hotel.
View of the town of Salento from the top of the Mirador
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View of the city of Cartagena, Colombia as our plane (LAN) flies over the Bay of Cartagena.
We play a taxi about $50 (US) to take us to Puente de Baru (aka Isla Baru), where we plan to
stay at a hostal on the white sands of Playa Blanca.
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Little did we know that when we got to Playa Blanca, the taxi could only take us to the beach,
and we had to walk another kilometer with suitcases in tow to reach our hostal (Hostal Playa
Blanca).
Elsa decided after walking 100 meters that she wasn’t going to carry her suitcase anymore, so
she hired a boy to carry our suitcases to the hostal. Susie had her own backpack, which was
easy for her.
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We finally reached the Hostal Playa Blanca, and we immediately changed and went into the
warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
This is the Hostal Playa Blanca. Our small room (for three) was upstairs.
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Our meals consisted of fish caught in the sea by local fishermen.
Now this is what a call a restaurant with a view. What a way to spend a vacation.
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I go out for a morning swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea.
Breakfast at the Parador Playa Blanca, our favorite place to eat.
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