1 COLOMBIA – PICTURE JOURNAL (Jan. 16 – Jan. 31, 2015) The

COLOMBIA – PICTURE JOURNAL (Jan. 16 – Jan. 31, 2015)
The first place we visit upon our arrival in Bogota, and after a short flight to Pereira, is the Santa
Rosa de Cabal Thermal pools. Santa Rosa de Cabal is a small town just north of
Pereira, Colombia in the middle of the coffee region.
Elsa and Susie - located in the middle of nature and surrounded by mountains and waterfalls.
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I loved getting into the steaming hot pool which was being fed by a volcanic spring.
I also loved the cool waters that cascaded down from the waterfalls.
Susie was in perfect shape to pose for pictures at the thermal pools.
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After 3-4 hours soaking in the therapeutic thermal pools, we are ready to leave the small
paradise of scenic waterfalls, lush cloud forest greenery, and relaxing surroundings.
We had hired a private taxi driver for the day, and he was waiting for us in the parking lot.
Termales Santa Rose de Cabal Balneario
Note: Keep in mind that this destination is refreshingly “gringo”-free, and caters largely to a
domestic, Spanish-speaking audience – the international guidebooks have yet to find their way
to this hidden Colombian Eden –
http://blog.shermanstravel.com/2013/destination-to-watch-santa-rosa-de-cabal-colombia/
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Just as we were ready to leave the wonderful environment, the evening lights turned on, and we
lingered in the amazing ambiance a little longer.
We walked back to the parking lot beside the same stream that we had walked up beside.
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When we flew into Pereira, Colombia, we were entering what was known as “La Tierra del Café”
(The Land of Coffee).
So we headed to the little town of Salento, and Elsa and Susie went hunting for a suitable place
to stay at for two nights.
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I sat at an outdoors restaurant and watched the people of Colombia, who were vacationing at
the time. Since it was a week-end, there were lots of local people there. Here I was enthralled
by a ride that a girl was getting on a pony that was pushed by an ingenious entrepreneur.
The plaza featured a centrally located administrative building.
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The plaza also featured a centrally located statue of Simon Bolivar (“The Liberator”) and the
Parochial Church of Nuestra Senora del Carmen (Our Lady of Carmen). Of course, I had to go
inside and see the Lady for myself.
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Hato Grande, a bed-and-breakfast place, was where we stayed. Here a Willy (a 1950’s
American jeep) – the local taxi -- gives us a ride to Mr. John’s Mirador.
Address: Calle 1 No. 3-19 | Casa Hato Grande, Salento, Colombia
This was the view from our balcony. No wonder Elsa and Susie spent over an hour trying to
find the perfect place. They didn’t have to look any further when they found this site.
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This was the main street (Calle Real, “Royal Road”) that featured a walk up to the Mirador
(viewpoint), Alto de la Cruz. I would take the walk up the steps to the viewpoint on the next day.
Today we had plans to head straight for a coffee farm.
Salento is a town and municipality in the north-east of the department of Quindío, Colombia.
The town and nearby Cocora valley are among the most popular tourist destinations in
Colombia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salento,_Quind%C3%ADo
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We took a Willy (jeep) ride to a coffee farm named “Finca el Ocaso Salento.” The coffee
plantation was located on a hill overlooking a valley and other nearby hills.
http://www.fincaelocasosalento.com/web/index.php
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Our guide, Raul, explains to us the four stages of coffee production: (1) picking, (2) processing,
(3) industrialization, and (4) marketing.
Raul also explains the growth of the red berries (or cherries) and the hand-picking of ripe fruit.
There are certain diseases that have to be controlled.
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Raul shows us young coffee plants (starters).
The starters are placed in black plastic bags after they attain 6 months of growth.
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We are given baskets to pick ripe red coffee berries (or cherries, the fruit that contains the
beans).
We walk through the 6-7 feet tall coffee plants, searching for red coffee berries.
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We find red coffee berries (cherries), and we pick a few to put in our baskets.
Susie is taught how the workers manually sift the coffee beans to separate the good from the
bad beans. A coffee bean is a seed of the coffee plant, and is the source for coffee. It is
the pit inside the red or purple fruit often referred to as a cherry. Even though they are seeds,
they are referred to as 'beans' because of their resemblance to true beans. The fruits - coffee
cherries or coffee berries - most commonly contain two stones with their flat sides together.
(Wikipedia)
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Raul shows us how the workers carefully separate the good from the bad coffee beans.
Raul shows us where the coffee berries (cherries) are processed.
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