Juan and Rolando pick us up at 9 am. On our drive out of the city Juan tells us that he used to live in Bogeta and was a SAP programmer. He wanted a different lifestyle so moved to this area, worked basic jobs and while working studied to become a tour guide. He's been a full-time guide for three years.
Rolando drives us through many back roads. Along a stream we see people swimming and also filling water jugs. We guess that they are bathing and bringing water back to their homes for flushing toilets as the Armenia remains without water. 30 minutes later we arrive at Finca El Ocaso. Juan has arranged for us to have a personal tour with Arles, the coffee roaster at Finca El Ocaso. While we wait for Arles we have a chance to enjoy the gardens.
Rolando drives us through many back roads. Along a stream we see people swimming and also filling water jugs. We guess that they are bathing and bringing water back to their homes for flushing toilets as the Armenia remains without water. 30 minutes later we arrive at Finca El Ocaso. Juan has arranged for us to have a personal tour with Arles, the coffee roaster at Finca El Ocaso. While we wait for Arles we have a chance to enjoy the gardens.
Arles discusses the three types of coffee beans: Arabica, Robusta and Liberia, and that the finds (as well as most all of Columbia) grows Aribica. We go into the field to learn about the growing processes and pick a few ripe coffee cherries. The fields are also planted with banana and avocado, so the finca actually has three products and the banana and avocado help to shade the coffee plants. Arles discusses the crushing and fermenting processes which we relate to wine making. Finally we see the drying and roasting operation.
We have learned quite a bit, but we are only half done. Now we go to the lab where we learn about the taste wheel and different brewing methods. We "cup" two different coffees and attempt to explain their aroma and taste. Of course with my cold, I am a bit challenged. As a last step we enjoy cups of Finca El Ocaso's high-end 300 coffee. While we are sipping Arles presents us with our Recorrido del Proceso de Café y Minicurso de Habilidades Sensoriales (Coffee Processing Tour and Sensory Skills Mini-Course) certificates. Perhaps with these certificates in-hand we will be able to start new careers. :-)
Next we are off to Filandia, a town of 7,000 people. The primary industry is agriculture, with tourism a distant second. We have a fantastic lunch at Helena Adentro - very creative cuisine. Afterward we walk through the colorful town, which so far does not appear to be heavily altered by tourism. Of course the town square has the main church on one side and a park n the middle, Half the fun is watching the locals.
We finish our sightseeing at Mirador de Filandia. The structure was built a few years back when the owner or the land realized that the site offered such a wonderful view of the countryside and nearby towns. It does offer some great views, including great perspective of Filandia's town square with it's church and park. The countryside is dramatized by the sun streaming through the clouds.
Juan suggests some additional activities to fill out a hour or two, but I am feeling worse from my cold and am very happy with what we have seen today. Rolando points us back to Armenia. When we arrive back in To the city Juan accompanies me to the pharmacia to get some cold medicine.
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