Costa Rica - Day 4

---

Today was coffee day!

I'm not a coffee drinker, but touring a coffee plantation was fun! We drove big blue to the Coope Dota Coffee plantation just outside of San Jose. Coope Dota is a fair trade plantation. The tour started in their conference room, where we watched a short film about the coffee and learned that the coffee we were about to sample was award winning on an international level.

After our introduction, we toured the plantation and saw the entire process of coffee-making from start to finish. We went through all of the machinery and then went out on to a platform where the coffee beans (also called cherries) were put out in the sun to dry. The tour guide allowed us to rake the cherries, which allowed them to have even exposure to the sun for drying. After raking the cherries and proceeding through a few more of the machines (including one use to fire the cherries), we came to a room where the coffee is "cupped." Cupping is when the coffee is tested for imperfections. Different coffee batches are placed in cups. We first went around and smelled the coffees, noting differences in smell. Then, the coffee is brewed, and we went around and tasted each of the coffees, again noting differences in smell and seeing if we could sense any impurities.

After we finished "cupping" the coffee, we went out to see where the coffee cherries were actually grown and harvested. We were given baskets to pick our own coffee beans and it was turned into a competition to see who could pick the most. After a frenzy of cherry-picking, Brian (aka Frosty Grande) and I ended up tying for the most coffee beans.

After the cherry picking, we saw the coffee beans being roasted and then saw all of the varieties of the final product. We then proceeded to their restaurant, where they made us a strawberry frappuccino with their coffee. We were able to get some of the coffee distributed only in Costa Rica.

On our way out of the restaurant, we were stopped by some individuals who were making a documentary for the Costa Rica Department of Education. I was interviewed about my experience in Costa Rica, the differences between Costa Rica and the United States, and my overall impression of Costa Rica. Of course, I had only positive things to say!! Costa Rica is breathtaking, and I would go back again in a heartbeat!! So now, somewhere, I'm a part of a documentary on Costa Rica!

After leaving the coffee plantation, we stopped for lunch at a local restaurant. Poor Maria had to go around to each table to translate the menu for all of the students! It started to rain during lunch, which was refreshing, especially with the beautiful volcanic backdrops of Costa Rica!

Back at the hotel, Maria gave a lecture on human trafficking, which was something that I had previously studied, but it was interesting to hear her perspective on the practice of selling humans for labor and sex, and I think it was an eye opening experience for those who had never heard of human trafficking.

Later that night, we went out on the town to a place called Key Largo, which had a live band and dancing. Unknown to us, it was kind of a brothel as well (ironic given the conversation on human trafficking). In Costa Rica, prostitution is legal, which affords some protections to the women who work in the profession. One of our guys inquired, for informational purposes, and apparently for an entire night, it is roughly $800 (or $100/hr). Now you know.

Anyway, we had a blast dancing salsa, cha cha and rhumba to the Latin beats of Costa Rica! Jess got tired and wanted to head back to the hotel, so I walked back with her. We attempted to climb the stairs to our hotel room (the elevator was broken) but had to take a break in between because we were tired from the day. Yeah, it was being lazy, but we're on vacation!

---

Photos

Image 6
I love Costa Rica!

Image 1
On our way to the coffee plantation...

Image 2
In our hardhats, watching the machinery.

Image 3
One of the workers raking the coffee cherries.

Image 4
Me raking the coffee cherries.

Image 5
Cupping.

Image 7
Coffee picking master!

Image 8
Maria, enjoying a strawberry frappuccino.