More in the coffee region

Trip Start Jan 08, 2009

Trip End Feb 10, 2009

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Flag of Colombia Armenia, Colombia
Saturday, January 17, 2009

The day before yesterday I arrived into Armenia. No I have not quickly hopped continent, Armenia is one of the three towns that make up the corners of the coffee triangle - along with Manizales and Pereira. In fact there are many towns in the coffee region with the same names as countries or regions elsewhere - Syria, Montenegro, Palestine, Florida, Puerto Rico to name a few. I was met by the infectiously friendly Yicel who drove me around for 2 days to check out various farms that offer accommodation, as well as checking out the main sights in the area. The farm accmmodation selection is excellent, with some truly beautiful farms, many over 100 years old and maintained in the tradional stlye, with beautiful scenery, and an array of fruit trees. Each one has its own charm and I found myself constantly thinking, "Yes, this one is perfect!".

But Yical kept bringing me to more and eventually the one I decided on really is perfect! :-) Set well away from any roads, a small coffee farm with a beautiful soothing stream, a pool, comfortable rooms and excellent food. The farm is full of orchids and other plants, as well as the coffee plantations and plantains. I really didn�t want to leave.

We also found time to visit the beautful villages of Filandia and Salento (see photo above), picture postcard type villages with lovely colonial style buildings, and bright colours. Further on from Salento we visited Valle De Cocora, a beautiful valley famous for its trout and enormous wax palm trees, the national tree of Colombia. These beautiful trees rise from the ground through the clouds that shroud the valley and up above them to heights of up to 70m. After an excellent trout lunch we walked out into the valley and admired the scenery. Horses are also available and exploring the valley on horseback is also very popular.

I�m now in Cali, the party capital of Colombia, so I think I will have to reaquaint myself with the nightlife here tonight... It�s a dirty job but someone's gotta do it :-) Tomorrow on to the colonial town of Popayan.

- Dave

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