With the days fast approaching Christmas, we decided that we should explore more of the countryside and move on to the smaller town of Manizales in the Zona Caferteria (the coffee growing region), recognized for its natural beauty (in people and landscapes!).
After a 5 hour bus ride, we arrived at our B&B and found that there we were the only ones staying there over Christmas! Christmas in Colombia is a family affair and the big celebration happens on Christmas eve and the drinking goes to all hours in the morning. After a little recon and shopping for our Christmas dinner we went out for a few drinks at a lively local bar where everyone was getting into the festive spirit ordering bottles of rum! We also saw some of Colombia’s best assets (natural and enhanced)!
On Christmas eve we went on a fantastic coffee tour with our guide Phillipe. This involved a visit to a nursery, a coffee plantation and the factory where the coffee was processed. We managed to leave the factory with some of their best coffee and ponchos in hand, as Richard had a big fan in the 55 year old lady factory owner! We also had the rest of the factory greet us and wish us a merry Christmas!
After this we enjoyed a brilliant lunch of Chicharon (fried pork) and on our way home, we passed people preparing for their Christmas eve dinner which involved large pots of soup boiling on the streets, with pork, yucca and yams being added.
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