Day 115
DECEMBER 24, 2019
PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA (fishing village, far from everywhere)
Today's excursion was a long one - 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM - to the Starbucks Hacienda Coffee Farm. Half that time was on the bussssssss.
Josue (Joshua) was the Starbucks representative who taught us about the growing, fertilizing, propagation, picking and roasting processes. Now we know.
We met a coffee picker who wasn't particularly adept at his trade (the berries should be red).
After the coffee bean has been extricated from the berry, then husked and dried, the final step is to roast the bean, but not too hard, about 8 minutes.
So, our group swirled, smelled and drank this newly minted espresso, per instructions by our Starbucks expert, as though it were a revered 1985 Chateauneuf du Pape, and then we gleefully agreed to its provenance. Frankly, IMO one's taste in coffee is similar to what an honest person says about tasting wine, "I don't know wine, buy I know what I like." Personally, as usual, this Starbucks coffee tasted bitter. But that's just me.
This evening the Viking entertainment staff put on a quickly arranged Christmas-themed song and dance. Uplifting. So professional. That was followed by an everything-chocolate extravaganza plus port in the Atrium. Who can sleep after that?
On Christmas eve something fine and light is befitting....something like David Caballero's "Ballerina".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=665astrvxiA
PUNTARENAS, COSTA RICA (fishing village, far from everywhere)
Josue (Joshua) was the Starbucks representative who taught us about the growing, fertilizing, propagation, picking and roasting processes. Now we know.
We met a coffee picker who wasn't particularly adept at his trade (the berries should be red).
After the coffee bean has been extricated from the berry, then husked and dried, the final step is to roast the bean, but not too hard, about 8 minutes.
So, our group swirled, smelled and drank this newly minted espresso, per instructions by our Starbucks expert, as though it were a revered 1985 Chateauneuf du Pape, and then we gleefully agreed to its provenance. Frankly, IMO one's taste in coffee is similar to what an honest person says about tasting wine, "I don't know wine, buy I know what I like." Personally, as usual, this Starbucks coffee tasted bitter. But that's just me.
This evening the Viking entertainment staff put on a quickly arranged Christmas-themed song and dance. Uplifting. So professional. That was followed by an everything-chocolate extravaganza plus port in the Atrium. Who can sleep after that?
On Christmas eve something fine and light is befitting....something like David Caballero's "Ballerina".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=665astrvxiA
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