Coffee

Personally, I've never much cared for coffee.  I love the smell, hate the taste.  But I appreciate that I'm in a distinct minority with that opinion, and that much of the world runs on coffee.  Certainly, more than a few of my friends and coworkers wouldn't function very well without it.  Today, we stopped at the organic coffee "finca" (i.e. farm) owned and operated by the family of our local guide, Ernesto.  He proudly showed us around and explained the steps needed to turn tiny seeds into bean-producing plants, and coffee beans into what ends up in your cup in the morning.  It's a long, slow, labor-intensive process that keeps the world turning -- or at least awake!

Recently picked coffee beans, ready for hulling.