You can kind of judge the state of a nation’s economy and organization when you step off a cruise ship and see the type and conditions of buses lined up for you. We’ve been going downhill the last few ports, but in Puerto Limon, Costa Rica we jumped back to the top. We even got to travel on a dual carriageway. Well, mostly.
Our guide told us the roadways contractor were seven years behind schedule. In addition, they did not start from one place, but were building all along the highway. We went 2-lanes, 1-lane, 2-lanes, 1-lane for over an hour. Well, it kept things interesting. We also climbed over 6000-foot (1800 m) mountains to enter a valley where we visited the Hacienda Sitio de Mata. This is a sugar cane and coffee plantation with some history that also hosts tours and events – like weddings and cruise guests. A second bus came in while we were here.
First, we had a walking history tour. This was a field worker’s 300-year-old hut made of ironwood and cane transplanted from the field to the Hacienda.
We then visited an old church. The plantation owners moved this church from the original village site in exchange for a new church for the village.
We then went to the ‘ye olde’ demonstration of sugar and coffee production. They used a cow-driven crusher, where the liquid is captured below and then boiled.
The now brown sugar is cooled and packed into “cakes” which are wrapped in sugar cane leaves for shipment. They handed out pieces of cane which we chewed on – it was surprisingly sweet even without the boiling and concentration.
I’m not a coffee drinker, so the next demonstration was merely academic for me. It was interesting to learn that the fruit of the coffee tree is mostly thrown away, and that the coffee beans are shipped un-roasted to preserve the flavor over months of travel.
This was a fun and educational trip. This elevation made the conditions different from the very humid ports. But why would folks travel 1-2 hours to get married at a plantation? The view is amazing.
I wouldn’t mind coming back to Costa Rica – I think there is more to see and learn here.
Next: The Panama Canal.