Tonight, finally, I have good WiFi. They actually got a new service installed last night and it is surprisingly fast compared to past experiences!
Found good gelato before leaving Zipolite!
Pluma Hidalgo is coffee country in Oaxaca. There are a lot of coffee farms around! Tomorrow morning, I’m being picked up and going to visit Finca Margarita which is a highly regarded farm that is involved in eco-tourism and has glamping facilities.
Update: I am back and the Finca Margarita experience was awesome! They process coffee through seven different methods, each creating a very different taste from their beans. I only sampled about four methods of preparation this morning so may have to go back and sample more!
Exciting to meet someone so passionate about coffee, doing it well, being consistent in the product they produce and maintaining high standards! At the same time, Coli is so open minded and curious about making good coffee! I was able to help him with his espresso and in steaming milk properly. Then, of course, we had to sample! Awesome location in a natural forest with streams. Wonderful experience!!!
Surrounded by coffee farms, Pluma Hidalgo is loaded with coffee places! They are certainly very proud of their coffee!
Travel to Pluma Hidalgo? Getting around is always interesting. I picked up pieces of information about travel and options. I was ready and packed early so set off. I figured that as the day unfolded, the next step would be clear! First step, the collectivo, which wasn’t there but a shared taxi showed up. Perfect! Same price, more comfortable and faster.
They dropped me in Pochutla by the market so I could buy a few things. I asked the driver where to the collectivo’s were to Pluma Hidalgo. He said I didn’t need a collectivo and pointed to a bus station half a block away. When I got there, I waited only 15 minutes before loading on the bus and being on my way.
Then I was dropped at a crossroad in the country a couple hours away. After 25 minutes or so, a shared taxi came by and I was on my way to Pluma Hidalgo. It sounded like I wouldn’t be able to get here until very late in the afternoon. However, the way it worked, I was here by 1:30.
It’s much cooler here and very nice after the heat and humidity of the beach. Tourist only come up for a few hours of coffee farm tours. I did meet a group of Israeli volunteers here for three months working on projects and a couple from New Zealand working the The Lucy Foundation helping local coffee farmers.
It’s a quiet village, fresh air, cool nights and peaceful surroundings. I am happy to simply sit and relax here in the village. I’m a bit of a novelty not only for being a tourist but for speaking Spanish as well. New friends already! And they are helping me with details for transportation and lodging in San Jose del Pacifico where I head next.
Tomorrow morning, I take a bus higher up the mountains to San Jose del Pacifico. Everyone who mentions it reminds me of how very cold it is up there! Good! I’m ready!
