Mojito, por favor

One of the last things that we did was tour the Bacardi Distillery. At first neither of us was all that enthused about touring the family's facility, but once we got there we not only learned about Bacardi Rum, but we learned about the family's history, the history of rum and about how Bacardi came to Puerto Rico.  We were even given a free mixology class at the end of the tour to show us how to correctly mix three different drinks along with the historical origin of those drinks.

Entrance to the distillery

Bacardi is the largest distiller of Rum in the world and is located just across the Bay from Old San Juan.
It can be accessed in several ways. We chose to take the Ferry across to Catana where the plant is located. From the Pier we took a short bus ride to the Bacardi complex. Total cost for this trip: $1.25 for both the ferry and bus ride.  The return trip back to the ferry was via taxi for a whopping cost of $3.  And for those of you who might be wondering, yes there are excursion companies that will take you to Bacardi.  Cost will average $40 and up depending on season and number of people in your party.
However, now that you know the how and where, let's look at the why and what.  This was one of the most fun things that we did in Puerto Rico.  It was not physically demanding, the tour allowed you to stay in a/c most of the time, and you were driven around on trams whenever you were outside the buildings (house rules).  Plus you were rewarded after the tour with two free drinks and a visit to the gift shop (where you can purchase items not available anywhere else).

The bat wing is proudly displayed everywhere, as in this
abstract display.

The grounds of Bacardi are kept in pristine condition.  Carefully manicured lawns, beautifully tended small lagoons with an aeration system, a variety of flora all native to the island and fauna too if you are lucky are located in the Bacardi compound.  I saw an Iguana about 2 feet long.    All of this is in stark contrast to the surrounding areas of Catana, which seemed more like a third world country.  In telling you this, I will give you the same warning, the bus driver gave me about my friend Carol.  Rule #1, do not wear your camera hanging around your neck for all to see.  You might not go home with it.  After all unemployment is 20%, and Puerto Rico is still a stop over for undesirables.  500 years ago it was pirates, today it is drug traffickers.
Aside from that its somewhat seedy neighbors, a visit to Bacardi should be on your list of must do's if for no other reason than the stunning views of the bay that are yours riding the ferry.

The view from the ferry.  

Grounds of Bacardi, no walking on the grass.

One of their lagoons.

Windpower support from Bacardi for clean energy.

This is the iguana's home

The Bacardi bat turns up everywhere. This is on the way to
the visitors pavilion.

This was erected to commemorate
Bacardi's 150th anniversary.

Another representation of the bat.

Yet another image of the bat.

One of my favorite parts of the tour.  A replica of the original
VIP room from Havana where the mixology class was held.

A special Bacardi they compared to cognac.  

The drinks we learned to make, recipes included.

Another shot of the
replica VIP room in
Havana.  This one
showing the deco style
lighting fixtures.

One of the original rum barrels on display.

The wall of rum.  This is actually a three dimensional freestanding
display of Bacardi rum.  Really neat.  

One of the executive office buildings.  

The visitor's pavilion with its bat wings design.  

Did someone say coffee?

As you already know (if you've read my previous blogs anyway) I am not a coffee drinker. But my dear friend Carol is a coffee connoisseur of sorts and for that reason was thrilled to be going to a coffee plantation.  

Roasted coffe has to "rest" for at least a few months
for it to taste its best.

Our visit was arranged with just a phone call, a willing hacienda owner and a bit of time devoted to the trip.  We had no navigation or mileage showing on our rental vehicle during this trip.  But the hacienda owner's directions were so good that as it turned out we needed neither.  We talked coffee, politics, travel, and local flora & fauna.  It was an island paced tour that was such an education for me.  And as I have always believed in local whenever possible and when not always fair trade, this wonderful man confirmed it all for me.  This is the result of our visit and tour of the coffee plantation.

Carol - purchased 8 oz. of coffee $15.00

Toni - purchased 3 lbs. of coffee $90.00

Carol - tour $15.00

Toni - tour $15.00

Carol - fun quotient of 100%

Toni - fun quotient of 100%

Now just imagine if I had actually been a coffee drinker.  I shudder to think of the cost.  

This was Leo the lizard who became very brave probably
because he was very hungry and he wanted some banana
bread made with plantation grown bananas.

Leo came up on our table, then he got even braver and came
up on the plate and if you look closely you can see his
tongue as he licks up the crumbs.

Leo got very brave and took a bite from the banana bread
and then took off for fear we would take a bite out of him. 

This was called a "fake banana" flower.  It looks
similar but doesn't produce fruit.

Green coffee growing on the branch.  It can only be
picked once it has turned a dark red almost cherry red
color.  

Almost ready but not quite dark enough.  Another 2-4 weeks and it will be ready to pick.  

The coffee plant branches get very heavy as the fruit gets
closer to maturity.  They were almost touching the ground
from the weight.  

Fresh oranges that are ripening on the tree.  

Every chew a coffee bean that hasn't been roasted?  Well
we got the chance to do just that.  The green part are the
coffee beans.  The fruit is all chewed up and red.  Sweet
fruit which was quite delicious.

This is the real
banana flower with
the fruit still green
and ripening on
the tree.

A bromeliad that was planted under the trees
on the plantation.  

I have no idea what this plant was, I asked.  But sadly
Carl (the hacienda owner) couldn't remember the
name of it.  But it was so unusual and beautiful.

Another plant that I thought was gorgeous but Carl couldn't
remember it's name.  It was so beautiful it looked fake.
Waxy and supple petals that layer upon layer open up.  

This is a local fruit which is eaten by everyone.  These were
not ripe yet, but we tasted them anyway.  They were
quite bitter and I personally didn't like the taste.  I prefer
the taste of the coffee fruit.

Orchids growing on the trees on the Hacienda.  Trees
in Puerto Rico are more like hosts for other plants than
actual plants on their own.  

For sorting the coffee fruit after it is picked
and washed and sorted.

Roasting the coffee.  A specific temp
must be used to get the best flavor out
of the bean.  

White Knuckle ALL the way!

This was not how I wanted to spend my day.  I do not drink Espressos, Cappuccinos, Lattes, Frappuccinos or Mochas.  In other words I am decidedly not a coffee drinker.  But we were on our way to a coffee plantation.  Thanks completely to my dear friend and travel partner, Carol, whom I can not thank enough for this idea.  Really!

Winding our way on mountain roads barely wide enough for two vehicles but usually only wide enough for one and a half vehicles to move in the opposite direction from each other at the same time, I realized that we were holding our breath as we approached the curves. We were hoping that a local wasn't coming from the opposite direction towards us swinging wide and thereby forcing us into that verdant blanket of green on the sides of the mountain.

As we drove by I was able to get this shot.  

The views as we rounded the curves were however the kind that would take your breath away without the necessity of the fear of an oncoming collision.  A view of so much green I couldn't wrap my head around it, punctuated with fuchsia, yellow, red, orange and purple or white to catch your attention.  Finally as your eyes moved down the sides of the mountain there was a sliver of white sand at the bottom and finally some turquoise water that turned to an indigo blue as it moved away from shore.  Above that Caribbean water was a sky that matched it.  Caribbean blue with small puffs of white little clouds drifting in and out of eye sight.

Trying to talk Carol into stopping for me to shoot some pics along the way was like going to a dentist and having same dentist tell you that all your teeth must come out but that it will only be done without anesthesia.  Yep.  my idea went over that well.  So at risk of life and limb (and friendship) here you go.  The picture story of our trip to the coffee plantation for our tour.  

White knuckle all the way.

We were traveling early in the mornng, so
in this case the dew was still on the flowers.

I have no clue what this was
but I was fascinated by its
shape, color and size.

My favorite picture of this part of the trip.  

In the trees, these reminded me of Pine Nuts.  

Sometimes we were close enough to be able to reach out and
touch all this.  We had to be that close to get out of the way
of other vehicles on the road.

I loved the way the mist was just swirling on this one.  Rising
after the rains and still hanging in the air for me to see.

Reach out and touch.  As the branches scraped the car on
my side we held our breath that we wouldn't be hit.

Then again, being that close you just never know what you
will find.

I brought this fella home with
me.  But he cracked open in the
suitcase sadly and had to be
disposed of.  However, all the
seed pods I brought did make it.

Orchids blooming.

Just another lovely flower we spotted on our trip to the
coffee plantation.

I would love to know what this was, but
I'll take the picture if that is all I can get.

From the car window, traveling thru the mountains.