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.