MUNGO EATS Latin America

I didn’t post yesterday, but I should tell you about the day.  Every day at the Hacienda is started with a fabulous breakfast.  Our hostess, Maria Teresa, serves us a plate of fresh fruit, granola and yogurt, 2 eggs, done anyway we wish, a tortilla and cheese buns with butter and jam…and of course, coffee!  The table is always immaculately set, and there is always a centrepiece of fresh flowers on the table, flowers that are gathered from the garden that morning.  The first morning we each had a Canadian flag, standing in a glass of coffee beans, sitting at our place at the table.  The hospitality  is incredible. 

After breakfast we walked up to a viewpoint on the plantation, so we could see the entire farm.  You walk through the fields of coffee, past bamboo groves, by many exotic flowers to get to the viewpoint. 

It is a beautiful view.  We could look down at the main house, and across the fields of coffee.

After we walked up to the viewpoint, we decided it was  time to drive into town and get a few supplies.  Sean decided to stay behind at the house.  When we got back to the house, we found the new buddies hanging out in our place, crowded around Sean and his IPod.   Ah, the joy of electronic games.  It was a little cool and cloudy outside, so we let them hang out inside.  They also played a few board games.  They ended up staying in our house for the whole afternoon and evening, finally toddling off to bed around 9 pm.  Our kids got a second night off from homework, because they were busy playing with their buddies.  Lucky kids. 

This morning we left the hacienda and it was with a few tears.  We felt so welcome at this home.  Everyone we met on the plantation was friendly and went out of their way to ensure that we were enjoying ourselves and were comfortable.  Maria Teresa visited us no less than 3 times the first day to make sure we were ok and didn’t need anything.  She personally brought us more toilet paper because one of the three bathrooms didn’t have paper!!! 

The mother of the children that we befriended was crying as we left, thanking us so much for allowing her children to play with ours.  She gave each of our kids a big kiss and hug.  Kevin and I got bracelets with the plantation name on it when we completed the coffee tour, but they brought more bracelets down for Sara, Sean and Mungo.   They gave us a couple of farm coffee labels to stick to our trailer.  One of the gals came down to the guesthouse especially to give Mungo a goodbye hug.  And a few minutes after we left the farm, they raced after us to bring us Sean’s slippers and PJs, that had accidentally been left at the house.  Now THAT is hospitality!!!!  Amazing place, one of the trip’s highlights!  Don’t miss it if you are in Colombia!

www.haciendaguayabal.com

Tonight, we are about an hour out of Popoyan.  We will be going to the city tomorrow and may stay a day or two to check out the sights.