Costa Rica – Land of Coffee

Costa Rica is the best place in the world I have found for networking and word of mouth advertising. It seems that almost everyone in Costa Rica and even those en route to,  or returning from, Costa Rica are friendly and bubbling over with enthusiasm for the country and the people. On almost every flight between the U.S. and San Jose I have been fortunate enough to sit next to someone who knows people in “Paradise.” Before I get off the flight I have a list of three or four or maybe even ten new contacts to meet and network with. And once in Costa Rica I begin to make phone calls, make new friends and be introduced to even more new friends.

On one such flight recently I was seated next to Ernie Kern who runs a mission in Alajualita. Before we arrived I had a list of local herbal remedies, a very useful tip about passports and a phone number for Ernesto and Linda Carman who, for twenty years, have been running a small coffee farm based on the science of alternative agriculture. From the little I understand about agriculture I believe that means organic farming. In other words going back to nature without all of the chemicals we have learned to pollute our crops with in modern society. Doesn’t it stand to reason that is the best way?

On the spur of the moment I telephoned Ernesto and he invited me to stop at Finca Christina the next day on my way from San Jose to Turrialba. Although this site is dedicated to Turrialba and even though I own 50,000 coffee bushes on my own little plantation I think Café Christina is well worth including.

The plantation is right on the road to Turrialba and just past the town of Paraiso. Ernesto and Linda welcome visitors and if you don’t mind talking to Linda while she works she’ll be happy to answer all your questions and give you a basic tour and the opportunity to buy a sample bag of coffee.

You have to watch carefully for the farm or you’ll miss it – I did!. After passing through Paraiso watch very carefully for a white stone archway on your right. It’s easy to miss because you’ll be watching the road and the archway is parallel to the road meaning that you see only the side of it. Almost immediately after the neighbor’s white stone archway the road curves to the left and right in that curve, on the right is a small lane marked with a sign welcoming you to Finca Christina. Since you have now passed the farm you’ll need to continue to the next village and make a safe U-turn back about three hundred yards to the turn. The track is a typical Costa Rican country “road” so you’ll need to proceed slowly and careful to the next left turn and there you are.

Now, why not go to Ernesto and Linda’s website http://www.cafecristina.com