Today we visit the Cacao farm of Edilberto Guevara. Brian shows us the finer points of cutting the pod from the tree, cutting vs breaking it open, and a few other surprises.
This land is overflowing with verdant landscapes and magical cloud formations.
Brian explains some cacao pod removal techniques to us foreigners, as farmer Ed in the blue hat looks on.
Freddie takes a stab at cutting a cacao pod from the tree.
Rosie shows Brian the finer points of pulling vs pushing the blade.
Ali Gower gets the credit for this photo. Those sexy mud boots might be a new look for me...
Brian and Edilberto debate the existence of "Witches' Broom" a disease which can affect cacao trees.
Master Brian say, "Just repeat this mantra with a Scottish accent and you will find success in everything you do: Coconut, Machete, Bagpipe. Coconut, Machete, Bagpipe. Coconut, Machete, Bagpipe."
Despite Shelly's excellent training, the innocent green pod below met a premature fate.
Chip can do this with her eyes closed.... or maybe just wearing very dark sunglasses.
Ali gets his prize.
Rosievision
This reminds me of my paint palette - a tasty collection of colors.
Rosie attempts the "crack-it-on-the-rock" method to open the cacao pod.
Another two photo credits to Ali Gower. The fruity taste of the pulp that surrounds the cacao seed is irresistible. It tastes nothing like chocolate, but more like a sweet tropical treat.
Edilberto also grows sugarcane, and this press is used for extracting the juice from the cane fiber.
I love to finds things which are in a state of decay. For me, there is something beautiful about watching nature reclaim an object, be it a crumbling man-made wall, a rusty car, an autumn leaf or corn cobs cast into a bucket.
On the way back from Edilberto Guevara's cacao farm we pass fields of rice patties - gentle, curving terraced stripes on a watery landscape.
Rivers lure me in to their constant motion, their complex, organic shapes, twirling, swirling, always flowing, never ending continuity.