With internet spotty at best up in the highlands of Burundi this post will undoubtably be short. I just can’t help but share in what is taking place though. By far the most productive trip yet to Burundi I’m in a celebratory mood. Except that my sore back, hurting bum and broken ribs (long story about why you shouldn’t play rugby in Burundi with American Marines could be inserted here!) will let my celebrations be limited to a beverage of choice and early to bed.
The Beauty of Burundi is that I can sit in a “hotel’s” restaurant high in the hills of Burundi and listen to a Jordin Sparks (ya, I didn’t know until I googled her either) song on repeat being beat into my head. So if I type “just one step at a time….” it’s not my fault.
The past four days have been filled with incredible scenes of vibrant rolling hills, lush coffee trees pregnant with ripe cherries and aromas ranging from fresh sweet coffee smells to burnt roasting goat.
I want to tempt your senses to try and imagine fresh(ish) goat being roasted on an open fire with green bananas that taste like potatoes to accompany. How about hundreds of pounds of freshly harvested coffee cherries piled up ready to be washed clean of their pulp. Or my favorite aroma of sweaty stinking people piled on top of each other and me as we wind our way up the mountains in a mini bus.
Where do you drink coffee? Intelligentsia? Counter Culture? Stumptown? Dunn Brothers? Bean There? I’m visiting the very farmers that are producing their best coffee. It’s a good day in Burundi. It would be great if Kristy and my adventurer boys were here too. Just four weeks until we are all here!
I may never feel or smell the same again. But my discovery of this black gold is seductive and the hands that are processing it are the poorest and knurliest I have ever laid eyes on. The adventure has begun.