While in Coban, where mist is always in the air, we visited an orchid nursery called Vivero Verapaz. Thousands of orchids of hundreds of varieties. Amazing. Apparently a private collection kept by Juan, who says he just likes orchids, it is a huge endeavor requiring the full-time work of three people. Seriously, orchids as far as the eye can see. From big giant 25-year old plants to teeny tiny miniature orchids growing out of champaigne corks. He also had a small collection of Bonsai trees, each with tiny (smaller than a lady bug) orchids growing on the miniature trees. Bromelias clung to every tree, and one had taken sprout on a TV antennae. Perfect climate. Makes me realize how silly it is to try and grow them at home.
The Monja Blanco is the national flower of Guatemala. For every 8,000 of them that grow with a bit of pink in them, one grows pure white. Of course Juan has one. He also showed us the orchid that is the national flower of Belize. A black orchid that appears on their $2 bill.
Juan and his orchids seemed exceptionally happy. We stayed in a super nice hotel with exceptional food, all very cheap by our standards, but top-end by Guatemala standards. A relaxing, happy stay all the way around.
Sadly we couldn't seem to work out a tour of the coffee farm. The woman behind the counter just kept barking shrilly at us every time we showed up at the hour she told us to the last time she barked at us. We gave up and hit the long road for Flores (on the way to Tikal).
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