Cacao? Wait, So That's Different From Coca?

Roasting the cocoa beans.

Removing the beans from the shells. The shells were used to make cocoa tea which was quite splendid. 

Grinding the beans into cocoa paste. 

The workshop group. It was me and 2 Delta pilots from SC and GA. Fun group. 

Last night in South America. Obviously going to go out with a cultural bang and have some Millers!

In the interest of killing time, learning something new and walking away with a cool gift, I signed up for a chocolate making workshop in Lima. The 2 hour class teaches you about the history and process behind making chocolate and allows you to make your own chocolate from start to finish. It was really informative and entertaining. Then at night, the hostel was offering a deal with a local club that included free admission and a free drink. Not wanting to pass up a free drink, I ended up going with a few new friends from the hostel. The drink was a rather tasty cocktail made with Pisco, a very popular liquor in Peru and Chile. The Miller beers weren't the most exciting, but it was nice to go out with people on my last night in South America. Tonight I fly overnight to florida, have a 12 hour layover tomorrow, then fly back to Vegas! Not an April Fools joke. America here I come! Time to see what this Trump guy is all about.