Ricardo and Haydée were looking for a Ranch with stables to keep the 4 horses they had and thus retire in healthy peace to live in the countryside. Years of work in the area of health and finance in the city of Valencia had exhausted them and their children, now grown up, had gone to make their lives in other landscapes.
When they arrived at El Recreo, a hacienda on the Montalbán estate, in those mountains called the Valles Altos de Carabobo, they understood that retirement was not for them. What happens to this generation between 60 and 70 years old, that retirement seems more like a burden and idleness than a solution and a rest. When they went to explore the mountains that had cost them so much to buy because the owner set countless conditions, they saw a lot of unknown bushes. Upon asking, they learned that they were made of coffee. Some already very old and others that were still producing.
So they decided to become coffee farmers. But not small and subtle as one would have thought due to age. Quite the opposite. Strong and determined: 50,000 hectares of the highest quality. Rigorous post-harvest. A owned brand. They opened to the Japanese market and meet all the requirements, which are many. Not satisfied, they began to research cocoa until they created almost a germplasm with varieties of Creole cocoa from the region and the entire country, perfectly well identified and each strain separated from each other. They also experiment with agave to see if they make cocuy, with dwarf melon and with dragon fruit.
And since in the El Recreo hacienda there is a beautiful mansion from the last century that Graziano Gasparino - the famous architect of the Venezuelan colonial heritage - had already restored, Haydée was in charge of maintaining this jewel, restoring what was missing, preserving the history and annexing a spa. The former owner made him swear that she would keep the house or else she would not sell it to him. And what the things are. Haydée had just taken some courses in restoration of old houses, so she did her master's degree and believe me, she graduated with honors.
The visitor stays in history, learns about coffee and cocoa, visits pools and waterfalls in the mountains, rides horses and does professional tastings of coffee, cocoa and other liquors - always with specialists - at beautiful tables that overlook the drying patio. coffee. Meal times are a feast and the dining room is a marvel of good taste, as well as tableware and glassware.
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📌Director/DP:
Branimir Caleta - @caletadp
📌Journalist/General Production:
Valentina Quintero - @valendeviaje
📌Digital Media Manager:
Adeimar Bastidas - @adeimarbl
📌Sound and Drone Operator:
Edward Nogales - @nogalesrob
📌Post production
Gustavo Mendoza - @el.tasto
Alexander Ramirez @damianjr23
📌Graphic Design
Stephanye Cuellar - @stephanye._
📌Motion Graphics
Andrés Ungaro - @gazoo69
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Barbara Mongou - @barbaramongou
Ricardo Miranda - @popinteractive