Rice and beans; beans and rice -it was all that people were telling me when I announced plans to travel to Costa Rica. “As a vegetarian?” They would ask incredulously. “All you’ll eat is rice and beans.” “It’ll be rice and beans three times a day, beans and rice If you’re lucky!” Unswayed, I went ahead with my plans secretly determined to prove these preconceptions wrong - despite my actual love of both culinary staples. The first encount...

Other volunteers had raved about La Feria; the highlight of their stay despite the 3am rise! But I had no idea why- what was so special about this weekly farmer’s market in San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica? What was it that made people want to go back, time and time again, to sell behind the stalls and sample the vast array of produce on offer? Well, I was about to find out. Three forty on a dark and misty morning we set off- Luz, Memo and I- headlig...

I rose to the darkening backdrop of gigantic palms and the humming orchestra of a thousand living creatures: little birds provided the beat while grasshoppers shook their tambourines. It was 5:30am at Finca Chinchilla, the air was soft and warm… and the animals were calling! First it was off to the chickens - around 400 of them - in various enclosures who would cluck and swarm toward you as their food approached. Next were the fish flying out the water to c...