Coffee Flowers, Coffee Cherries, Coffee Beans

We just returned from a long, packed day.  First we started at a coffee farm counting coffee flowers, hand pollinating the coffee plants, and catching bees.  Interesting fact, native Costa Rican bees do not sting.  It was so amazing to be walking through the coffee plants.  Definitely not your run of the mill tourist stop.  I got a chance to eat a coffee cherry off of a plant.  You can't eat the see yet, but the pulp is sweet tasting.

We then went to Earthwatch's office and prepared for a meeting with Coope Tarrazu's CFO.   During our meeting we learned about the cooperative and the challenges they are facing.  A coffee farmer also explained how the cooperative works and gave us a tour of the cooperative's wet and dry mills.  I now know the entire process it takes to get make a cup of coffee from plant, to coffee cherry, to coffee bean.  Buy me a cup of coffee sometime and I will explain it to you.  Just make sure the coffee is Costa Rican coffee.

It has been really interesting to see how the Ernst & Young team works together so well even though we are from different countries, offices, and practices.  I am fortunate to be able to spend a week with these amazing people.

Coffee, coffee, coffee!

Today we left San Jose and drove to Santa Maria de Dota (about a two hour drive).  The scenery was awesome.  The EY team is a great group.  It is really amazing how such a diverse group can come together and work together so well.  Shortly after our arrival we went on a hike through a cloud forest.  A cloud forest is a forest at high altitude that has a lot of moisture from the clouds and warm, moist air moving in from the Pacific Ocean.  Today I also got my first taste of Costa Rican coffee. WOW!  It was so good.  I am not a coffee drinker, but I could not get enough.  In the afternoon we had a strong rain shower.  The building we were in had a tin roof and we could barely hear each other.  The rain reminded me of the thunderstorms we would get when I lived in Virginia Beach.  We are taking a break now before dinner and then we may go to a festival that is happening in town today.

Finally Here

After a flight cancellation and flight delays I finally arrived in Costa Rica.  First impressions - it's humid.  I met a few people from the team.  We head out tomorrow morning at 7:30 am to the Tarrazu region.

Team 1 Costa Rica Pictures

There are two Ernst & Young teams participating in the Earthwatch program in Costa Rica.  The first time is currently in Costa Rica.  I have been reading their blog and pictures for clues of the experiences my team will have there.  Here is a link to a slideshow posted by the first team. http://animoto.com/play/ccAi3N8nFJMAiDu0LCyREg?autostart=true

Three Days to go...

I am three days away from when I leave to go to Costa Rica. Last night I think I finished up all my shopping for items I needed. Now I just need to fit it all in one suitcase.

At this point I am a lot excited and a little nervous. I can't wait for this to start!

Here is an article written about our expedition.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ernst--young-professionals-volunteer-for-earthwatch-institute-research-expeditions-90605169.html