Strong coffee is poured for anyone who stops by, plates travel down long tables, and one more chair always appears for a newcomer. Beyond the table the country spreads from sandy coast to river forest to cooler southern hills, and every region seasons its cooking and its music in its own way.
Weather is mostly tropical, with rainy and dry seasons that shape each region, and cooler air in the south. Expect warm days and evenings outdoors. With a Local Friend beside you, the menu, the map and the mood all get read for you, so a dish you cannot pronounce turns into the best part of the day.
