2020 Photo Smiles

2020 was more than COVID-19 – closed borders & businesses – lockdown – mask-wearing! Like all of life – it’s what you make of it! . . . So I continue my New Year’s Eve tradition of posting 12 photos representing my concluded year . . . not restricted to exactly one per month.

🙂 “PHOTO SMILES” 🙂

The feature photo at top is a vista from my room at Xandari Nature Resort where I had two weekend trips, one in January and one in August. It’s overlooking the great “Central Valley” of Costa Rica where I live to the far right in that photo on one of those hills or mountains. Then from March to July no travel for me beyond walks in the neighborhood where nature still smiles! 🙂

In March I started wearing a bandana for virus protection, then graduated to a layered cloth mask (called mascarilla here) made by a local seamstress, and by summer I added the additional plastic shield seen on me in this photo when completing my application for permanent residency . . .

I took off the mask and shield for the required face photo! 🙂 But I have stayed cautiously safe from the virus.

Since the above photo was made the government Health Ministry has ruled that the plastic shields alone are not adequate and everyone must wear a cloth or surgical mask when outside their home. So I quit using the plastic shield and ordered a cloth mask from my gallery with one of my sunset photos on it that I photographed last year here in Atenas on Calle Barroeta. The photo doesn’t look as great on a mask, but at least it is unique! 🙂

Selfie with an Atenas Sunset Covid19 Mask. Someday it will be strange to not wear a mask. 🙂

“Make everything an adventure. Otherwise, it will suck.”  

― Nita Morgan

When not traveling I found photo smiles in my own garden and neighborhood . . .

Above is a Passion Flower along the road, 100 meters above my house. 🙂
Princess Flower in my garden! 🙂
Nature playing hide and seek in my neighborhood! 🙂

Man’s heart away from nature becomes hard. —Standing Bear

My last trip before lockdown was to Heredia in February for Spanish Immersion plus . . .

. . . I photographed a Roadside Hawk at Toucan Rescue Ranch, Heredia. 🙂

At the heart of everything there lies a stillness and a light.”

― Lynn Thomson

I had several “Lifer” (1st time seen) birds this year including this one literally “handed to me” while at El Silencio Lodge & Reserve in September . . .

Chestnut-capped Brushfinch at El Silencio Lodge in September. 🙂 He flew into a window of the lodge office and this girl was comforting him until he eventually flew away.

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin. —William Shakespeare

And also at El Silencio were 5 great waterfalls with my favorite . . .

. . . Catarata Los Gemelas Waterfall, Bajos del Torro Amarillo, Alajuela Province. 🙂

And many flowers . . .

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”

~Leonardo da Vinci

Baby Green Iguana at Maquenque Lodge, Boca Tapada.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

~Lao Tzu

Happy New Year 2021!

Flower at Xandari Nature Resort, Alajuela, Costa Rica 🙂

¡Feliz Año Nuevo!

¡Pura Vida!

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