Author: Charlie

Retired American nature-lover, living in Costa Rica, photographing birds and other jewels of nature. This site simply reports on my joys of being RETIRED IN COSTA RICA!
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Pattern of the Crowded

Pattern of the Crowded
Flying out of San Jose Airport in December I snapped this shot of a very crowded neighborhood.
Should I have titled it “Pattern of Poverty?” The roofs don’t say except that they are very close together.
San Jose, Costa Rica 
Photos like this remind me that the world is packed with people and not all live beautiful or happy lives, even in Pura Vida Costa Rica. Though I think poor people do better here than in maybe most other places. The First Baptist Nashville group coming here on mission trip to Hogar de Vida will be serving beautiful children who were removed from their parents because of severe abuse or other problems, maybe from a neighborhood like this one. 
See my photo gallery on San Jose  which includes the prettier sites. 
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Light Beneath the Elephant & the Monster

Both photos by Samsung Cell Phone:

Elephant Ear or Tarul 
In the Roca Verde gardens of Charlie Doggett
Atenas, Costa Rica

Monstera deliciosa  
In the Roca Verde gardens of Charlie Doggett
Atenas, Costa Rica

Okay. So now you know it has been a month since I’ve been on a trip or very far from home, meaning more photos in the garden. And that is fun too! Trying something different here from behind or beneath 2 large leaves and I’m fascinated by leaves! The Elephant is among my heliconias and gingers in the larger flower bed out my backdoor, while the monsteras have recently replaced ornamental grasses behind and above a garden wall (a ledge) behind my house and an extension of the garden, giving a jungle look from the bathroom ceiling window (dormer-like above shower) and helps maintain the garden walk around two sides of my house on a tile walkway. I like it! And in one week I’m in Orosi Valley & Tapanti National Park for some fresher photos!  🙂

See also my photo gallery:   FLORA & FOREST

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Costa Rica Ranks low in Central America Homicides for 2017. Our rate is similar to Panama’s

with only Nicaragua having a lower rate (you surprised?). The most danger for homicides are in El Salvador and then Honduras.

And if you add in the rates for all Latin American and Caribbean countries, then the safest or fewest homicides is in Chili with the most in Venezuela. And Jamaica is the 3rd worst after Venezuela and El Salvador. Mexico? Hey, they are right in the middle of the list of Latin American countries, worse than Costa Rica, but a long way from the worst! Sorry Trump! Mexico is not so bad!  See the charts and maps in the above linked article.

Interesting. And again, I feel safe in Costa Rica, especially in a little central valley farm town away from the big city of San Jose where almost all murders take place or maybe in port towns of Limon and Puntarenas. Choose your location carefully.  ¡Pura Vida!

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Costa Rica is getting ready for Electric Cars.  Another interesting English-language article. It is logical for a “green country” but also requires infrastructure and “power stations.” Money!
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New Graffiti/Mural at Sports Park

They are replacing all the old graffiti murals that were on this sidewalk wall.
This is first one completed. The whole wall was painted black first, then tags (below),
now this over one of the tags, a turquoise scribble.
Atenas, Costa Rica

For a year or more this is what was in the above spot:

Last year in the same location.

Then early in January these “tags” were painted with the bright turquoise at far right being where the current cartoon mice reside. I hope the other tags are overpainted too. I like the mice!

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Unfortunately we have Polluted Rivers in the “Green” country of Costa Rica too. Click the link for an online English newspaper article prodding the government to do more. Sad for me that this is about the Tarcoles River, the closest birding river for me and of course dangerous for the birds. The Tarcoles has tributaries coming from the big city of San Jose which is one of the problems. Be sure to see the video in the article showing all the plastic bottle caps and other junk found in the stomach of a fish. Shocking!

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Bus Schedules

The two most important, most used for me are to Alajuela & to San Jose, at Atenas Bus Station:

CLICK TO ENLARGE

These printed schedules can be changed easier than the old painted ones.
I go to Alajuela for Aeropost, Pricesmart, Walmart, movies, restaurants, mall
But can’t stay too late, last bus back is at 10:30 pm!  🙂  Past my bedtime!
45 minute ride station to station either way

I go to San Jose less often for lawyer, US Embassy, government offices
and sometimes museums, concerts, other cultural events.
It is also the hub for buses to anywhere in Costa Rica.
Next month I will go through San Jose to get to Orosi, Costa Rica.
1 hour ride station to station either way except rush hour is longer

I keep copies of these inside my closet door in case I’m going at an irregular time. The schedules are also posted on the website www.coopetransatenas.com  Click “Horario” and then the dropbox down arrow to click the town you want to go to. “Buscar” after choosing the town will give you a full week schedule like the above. In Costa Rica thousands of people use buses every day to go to work or take care of business, medical appointments, shopping, etc.

TRANSLATIONS: 
SALE = to leave or go out of
L aV = Lunes a viernes or Monday to Friday
SAB Y FER = Sábado y ferias or Saturday and holidays
DOM = Domingo or Sunday

FOR BUS SCHEDULES BEYOND ATENAS you English speakers are lucky that there is one in English available at http://thebusschedule.com/EN/cr/index.php  in which you fill in the form for where you want to travel, the date and time of day and they will give you a bus itinerary for your trip and often several options. It is what I use to plan my trips. It couldn’t be easier, but some Americans are still afraid to try the buses which go to almost every town in the country. This is the way local people travel! And yes, it is slower than going in your car but at an enormous savings and I would say generally safer plus more social with more cultural experiences and certainly more relaxing than driving. Where I do spend the money (still cheaper than a car) is to avoid some long bus rides I will take one of the local airlines to more distant places. Lazy old man! 
One of the Coopetransatenas Buses leaving the Alajuela Station
In San Jose there are lots of other bus companies to other towns
and most have similar equipment, from Germany, China or Korea usually
¡Pura Vida!
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Captured at Home This Week

Desert Rose
Is becoming a favorite while it blooms!
Home Garden, Atenas, Costa Rica

Heliconia
Home Garden, Atenas, Costa Rica

Heliconia – Fewer of these blooming now.
Home Garden, Atenas, Costa Rica

Red Ginger
My most faithful year around bloomer!
Home Garden, Atenas, Costa Rica

My photo gallery FLORA & FOREST

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Interesting Public Art in Alajuela

On 6-lane boulevard between Walmart & City Mall (mall behind trees & billboards) is this contemporary art.
A metal man pushing a red metal wheel?   Concentric Circles with philosophical meaning? 
Or just something to break up the monotony of occasional bumper to bumper traffic along here?
Alajuela, Costa Rica

I photographed this Monday after Spanish Class and my bus ride to Alajuela, picking up a package at Aeropost, taking taxi to Walmart, then walking the half mile to the City Mall for lunch and a couple of items in shopping. I usually ignore this particular public art, but somehow it struck me today. On this same boulevard past the Mall is a red letter “a” (the little A) and the word “Alajuela” under it, which reminds me of the large red letters in Juan Santamaria Park spelling out “Alajuela” and that someone is trying to coordinate at least some of their public art. Interesting!    ~Charlie

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Aerial Video of Atenas
And back in Atenas, someone flew over Atenas in plane or helicopter at different times of day with video of the roof tops of central Atenas. Nothing is labeled or explained so not a very useful video, but if you want to see Atenas from the air:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzqT-gEbuBc
I guess anyone can put something on youtube.

And in the right column on this blog page is a link to the most current Atenas PR Video I highly recommend!  
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My Calendars in Spanish

My Favorite One was free from the local Cooperative Supermarket
Featuring Atenas Coffee Farmers who make up the Cooperative.
Atenas, Costa Rica

My “Store Bought” Calendar from the mall yesterday is
“Caminos y senderos” Backroads and trails
of Costa Rica of course! I have been on the above road.
It is along the Caribe beach, Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo.
A Costa Rica Produced Nature Calendar
Hard choice of trails, trees or animals! I chose trails!

I am a very slow learner of spoken Spanish and need to surround myself with as much as possible and little things like calendars are a little help and help define where I am. Likewise I try to do most of my grocery list in español, count in Spanish, all greetings and as much conversation daily as I possible. That means avoiding gringos, especially Americans who only speak English.

Did you know that Spanish is the second most spoken language after Mandarin Chinese? Yes more people speak Spanish than English around the world and it is the second language of the United States.

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An Older Slide Show of Atenas Scenes/Places
Someone walked/drove around Atenas with a video camera showing lots of people and places a few years ago. Two of the restaurants have changed and one completely closed, so definitely not current, but it is little of the local flavor of Atenas if that is what you are looking for :  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcTX45N4S3o

And in the right column on this blog page is a link to the most current Atenas PR Video I highly recommend!  

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Poas Lake Reappearing – Maybe Park Open Soon

Official Photo with water returning.

Poas Volcano, Costa Rica

My 2015 Photo of Active Volcano
I think the same place as their photo
OR is the lake they are talking about the one below?

Poas Volcano, Costa Rica

My 2015 Photo of the inactive crater, a blue-green Lake Botos
but I think they are talking about the active cone,
don’t know if this one went dry too.

Poas Volcano, Costa Rica

It is a positive sign that the lake is starting to reappear which I hope means the park will be opening again soon. Read the article at:
https://news.co.cr/lake-poas-volcano-costa-rica-reappears-rainfall/69998/

Another “official” photo of Poas erupting August 24, 2017
One of several eruptions, mostly gas and soot but not lava like some.
It has been closed for more than 9 months now and no longer active.
Poas Volcano, Costa Rica

Reopening the park is important to the Park Services budget as one of the most visited parks and to all of the local people who depend on the area tourism. The nearby La Paz Waterfall Gardens has remained open all this time and continues to be a popular tourist site. 
Me at Poas.2015

Poas Volcano on Wikipedia

Did you know?  Poas Volcano has the second largest volcanic crater in the world:   vacationscostarica.com  

I have taken more than one visitor there and not been able to get in because of cloud cover, especially during January-April. In fact my only visitor who got to see it was Kevin Hunter, so consider yourself lucky Kevin! The second largest volcano in the world to visit and the most popular in Costa Rica. 

And here is the TRIP Gallery:  2015-With Kevin at Poas Volcano


¡Pura Vida!
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Pre-Columbian Art Retrieved

See the amazing artifacts retrieved from illegal collector in Venezuela
in this Tico Times article (one of their photos)
San Jose, Costa Rica

I imagine all the items will be on display here in time
The National Museum of Costa Rica  (my photo)
San Jose, Costa Rica

More and more around the world it seems that archaeological treasures are being returned to their nations of origin which is a big correction of colonial and money/power robberies of past history and arrogant countries. These artifacts of Costa Rican history belong here for the Tico children to learn from and not in a rich man’s private collection in Venezuela or any other country. Thanks to the UN and international laws for helping this important correction to be made. Occasionally there is justice!

See more interesting photos in my gallery Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA

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Two More Trips Added for This Year

A follow-up to my earlier post:  Next 4 Months of Trips Planned – Retired in Costa Rica!
First to the Costa Rica South Caribe again:

“The Howler Suite” at Banana Azul Hotel
I wanted this room last September but not available – very popular!
So I now have it reserved for 5 nights this coming September!
Planning ahead sometimes pays off!  🙂
Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica

Also on the Caribbean side, across the border in Panama is the popular tourist area of Bocas del Toro. I now have a full week or 7 nights in June at Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge:


In addition to BIRDING there are beautiful BEACHES & ISLANDS to visit by boat + SNORKELING
Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama

KAYAKS available at all times for bay & rivers + miles of HIKING TRAILS for more birds!
It’s the kind of place with plenty for me to do just on the hotel grounds. Great anticipation!
Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama

See this cool video about Tranquilo Bay

And keep reading this blog RETIRED IN COSTA RICA as the adventures just keep getting bigger and better. I will truly never be bored here and never run out of something to do or photograph! I don’t understand why everyone doesn’t retire here! I’m sure having fun! And seldom repeat a place!

And I will keep adding photos to my gallery:  Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA

Kind of funny: The other day some new students of Spanish at Su Espacio were in class and saw one of my photo books there. One student said “I know him. I read his blog about Costa Rica!” So David enjoyed telling me that I am now famous!  🙂  This blog has only 80 subscribers plus drop-in visitors vary from 50 to 300 a day, so really not that big, but I’m glad that some considering retirement here are reading it plus others and hope it is helpful in your “Costa Rica decision process.”

¡Pura Vida!