Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery.
~John Ruskin
Zoomed in on mountains seen from my terrace, Atenas, Costa Rica.
¡Pura Vida!
Mountains
Medical Thanksgiving + A Grand Feast!
The Medical
As I continue choose between the free government healthcare (with monthly payment like states do with Medicare) and the mostly affordable private doctors using my MediSmart discount card I have so far been well cared for in my various medical needs and either free or at very reasonable private costs.
In earlier reports I have explained how the public system includes a cardiologist I like and I feel well cared for. When my various “tags” and other skin growths began to increase, I decided to try a private dermatologist and have been equally pleased with his services and prices.
One growth on my right arm he suspected and did a biopsy which proved positive for a melanoma cancer, Tuesday afternoon he cut a chunk out of my arm and is pretty sure he “got it all.” His guideline is to take 4mm to 5mm all the way around the growth. That meant 10 stitches in my arm, but that will heal. I decided that a photo of it would be too gross. He also took a sample from a growth on my face that has not healed from an earlier nitrogen treatment (freezing it off). So when I go back for my stitches to be removed in 2 weeks I will get the biopsy report on that. Hoping for no more malignancies, but we do what we have to do and I’m still enjoying my monthly adventures with doctors working around my travel schedule! 🙂 And by the way, my rotator cuff surgery has healed very well, thanks a lot to the physical therapist Andres! Pretty much back to normal use, though now I have 10 stitches in that same arm! Sigh.
I walk regularly and eat reasonably well if not maybe too much! 🙂 So my overall health and heart condition is great, just this little skin cancer bother that is caused by too much sun when I was a kid or teen, says the doc. I’m more careful about the sun now!
The Grand Feast
Tony & Rose Mary, the couple who plan our expat trips almost every month put together a group eating traditional American Thanksgiving Dinner at the Baron’s Resort on top of a hill here in Atenas with beautiful views. It was delicious in every way and the turkey was cooked perfectly – moist not dry! And they even had pecan pie! (My favorite if you don’t know.) The resort is now owned by my local attorney, Cecelia Tristan, and she is doing a lot of extras to make their restaurant appealing to locals. I will eat there again from time to time.
And no excuse for not snapping a cell phone photo – just didn’t!
Rancho Humo: The Book
Check out the free electronic preview of all pages of my latest Costa Rica photo book at: http://www.blurb.com/b/9079446-rancho-humo or click the book cover image below. Use “full screen mode” to best see these photo pages. I think my books & photos are getting a little better. 🙂
- And my exciting exploration of Costa Rica continues!
- Christmas its a beach resort at Manuel Antonio
- And January a treehouse on the Nicaragua border
- See also my Rancho Humo Photo Gallery now completed
Charlie Doggett – Retired in Costa Rica
¡Pura Vida!
Hillside Flower: El bastón de emperador
Or in English it is most often called “Torch Ginger” and is one of many plants and trees growing on the steep hill that is my “Front Yard” or what is seen from the street.
This shot I took with my good camera earlier on the same plant and the ones below I took today with my new cheaper cell phone camera that’s not as good as my old cell phone camera and/or the colors and looks change on these flowers. 🙂
Just living is not enough… one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
~Hans Christian Andersen
Rancho Humo Photo Gallery
I finally got all the photos sorted, processed, labeled and have them organized into my latest TRIPS sub-gallery: 2018 Rancho Humo, Palo Verde National Park — Next comes the book! 🙂
¡Pura Vida!
Yellow Warbler Visits My Terrace
We have both resident and migrant Yellow Warblers this time of year. This one looks like a juvenile and could be either resident or migrant.
I have started my online Photo Gallery on Rancho Humo, but just the BIRDS section is taking longer than I thought, so it will be a few days before finished. 🙂
¡Pura Vida!
Last Morning Walk at Rancho
Thursday the 15th my driver drove back from Atenas to Rancho Humo and joined me for lunch before we drove back to Atenas. Before breakfast I caught the sunrise, el amanecer, then walked around the ranch one more time. Here are some of the photos I made on my last morning walk there as a slideshow.
Morning Walk 15 November 2018, Rancho Humo, Costa Rica
Hotel’s 2 Minute Video Says it All!
¡Pura Vida!
Another day of “Retired in Costa Rica” with Charlie Doggett!
Why would anyone retire anywhere else? 🙂
Rio Tempisque
My last full day at Rancho Humo was the only thing I have done once before here, a boat trip down the Tempisque River looking for birds. It is the 2nd largest river in Costa Rica and has a great bridge over it near the mouth where it enters the huge Gulf of Nicoya, called “Puente La Amistad de Taiwán,” (Taiwan Friendship Bridge). It was a gift from the Taiwanese government and saves hours when driving from Guanacaste to the San Jose area. We of course drove over it on our trips to and from Rancho Humo. A beautiful bridge!
Back in 2016 when my friend John from Franklin, TN came looking for investment property, we went to Flamingo Beach and the general Tamarindo area looking and he pampered me with the treat of a day trip from Flamingo Beach to Rio Tempisque for a similar float trip. See the 2016 post on that boat trip, some of the same birds then with 3 then I did not get this time, but I got more total this time with 10 not seen in 2016, including a Zone-tailed Hawk, a “Lifer” for me. 🙂 Here’s slideshows on this year’s visit, both birds & other animals:
BIRDS on Tempisque River 14 November 2018
Randomly presently
Other Animals on Tempisque River 14 November 2018
¡Pura Vida!
And note that my transportation for this trip was provided by Walter’s Taxis and Tours. Click his logo in the right column for more information. Great service!
Palo Verde National Park Visit
There is plenty to see and photograph on the 5,000+ acres of Rancho Humo, birds, other wildlife, and scenery! But across the river from the ranch is another wonderful and large Costa Rica park: Palo Verde National Park.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) I float down the river for a different experience in the park. But here are 3 slideshows for what was seen on Tuesday on a 6 km hike and posting here on Wednesday. Will post boat trip later today or tomorrow.
Birds in Palo Verde National Park
Other Wildlife in Palo Verde National Park
Views Surrounding Us in Palo Verde National Park
A Hat Full of Sky
“There’s always a story. It’s all stories, really. The sun coming up every day is a story. Everything’s got a story in it. Change the story, change the world.”
― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of SkyAnd today’s story begins as I wake up with that big sky sunrise at the foot of my bed in beautiful Rancho Humo, eat a Tico breakfast of scrambled eggs with beans and rice (Gallo Pinto) and begin a 6 km hike in Palo Verde Park after a 30 minute boat ride to the park entrance. Tired, invigorated, hot and smiling. Today’s story will continue once I’ve sorted the photos 🙂 –another episode of “Retired in Costa Rica.” ¡Pura Vida!