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Reading
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| Just finished this book. Very good! |
There are usually 2 or more books on my Kindle that I am working on, more if you count some I have started and will probably never finish. I have to “enjoy” or “get something out of” a book to continue reading it to the finish.
My favorite “little” books that I enjoy reading for pure fun are Agatha Christie mysteries. I’m now focused on finishing all the Hercule Poirot series in the recommended order of happening which is important only because some of the stories refer back to earlier stories that even figure into the details of the mystery. Then I will finish all the Miss Marple books not already read. I like her books because she is a very good storyteller with very entertaining stories that often have the element of surprise. Plus they are shorter than most “classic” books with shorter chapters, making them easier to read. Next up from her is Lord Edgware Dies.
In addition I am trying to continue adding more of the “classics” which sometimes bore me or they are just too long, but often are the best writing. I currently have volume 1 of The Charles Dickens Collection which is just 3 books, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and Bleak House. I am currently almost bogged down in Oliver Twist which is a longer/bigger book than I realized, having seen at least 2 of the 4 movies made from it. And as usual a lot is left out of the movies! I remember the 2005 and 1968 movies and so decided to try the B&W 1948 movie online. I quit after 40 minutes. It is just not as complete a story or as good as reading the book, though a slow read. I intend to finish reading the real story and then may retry one or both of the more modern movie versions. We will see. I have already interrupted Oliver with one Poirot story and may do so again before finishing. Dickens is an excellent descriptive writer, almost too descriptive so that I get bogged down or bored with too much detail. But still better than that ’48 movie! 🙂
I used to read a lot of inspirational books but have found the last few I tried not so inspirational and not something I need as much now. Plus the politics of so many Christian writers now has turned me off reading anything they say. I now stick with reading the Bible every day and a few writers like C.S. Lewis or Richard Foster whom I know I can trust.
Most of my “real” or paper books are reference books on birds and other nature subjects and of course a collection of my own travel photos in little books. They are on my coffee table and something visitors can thumb through if bored.
Somehow I have not seen my reading as something to write about in the blog and that may be good because it could get bogged down in mystery plots and minutia. But reading is what I do instead of watching TV at night plus I can also read a chapter on the bus ride to Alajuela or while eating a meal, so Kindle is a travel and dining companion of sorts! 🙂 And of course I will never get through all the classics! After Dickens I may go back for more of Hemingway. I love his writing.
Books are a uniquely portable magic.
–Stephen King
Charlie Doggett
Retired (and reading) in Costa Rica
¡Pura Vida!
Art Deco Department Store in Alajuela
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| A cloudy morning yesterday, Saturday, in Alajuela Centro – Llobet A three-story huge department store – the old fashion kind still meeting competition from the modern new malls! And competes with Miami’s South Beach for Art Deco Design! 🙂 Alajuela, Costa Rica |
And for more of Alajuela, see my Alajuela Photo Gallery
+Photos from all over Costa Rica in my gallery: Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA
¡Pura vida!
Watching Rain
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| I still can’t capture it raining in my camera, even with fast shutter speed, and slow is blurry. Oh well. Believe me it is raining above and you can tell that the distant mountains are grayed over by rain. From my deck for a late lunch, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Leaves up close are obviously wet, but you still can’t see the rain falling. We call the rainy season “Green Season” because everything is greener. It is my favorite time of the year! And most days it only rains 1 to 3 hours in afternoon or evening. Atenas, Costa Rica |
For photos from all over Costa Rica, see my gallery
Just don’t expect to see it raining in any of the photos! 🙂
¡Pura Vida!
Saw Güilas movie again today
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| Boy in another story “Amor de Temporada” – Fun! |
I went back to Alajuela today (Friday) to see the movie Güilas a second time. It is soooooo good! It is fabulous art and photography! It is seven stories about kids, one in each of the seven provinces of Costa Rica making it almost a travelogue movie and it is very entertaining, very funny, and very delightful as all kids are! My favorite movie of the year already!
And for those here in Costa Rica, I have decided that my favorite of the seven is “Cabin in the Watta,” a delightful story of a boy and girl in the Caribbean of Costa Rica at Puerto Viejo going fishing and bringing their catch back to Mama who runs a little Soda (small restaurant) where they help cook the fish and little plantain cakes and then share it with an old man who then plays his banjo and sings the rhythmic caribbean song Cabin in the Watta. Plus it has the best nature photography!
If you haven’t already, see the Güilas trailer, you will like!
And unfortunately good films like Güilas are not filling the theaters and are getting pushed out by all the violence and superhero films from America like Avengers starting next week or soon and today was the first day of the newest Star Wars movie. I tried doing a selfie in front of the theater promotional display, then a friendly Tico offered to take my picture which was better. Not sure if I will see this movie, but a fun photo:
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| Old Charlie Doggett with the Young Han Solo & Chewy! Cinemark City Mall, Alajuela, Costa Rica |
Experimenting with New Book Binding
This is a “heavy paper” special binding so all pages “lay flat” with none of a two-page photo lost in the gutter. I am experimenting and will decide if it is worth the much higher cost when I do a book like this with all 2-page spreads or panoramas. You can review every page electronically online in the bookstore by clicking the link or click the cover image above. Best seen “Full Page” as always.
¡Pura Vida!
The Making of a Bridge
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| First, to get over that stream, install two very large concrete culverts or pipes for the water. to go through. Cover with gravel and dirt. This is a lot less trouble than anchoring a big steel bridge over the water! Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Well, then you need concrete walls on each side to hold the dirt in! At least another 2 or 3 months time. Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| And well, the wall needs to be high enough to keep pedestrians from falling in the stream. Allowing enough room for a sidewalk on each side of the road! Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| After about 6 months it looks like you might actually extend this street over the stream! I have been walking by this construction for what seems like forever! Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| With the wall nearly done, we need more dirt and gravel. Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| And Suddenly One Day! I come across a paved street, concrete gutter and concrete sidewalk on both sides! Now why was I so impatient? See! It is beautiful and very useful! Our city at work! Atenas, Costa Rica |
My photo galleries of Atenas and Atenas is most of the gallery People & Fiestas.
CONSIDERING A MOVE TO COSTA RICA?
Then you will benefit from this article:
¡Pura Vida!
Nature, Like Steeples, Pointing to God
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| Buds of the about to bloom Gardenias in Central Park Atenas Seem to be pointing to God like the nearby steeple Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| As every walk by the Atenas Catholic Church Also reminds me of God! Both steeple & palm trees! Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| And my regular trips to Alajuela (one yesterday) include walking by the Cathedral, a reminder of God Even the tall evergreen pointing high toward God! Alajuela, Costa Rica |
Nature is my manifestation of God.
I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work.
I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain.
~Frank Lloyd Wright
Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.
~Frank Lloyd Wright
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
~Psalm 19:1
One of my bedtime “monsters”
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| A furry spider? Will the gecko eat this? I leave most insects alone for the geckos. Atenas, Costa Rica |
See other interesting “monsters” in my gallery called Other Insects (all not butterflies)
Or the broader selection of “monsters” in gallery called Other Wildlife (all not birds)
¡Pura Vida!
Güilas – “Kids”
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| The newest “Made in Costa Rica” Movie is Güilas by Tico artist/photographer SERGIO PUCCI. In pure Spanish “güilar” is “to guide” – In Costa Rica slang, “güila” = kid or child This is a collection of 7 stories of 7 kids, one from each of the 7 provinces of Costa Rica I saw at Cinemark Cinema, City Mall, Alajuela, Costa Rica |
TRAILER & Guilas Making Of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCLb2ts_p60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V851nDWbjAc
MOVIE WEBSITE: http://guilaslapelicula.com/
Tico Times Article in English:
http://www.ticotimes.net/2018/05/01/costa-rican-film-guilas-to-premiere-thursday
First La Nacion Article (with videos): (use your translator to read in English)
https://www.nacion.com/viva/cine/vea-el-primer-avance-de-guilas-una-pelicula/YX4MCZVEEJAL5POAJS67C5CTSI/story/
Second La Nacion Article (with videos): (use your translator to read in English)
https://www.nacion.com/viva/cine/iguilas-iuna-antologia-de-encantadores/7UMM42YLNJGLRN76NKXFTHPWCE/story/
“The intention of the film is to highlight Costa Rican identity through the experiences of these kids, with an infancy full of games and mischief, outside in the fresh air,” said Editorial PUCCI in an email this week.
MY REVIEW:
Wow! A beautiful movie! You know how “coming of age” movies are usually big in the states and also funny kid movies – Well Sergio Pucci took that concept plus the beauty, variety and adventure of Costa Rica combined into a 7-part (7 stories) about the 7 Provinces of Costa Rica through a day in the life of a child in each of these very different provinces. Magnificent! The photography, the kids, the country, the real life growing up experiences, the cultures and the color.
If you live in Costa Rica, this is a must-see movie! And if not, well watch the arts theaters, specialty TV, or maybe on DVD someday soon. Of course it is in español, but the stories speak a universal language making the words almost unnecessary!
¡Pura Vida!
