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| In Atenas you can sell anything from your house. So, maybe I will start sharing interesting signs like this. They are all over town, many on my daily walk. |
Now a new photo gallery: Home Business Signs – Atenas
The Roca Verde Rock
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| “Roca Verde” literally translates to “Green Rock” – Is this it? Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| This big rock is just inside our community entrance gate. Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Our Entrance Gate Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
I have no Roca Verde gallery per se, but these include shots in Roca Verde:
My House in Roca Verde
“What are men to rocks and mountains?”
― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Why did I move to Costa Rica?
Nearly three years ago I started this blog to publicly discuss and seek guidance in what I then called my “Costa Rica Decision Process.” I just went back and read one of those early posts that really sums up my 16 reasons for leaving the U.S. and choosing Costa Rica for retirement written on June 28, 2014:
Click the above title and read the reasons I listed three years ago and you have my answer for today! Oh sure, I could add some things I’ve learned since that make it even better and some things that are more negative than in that list, but overall it sums up pretty well why I came and why I stay. And the list is totally mine, not from some website on retiring in Costa Rica. And yes, I’m really glad I did it! No regrets and I expect to stay here the rest of my life.
A few readers of this blog have written with specific questions and contact me when they come here to check it out. I am happy to help! Nothing in it for me. I’m retired and not selling services. 🙂
Now, I have wondered at what point we get too many Americans, Canadians and Europeans here!? There are a few “Ugly Americans” (Remember the 1960’s book?) already here and they are the ones constantly complaining about something that is not right here in their eyes. When an earlier neighbor was complaining about the relaxed atmosphere and infrastructure and said, “You know how these people are!” I thought to myself, “You need to go back to the states.” In three months he did. This culture and atmosphere is not for everyone! So check it out thoroughly for a good while before you decide to move here! But be sure that many of us love it here!
And for more reasons, just go back and read all the entries in this blog or see my Costa Rica Photo Gallery that I call: Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA and you will visually see why I love it here!
Meadow Haiku
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| Cellphone shot in Roca Verde Neighborhood, Atenas, Costa Rica |
This is the view that a few houses up the hill from me have. It is one of the views I have when I walk the kilometer circle through my neighborhood. Peaceful and rural.
My photo gallery of Vistas
My photo gallery of Haiku
“Mountains are the beginning and the end of all natural scenery.“
~John Ruskin
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird
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| Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba, Costa Rica Photo by Charlie Doggett |
These guys have been feeding a lot in my garden and at the hummingbird feeder I inherited from Anthony.
Watch One Feed on Porterweed Flowers – A VIDEO
You can see what it is like with this video another nature photographer (Steven Williams) here in Costa Rica posted on an Expat Facebook page. He calls it a Berylline Hummingbird, but I disagree. Those live mainly in Mexico with a few as far south as Honduras, still a long way from Costa Rica! I think it is a Rufous-tailed Hummingbird which is what we have a lot of in Costa Rica. Either way, this is how they feed in my garden:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
See also my Costa Rica Birds photo gallery
Rain, rain Haiku
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| Rain dripping off my Guarumo or Cecropia Tree |
I’m experiencing a wonderful afternoon rain as I post this. After a sunny morning.
See also my photo galleries on:
Tropical Blossom Haiku
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| In My Home Garden Atenas, Costa Rica |
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INTERESTING NEWS FROM COSTA RICA:
Environmental agency orders suspension of pineapple farming project
which means that the American imperialists (Del Monte) cannot destroy any more of our wetlands and forests. Yay! I’m glad that the government here is defending our environment. This particular case is on the Osa Peninsula near Corcovado where I just traveled. Costa Rica is recognized internationally for protecting its land and environment and has 25% of the land set aside as national parks or reserves. And don’t feel sorry for Del Monte. There is plenty of legal land they can build pineapple farms on with plenty of cheap labor to make them rich!
which means that the American imperialists (Del Monte) cannot destroy any more of our wetlands and forests. Yay! I’m glad that the government here is defending our environment. This particular case is on the Osa Peninsula near Corcovado where I just traveled. Costa Rica is recognized internationally for protecting its land and environment and has 25% of the land set aside as national parks or reserves. And don’t feel sorry for Del Monte. There is plenty of legal land they can build pineapple farms on with plenty of cheap labor to make them rich!
The Dollar is at its highest value in Costa Rica right now, meaning a good time for U.S. people to visit or vacation or buy property here when you get more colones for the dollar, as much as C581 this article says. It had been at around 530 for a long time which was good, but this is better! 🙂 Best in the last 7 years says the article!
Maracas are Flourishing!
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| Maraca Plant or Shampoo Ginger My Garden, Atenas, Costa As always: Click Image to Enlarge |
I had the gardeners clean out my garden today, cutting back the plumbago which was taking over everything like a plant-eating monster and this is part of what was opened up. New surprises every day in a garden! And I used to be happy with one or two of these flowers! 20+ now! This sure is different from gardening in Tennessee! 🙂
See also My Garden Photo Gallery or the bigger FLORA & FORESTS gallery
Blue-Gray Tanager Haiku
Farewell Aguila & Links to Articles About Me :-)
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| About noon I take boat from here to “wet landing” (barefoot through surf) in the little village of Drake Bay. Then a taxi with a Canadian family who were in another hotel, going to the Drake Bay Airport (photos below). Then less than an hour flight to San Jose Airport in Alajuela and my personal taxi prescheduled to take me home where I ordered pizza delivered, started laundry and a few other chores before collapsing! |
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| Drake Bay Airport Terminal, Ticket Office & Gift Shop Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
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| Bording Gate, complete with attendant & fire extinguisher! Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
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| Drake Bay Airport Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
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| The Thrill of the Cockpit Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
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| Goodbye Drake Bay, a bay off the Pacific Ocean at Corcovado Park Drake Bay, Costa Rica |
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| Crossing the Mountains to San Jose in 45 minutes! (All day on bus) Talamanca Mountains, Costa Rica |
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| Main Terminal, San Jose Airport – But Sansa has its own little terminal. Alajuela, Costa Rica |
My TRIPS Photo Gallery on this Drake Bay Trip
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TWO WEB ARTICLES ABOUT MY PHOTOGRAPHY HOBBY & LATEST BOOK:
Enchanting Costa Rica, a tourism promotion website
And a reprint of the same article on a real estate website:
Atenas Real Estate for Pure Life Development