Category: Sunset

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Sample Photos from Today’s Adventure

Red-eyed Tree Frog 
And yes, this one is orange and I can’t explain why. Usually bright red!
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica

Semiplumbeous Hawk 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica

Gray-capped Flycatcher with insect in his mouth! 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica

House Wren Singing 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica

Buff-rumped Warbler 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica

Variable Seedeater 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica

I took so many photos of so many birds and other animals that the above is just a sample from my guided bird walk this morning before breakfast. For more, see Trip Gallery Arenal Observatory

The Broader “Pre-Sunset”Look behind the Restaurant Deck (shot from my room)
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica

And the other extreme, zooming in on the sun behind the clouds tonight.
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal National Park, Costa Rica
¡Pura Vida!

And My Photo Gallery for this Trip is being added to daily while on the trip! 
There you can see all the birds together, etc. plus photos not on the blog.
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Waterfall & Bird Count Day

Danta Waterfall
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Crested Guan
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Great Curassow
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Montezuma Oropendola
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Green Honeycreeper female
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Mantled Howler Monkey
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Emerald Basilisk
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

One of the Lillies
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

Hibiscus
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica
Tonight’s Sunset Over Lake Arenal
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica

And today was eBird’s “Global Big Day” of bird counting. Here is a link to my eBird List of 11 species seen here at Arenal Observatory Lodge. All of the birding guides here were out counting today which is why I could not have a guided bird hike today. I have one tomorrow.

¡Pura Vida!

And My Photo Gallery for this Trip is being added to daily while on the trip! A longer more leisurely trip makes this possible and my galleries are my main trip reports. Enjoy!
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First Half Day Hallelujah!

Yellow-throated Toucan Eating a Lizard
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Male & Female Great Curassow 
 Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Lineated Woodpecker 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Rufous-tailed Hummingbird 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Montezuma Oropendola 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Red-legged Honeycreeper, female & male 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Palm Tanager 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Blue-gray Tanager 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

White-nosed Coati 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Arenal Volcano from my Lodge Room 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

Sunset from my Room Deck 
Arenal Observatory Lodge, Costa Rica

What can I say? The photos are worth a thousand words and this was just after getting here at noon today and eating lunch first. It is a totally amazing place and instantly one of my favorites! And with another 4 and 1/2 days yet to go!

¡Pura Vida!

And My Photo Gallery for this Trip is being added to daily while on the trip! A longer more leisurely trip makes this possible and my galleries are my main trip reports. Enjoy!
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Sunset on this week’s adventures . . .

Sunset Over the Pacific 
From our little 12 passenger Sansa airplane on the hour-late flight back to San Jose.
Along the West Coast of Costa Rica
¡Pura Vida! 
 And ohhhh soooo many more photos to share, but exhausted again tonight and so much to do here. So tomorrow I will continue my report on Danta Corcovado Lodge, probably first with birds seen in the park, then much more over the next few days. Buenas Noches.
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A Pleasant Evening in Atenas, Costa Rica!

Overlooking my house on a cloudy sunset around 5:15.
 “And all is well on the western front!”  🙂
Yep, the sun shines from between 5 & 5:30 AM to the same in PM
Every day, year around – 12 hours of dark & 12 hours of light! Nice!
That’s because we are close to the equator. Same sunrise/sunset daily.

And to my fellow Americans, forgive me for saying I was ashamed last night. The election did not go the way I thought was best, but God just may have something much better in store for us! So today I posted on Facebook the following quote and Scripture verse that better reflects my faith:

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come and
the mountains crumble into the sea.” Psalm 41:1
¡Pura Vida!

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More Beaches & Another Sunset

I’ve already shown the main beach at Flamingo Beach. (Click to see again.) It ties with Hermosa as the two best or prettiest beaches seen. I was not excited about our Tiny Hotel Paradise Beach we walked down the cliff on steps to get to which is down the road from the real Flamingo Beach above. Here’s THREE OTHER BEACHES WE SAW:

Tamarindo Beach was my least favorite, yet it had the most people and
was the biggest and busiest beach town with most housing, shops, restaurants.
There were a lot of surfers here who I guess go out beyond those rocks or
at a different spot. This is where we saw possible rent houses, but
the last I heard from John, he is probably not going to buy one.

Playa Hermosa or “Beautiful Beach”
The one in Guanacaste – there are 3 or 4 in Costa Rica with this name!
I think it is prettier than the bigger one in Flamingo, just not as long.

Coco Beach (As sun is setting)
North of Flamingo and Hermosa with brown sand but more recreational.
It is the “Central Park” of the local community with big Catholic Church
across from it and the big soccer field. There is a long boardwalk (sidewalk)
along the whole beach with children’s playgrounds, skateboard ramp, volleyball,
basketball, and many restaurants and bars right on the beach, plus statues, showers,
water fountains, flower gardens, etc. The best beach for local people and children!

Coco Beach Restaurant/Bar
We sat in this restaurant for a drink and watched Tico families walk by with
little children on tricycles or running and playing beyond those flowers.
Further down teens were skateboarding or playing volley ball and
a few were on the beach. Sorry I didn’t make more photos! A people place!
Then back to Flamingo Beach . . .

Another Flamingo Beach Sunset
We went back to our favorite restaurant for dinner, Coco Loco & sunset!

Flamingo Beach Sunset Changes Color!
Watching the sun set while eating a great seafood meal is the perfect way to
end another day of adventure in Costa Rica! And I found another A+ restaurant!
I would even consider living on the beach just for these scenes if it were not
SO VERY HOT, VERY HUMID, VERY EXPENSIVE!
So I am sticking with my mountain sunsets, perfect weather, and lower costs.  🙂

I am thankful that John invited me to go with him to the beaches and the jungle boat ride! I got to see a whole new part of Costa Rica this week and it is as cool as all the other parts I’ve seen. Plus seeing several condos and how people live there compared to Atenas was fun and educational. Of course my favorite part was the boat trip on Rio Tempisque in Palo Verde Park! My next trip is the end of September to Manzanilla on the southern Caribbean coast where I will stay in a luxury safari tent hotel on the beach adjacent to a wildlife reserve. Hoping for more new birds and experiences. I got two new birds photographed this trip! (Crested Caracara & Crane Hawk) Now here’s one last photo from this trip, shot through the glaring windshield on our way to Palo Verde:

A Tamandua Anteater ran across this road as did an Agouti, but sorry, no photos!     🙂

For more beaches and other scenery,  see my VISTAS Photo Gallery.

Or go directly to my total Costa Rica Photo Gallery called Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA

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Flamingo Beach, Sunset & Tamarindo Visit

We finally find the good beach in Flamingo Beach!
It is public, 4 times this long, and with very few people!
And no hotels along here!  🙂

The occasional person even has the choice of a tree for shade,
but alas, most are sun worshipers!

And tonight at the end of this same beach we watch the Sunset!
While eating our best meal yet at Coco Loco Seafood Restaurant on the beach
in Flamingo Beach.

And our midday and early afternoon was spent exploring Tamarindo Beach and being taken around by a Realtor to see several possible rental condos for John to consider purchasing. We ended up not looking in Flamingo Beach this time because of the lesser demand and higher prices. He is waiting on some promised data before making a decision. But soon you may be able to rent a vacation condo within walking distance of the beach and lots of restaurants in Tamarindo.

Tomorrow we go to Palo Verde National Park looking for birds! My day!  🙂

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Tonight’s Sunset on 5 Months in Costa Rica

Tonight’s Sunset from the driveway above my roof looking west.
Different from my balcony views looking north.

Five months! They have flown by and I’m still on vacation! Soon I will start traveling more and seeing new places, though I will always love where I live and every day is a vacation here!

In the first five months I moved here with 5 suitcases (one was all winter clothes shouldn’t count!), lived 4 months in a really good “starter” apartment with great views, just different than here. I have learned my way around Atenas, where to find things, how to ride taxis and buses. I’ve tried multiple churches and not found my place there yet. I’m in a Spanish class and making progress poco, poco (slowly). Have multiple new friends! I have a quick half day bus trip to Alajuela down pat for picking up my Aerocasillas mail from Miami and shopping at Walmart and Pricesmart (Costco) and sometimes trying a new restaurant. I know how to get to San Jose in an hour by bus, visit Association of Residents of Costa Rica, the U.S. Embassy, a hospital and doctors office for a physical, and to get a rental car at the airport. I’m even comfortable driving here!

My Residency Application is in process with a Cedula by early next year and earlier if I’m lucky. I now have private medical insurance here and just in time to cancel my stateside Medigap Insurance as it doubled in price. I have a bank account and learning to use it and maybe online banking soon! (In Spanish!) I have my SS Check scheduled for deposit here in this account starting in June to more easily pay my rent. Even with lots of extra moving expenses, I’m spending less money than I did living at McKendree Village Retirement Center. I have a good cellphone service and know how to use it and get service and even use it to read books with the Kindle App when away from home. Internet and TV service is better here than the apartments (different company, CABLETICA) and I’ve got auto-debit payment worked out for that. I get Netflix when I want to watch a movie which is seldom. I read more now. I’ve been in a new house for a month now with a beautiful flower garden and extra trees planted.

I’ve been to Nicaragua to renew my visa once and will again in June just so I can drive if needed with my Tennessee license. I will get a Costa Rica driver license when I am an official resident. I’ve visited multiple tourist places in Central Costa Rica and ready to show guests around (thanks to Kevin for helping me learn!). And I’ve started unpacking the boxes I shipped and planning to give away a lot more stuff! Retirement in Costa Rica is good! Pura Vida! And I have fun telling about it in this blog! More than 60 people get it by email and another 50+ are reading it online daily, so there must still be some interest in retiring in Costa Rica. Thanks to the encouragement so many friends have given me to keep writing this. So I will. But will keep trying to not be so long-winded!   🙂