Category: People

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At Hogar de Vida Today

On Ruta 135 going north out of Atenas is this B&W Sign pointing to (maybe 500 meters on this road)
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

I failed to photograph the entrance sign because I’m attracted to the park-like atmosphere inside!
Next time I will include that attractive sign & more of the campus.
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

One of the children’s’ cottages with a worker hanging out the laundry.
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

Another children’s cottage on campus.
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

Playground  
 Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

Rancho, which is what we call a picnic pavilion or covered dining/meeting patio here.
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

8:30 AM Prayer Meeting every morning with all children, staff and volunteers.
The table & chairs is for the children’s snack time after devotional. Breakfast is much earlier!
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica
After the prayer meeting or devotional time this morning I spent time with Matt, the director in black shirt in center right of above photo. It was good to get acquainted and learn more about how they love and care for their capacity of 35 children (always full). Most of the children have been abused and legally removed from their parents, some of which are in jail or dead. The kids are babies to younger elementary school children, most of which will be adopted within 6 months to a year, though some are not as fortunate and will stay here longer. Two siblings in today’s group will leave next week to live with their adopted new parents in the country of Italy. Wow! They go all over the world! 
I met two local American retiree men like me volunteering today and I filled out the paperwork to be a volunteer one day a week. I have eliminated some of my other volunteer jobs for now, so this will be my new one and a good preparation for welcoming my friends from Nashville in April who are coming on a “Mission Trip” here to work in the children’s home. So Nashville guys, keep reading the blog as I plan to share something about Hogar de Vida at least one day a week in my posts except for weeks I travel away from Atenas.   🙂
For more about Hogar de Vida, see their Facebook Page. 
Or the Costa Rica portion of their Homes of Life Website.  

Copied from their website:

Our Program

Homes of Life oversees two distinct homes for children: one in Costa Rica and one in Guatemala. The missionary work of each home has its own unique objectives and challenges, but both return abundant blessings to the children who are cared for there, as well as to those who generously support this important ministry.
Many of these children arrive completely destitute, without a family’s care or the basic provisions that so many people in the world take for granted.  Often the victims of abuse or neglect, the children’s needs are met by the patience and hard work of caring men and women at Hogar de Vida y Nutriciónin Guatemala and at Hogar de Vida para Los Niños in Costa Rica, and by the important support of the child sponsorship program.
We invite you to partner with Homes of Life as God’s loving compassion is demonstrated daily. Consider participating in our child sponsorship programs and spread the word about Homes of Life.
Or go to the website for more information. 
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2017 Photo-A-Month & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wow! It was hard picking only one from each month! So many favorites! Missed some greats! I tried for a balance of birds, flowers & people – 4 each. Review my year in photos & know it was even better than this! Just a sample of being retired in Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA!

January 2017
My garden was a constant joy!
 Blue Plumbago contrasted against a Heliconia

February 2017
Two nights in San Jose was a fun and different trip for me.

March 2017
The birds in my garden continue to amaze!
Lineated Woodpecker

April 2017
The bird sculpture by my former neighbor Anthony Jeroski will
always be a special garden memory of him. He died in July in states. 

May 2017
One of my guides at Drake Bay, Carlos, with baby boa.
Everywhere I go great guides make the trip memorable!

June 2017
My gardners on break at my house, a tradition we have.
 I love my gardners and my garden! 

July 2017
At Rancho Naturalista I finally get a photo of a Sunbittern!
This is a rare bird and rare photo that I’m proud of.

August 2017 
Butterflies are second only to birds for me and I saw a few this year.
Most, like this one, in my garden of course!
A Heliconius Hecale Zuleika.

September 2017
This Squirrel Cuckoo was on edge of my terrace for a favorite
photo at home or maybe my “Photo of the Year”
or at least tied with the Sunbittern.  🙂

October 2017
My high school “after school club” for Conversational English
was my most rewarding activity of the year! Fun & hard work!

November 2017
This Triquitraque is one of the smallest and favorite flowers in my garden.

December 2017
Everything about my Christmas trip to Tambor Bay
was super good, but this photo of a King Vulture
is the big prize! Another rare find & photo!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
FELIZ AÑO NUEVO 2018

Go climb a hill! 

Charlie
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Happy Family Culture in Atenas

While waiting on a parade to start last year this Atenas father leads several waiting children in a game.
 As I did my daily walk through town today, not seeing a memorable photo op, I thought of this old one.
 It is so typical of the happiest people on earth right here in the center of Costa Rica!
Glad I live here!
Atenas, Costa Rica 

See also my photo gallery PEOPLE & FIESTAS.

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BROWSING My Photo Gallery


Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA
To get to gallery, click above image or title, then click Browse or scroll down to the above.
Each of  the 9 titles/images above take you into a folder of photo galleries on that subject. 
Here’s an outline of what is in each folder: 
Costa Rica Birds (242 species)
Nicaragua Birds (98 species)
Panama Birds (57 species)
Mexico Birds (24 species)
Guatemala Birds (18 species)
Cuba Birds (11 species)
Brazil Amazon Birds (17 species)

Other Insects (40 species)
Mammals (27 species)
Amphibians (18 species)
Reptiles (25 species)
Others Not fitting above (1 species)

My Home Gardens
Caribbean Coast
Pacific Coast
Talamanca Mountains
Monteverde & Arenal/Poas
Rancho Naturalista Flowers
Guanacaste
Villa Blanca Cloud Forest
Walking in Atenas

VISTAS, BEACHES, SUNRISES, SUNSETS
From my Roca Verde Terrace
From the Hill Above my House
From Hacienda La Jacaranda Apartments
Caribbean Beaches
Pacific Beaches
Miscellaneous Costa Rica Vistas
Neighboring Country: Nicaragua Vistas
Neighboring Country: Guatemala Vistas
Neighboring Country: Panama Vistas
Neighboring Country: Mexico Vistas

WATERFALLS
Campesinos Waterfall, Quepos
Cloudbridge Reserve Waterfalls (2)
Corcovado National Park (3)
Hanging Bridges Waterfall
La Paz Waterfalls (5)
Manantial de Agua Viva Waterfall, Carara
San Gerardo de Dota Waterfalls (2)
San Luis Waterfall, Monteverde

PLACES AND THINGS
Costa Rica Lodges & Hotels (33)
Nicaragua Lodges & Hotels (5)
Panama Lodges & Hotels (4)
My Rent House in Roca Verde
Hacienda La Jacaranda Apartments
Atenas General Shots
Atenas Public Art & Grafitti                   RAN OUT OF TIME LINKING TITLES!
Atenas Home Business Signs                                    Sorry!
Churches Costa Rica
Churches Nicaragua
Alajuela, Costa Rica
San Jose, Costa Rica
Small Towns Costa Rica

PEOPLE & FIESTAS
Tamale Making Class
Independence Day Parade 2017
Independence Day Parade 2016

Independence Day Parade 2015
Oxcart Parade 2017
Oxcart Parade 2015 & 2016
Day of Cultures 2017
Other Fiestas in Atenas Central Park
Atenas Easter Processional 2017
Granada, Nicaragua Easter Processionals 2016
Atenas Easter Processional 2015
Cuban Swan Lake Ballet, San Jose
My Visitors from the States
My 75th Birthday Party
My 76th Birthday Party (Let’s wait until 80th now!)
Photos of Me

TRIPS
2017-Dec-3–InterNations at Zooave
2017-Nov-14–Atenas Expats Tour San Jose
2017-Nov-6-10–Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Resort
2017-Sept-Oct–Three Day Trips Nearby
2017-Sept-4-8–Caribe Banana Azul, Puerto Viejo
2017-July-29–Tarcoles River Day Trip
2017-July-3-7–Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba
2017-May-1-6–Drake Bay & Corcovado
2017-April-22–Camino de Costa rica Day Hike
2017-April-13–Tarcoles River Day Trip
2017-March-18-22–Tenorio Park & Celeste Mtn. Lodge
2017-Feb-16-18–San Jose City Visit
2016-Dec-23-27–Sarapiqui Selva Verde Lodge
2016-Dec-16-Tarcoles River Day Trip
2016-Sept-15-20–Manzanillo Tent Hotel
2016-Aug-21-24–Flamingo Beach & Palo Verde Park
2016-Jun-28-30–Western Nicaragua
2016-Jun-18–Zooave
2016-May-22-23–Carara Park & Cerro Lodge
2016-May-20-22–Campesinos near Quepos
2016-Mar-22-30–Nicaragua Bird Tour
2016-Mar-10-13–Monteverde
2016-Feb-15-17–Tortuguero
2016-Feb-14–Toledo Coffee Farm Tour
2016-Feb-13–Zooave
2016-Feb-12–Atenas Railroad Museum
2016-Feb-11–La Paz Waterfall Gardens
2016-Jan-27-30–Healthcare Tour & San Ramon Visit
2015-Dec-30–Visa Run to Nicaragua Border
2015-Dec-6-9–Rancho Naturalista, Turrialba
2015-Oct-8–Visa Run to Penas Blanca, Nicaragua
2015-Sept-25-27–San Gerardo de Dota
2015-Sept-23-25–Chirripo & Cloudbridge
2015-Aug-21-24–Bribri Yorkin Reserve, Caribe
2015-Aug-20-21–Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
2015-Jul-29-Aug-1–Tarcoles & Carara
2015-Jul-8–Visa Run to Nicaragua border
2015-Mar-29+–Five CR Towns Visited w/ Kevin
2015-Mar-28–Zooave
2015-Mar-25-27–Manuel Antonio Park
2015-Mar-25–Tarcoles River 
2015-Mar-23–Poas & La Paz Waterfalls Garden
2015-Mar-22–Toledo Coffee Farm Tour
2015-Mar-15–Visa Run to Nicaragua
2015-Feb-28–Tope de Mercedes
2015- Feb-19–Tarcoles River Day Trip
2015-Jan-22–Zooave
+10 Latin American Trips BEFORE moving to Costa Rica

HAIKU PHOTOS
A gallery of 22 Haiku Poems, each on one of my photos, 3 en español


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Sorry but I ran out of time linking every gallery title, but I hope you will explore my photo galleries and realize that the TRIPS gallery is almost like a photo diary of my trips and is where you get a chronological report of what I do in my retirement in Costa Rica. Enjoy!  


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Nashville Seniors to Help Children’s Home Here

One view of Hogar de Vida campus, Atenas, Costa Rica

I was recently contacted by a fellow senior adult in the church I attended in Nashville, First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN USA. They were interested in doing a mission trip to Costa Rica and so I contacted the director of the Hogar De Vida children’s home here in Atenas and in short the group from Nashville will be coming in April 2018 for a week of assorted service activities at the children’s home. If you are in First Baptist Nashville and are interested, talk to anyone on the SAALT Council or to the project coordinator Fred Linkenhoker. 

If you would like to know more about the non-denominational private Christian children’s home, Hogar de Vida:

Facebook page of Hogar de Vida: 
https://www.facebook.com/HogardeVidaCR/  (See photos of others serving there in the past.) And be sure to see the featured video linked on their page:  What We Do… Video  (I can’t link it here.)

And their web page is actually a Costa Rica section inside the web page of their larger program of children’s homes in multiple countries: 
The work is being directed & coordinated by the children’s home and I am just serving as one of the team members and sort of a local host to my old friends in Nashville, especially if some decide to stay over for some Pura Vida tourism in Costa Rica. 

Speaking Spanish is not required, though very helpful if you do! 🙂


Learn through on-the-ground moments about the world beyond your zip code.   ~Samaritan’s Feet Website
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Color Coordination ? Sun Protection ?

I like, thus my collections of caps and sunglasses for walking.
I almost never go out without a cap.
Here’s my collection!

Similarly I never go out without sunglasses.
 And my collection of those,
A green T-shirt just needs a green cap and sunglasses!
Common sense, huh? 
  🙂   Fun!  ¡Divertido!

And cheap (borato) sunglasses are plentiful here! 
Some less than $2  –  las gafas de sol

While most caps, la gorras, are more expensive (más caro)!
¡Pura Vida!
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Walkabout Apparel

Cap & Sunglasses 
 I wear every day when I walk to town.
 Here on a table in Soda while I drink coffee.
 Atenas, Costa Rica 

And you might be interested that I have caps and sunglasses of many colors to go with my many colors of T-shirts!  🙂  I’m a fashionista gringo! ¡Soy un gringo consciente de la moda!

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Walking Home is a Visual Adventure

A view of Roca Verde just before I begin the descent down a hill to our main entrance.
Above is some of my neighbors in Atenas, Costa Rica
DESCRIBING A DAILY WALK HOME FROM CENTRAL ATENAS

(Sort of like Ernest Hemingway would describe it)

 

I leave the modern Banco Nacional (the only place I visit with air conditioning), crossing the street between two red taxis as they wait out front for customers, one of two red taxi stands in central Atenas. The other colors of taxis are not legally registered with the government and don’t have taxi stands, you just have to call them. As I step into the shade of mango trees in Central Park, I’m careful not to step on a rotting mango on the sidewalk and try to avoid staring at the teenage couple kissing on a park bench. The next park bench has a couple with small child and though less romantic, seem happy and peaceful in their little rural piece of tranquility. The second sidewalk to the right is where the old men sit and talk all morning and parrots gather in the treetops chattering away, while straight ahead the diagonal sidewalk takes me to the opposite corner of the park from the bank where a little corner “cafeteria,” or “sidewalk cafe” (for westerners), sits on the only corner not occupied by the stately courthouse, the imposing Catholic Church or the park. A great spot to be!

 

It is fun to stop here for a cup of their organic coffee (made one cup at a time) and a pastry, the best being a Chilean crumb cake or sometimes a couple of little cinnamon rolls. I sit on the sidewalk at a tiny round table, watching the people go by or others doing various things in the park. Today as a serious-faced, well-dressed woman brushes by me on the sidewalk I’m amused at the high-school boys in their school uniforms playing on the kiddie playground equipment in the park, almost as if they wish they were little children again, struggling across the monkey bars and swinging as high as they can in the swings. Yes, even teens sometimes feel like they are getting old. But not a problem for me! I really enjoy being older now and watching this fascinating world unfold around me! To be a teen again would not be nearly as much fun! Pura vida!
The sun seems to be staying behind clouds today, so I leave my sunglasses off as I walk down tree-shaded Calle 3 past a fried chicken restaurant with high school kids filling it, a farmacia and lawyer office I have used and the compound where my young adult friend Jason lives with his mom and uncle. The uncle rents out a small space out front for a tiny Soda or little food stand that used to sell pizza, now Tico food. There are other small businesses along this street, mostly in homes and a little stream follows part of the way to the left where some work indicates the town may continue a cross-street over the stream, meaning a simple bridge. But the big construction in progress now is on up near Colegio Liceo (the college-prep public high school) where they are digging ditches and burying giant concrete pipes for storm sewer drainage to the stream. And the best thing is they are planning to place sidewalks over the buried pipes which will make this little two-block stretch of my way home a lot safer walking. Progress is slow in a small town, but it happens, Poco a poco!
Around the next corner onto Avenida 8 I continue to walk in the street until they add the new sidewalks, while enjoying the activity of many people in their yards and walkers along the road. The back side of the high school is covered with graffiti art that breaks up monotonous concrete block walls and along here I sometimes wave at my seamstress behind her “Clinica Ropa” sign. Opposite the back of the school a large, covered commercial swimming pool is being built where it appears you will need to join the club or whatever to swim there. I question whether a lot of Ticos will spend money for that, but I am sometimes surprised at priorities and this could be one. And some permanent resident expats may also spend money for something like that. There is a public pool with cheap admission but no organized swim teams, lessons, contests, etc. In the meantime it has been fun to watch a handful of workers slowly put the edifice together in what was a cow pasture.
I continue on to the point where I made the above photo this morning and briefly gaze over one of the several hills of Roca Verde as I walk down the steep hill (easier down than up!) to our entrance gate on a volunteer-built sidewalk traversing a low-income neighborhood that used to be known for drug sales but I think has moved beyond that now. It is the smell of gray water coming out into the street gutters that I object to now and sometimes the barking of dogs or late night music at the community center. But that’s life!  🙂
I walk through the Roca Verde gate and wave at the quiet young man maintaining the gate for car traffic security. Roosters crow and chase chickens around the entrance yard and occasionally there is the mooing of cows as I walk past the pasture in front of my house, checking the big trees for birds. After clicking my compound gate open, I walk up the very steep drive to my house on the right. A simple but comfortable little two-bedroom, one-bath house surrounded by trees and flowers, birds and butterflies and lizards; my little tropical paradise I call home as a hummingbird circles the feeder to remind me it needs to be filled again. I thank God for daily reviving me with such visual walking experiences as I settle into a quiet rest-of-the day at home. My idea of retirement!  🙂
WHAT’S THIS DESCRIPTIVE WRITING ABOUT?

And if you are wondering about this descriptive writing I am attempting, it is motivated by one of the books I am currently reading, the first novel written by Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises. I will never be able to write descriptions of my surroundings like Hemingway, but it was fun to try.  🙂   I will probably stick to mostly photo captions in the future on this blog, but I am enjoying reading Hemingway again and will probably read some more of him in between my Agatha Christie mysteries and an occasional serious book and my effort to go back to reading more classics.  Books give you a lot more choices than TV or movies! And more quality!

 

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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!