Bringing Flowers Inside

I haven’t been sharing the bouquets I pick for the house,
but this one was different than most, so thought I would share.
Atenas, Costa Rica

“A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in–what more could he ask? 

A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.”

― Victor HugoLes Misérables

See also my photo gallery Flora & Forests

Home Business Signs: Dentist

This is just two of several in-home dentists in Atenas.

I guess 24 hour service is easier from your home!  🙂
Atenas, Costa Rica

With Dental Tourism big in Costa Rica, we have many dentists!
Atenas, Costa Rica

And the photo gallery of Home Business Signs in Atenas



Dentists are medical professionals 
who help you put your money where your mouth is. 
~Author Unknown

Home Business Sign: Stuffed Grapefruits

Toronjas Rellenas (Stuffed Grapefruits) 
 In the front of their house they sell muy rica (very rich) stuffed grapefruit.
 Grapefruit is cooked in sugar to make it candied, then stuffed with cream cheese
 Delicious!
Atenas, Costa Rica

See also the photo gallery: Home Business Signs – Atenas


Or browse through all my galleries at:  Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA


Retired in Costa Rica
¡Pura Vida!

What is that apparatus?

About my last blog post a faithful reader writes asking: “What is that apparatus behind the lady containing all those bags?”

I circled in red what he is talking about in yesterday’s photo.
Atenas, Costa Rica

And zoomed in on it for a closer look.
It is something every house is suppose to have,
cesto de basura or trash basket like your garbage can in the states.
You put your trash bags in here for pickup and they only pick up bags.
Anything not in a bag will be left, even boxes!
Atenas, Costa Rica

Here is my trash basket along the street by our gate. 3 houses in our compound use it.
 Size and color is up to you, but metal required and off the ground to avoid dogs, iguanas, etc.
And everything must be in a bag to be picked up!
There is a recycling center here, but without a car, not accessible or used much.
Atenas, Costa Rica

“Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
~ My grandmother

And check out the “official” video on Atenas, just 2 1/2 min.   I live in a cool little town!
Or my little book on Atenas, Costa Rica   – Click pages to turn and fullscreen is best view
Or several of my Photo Galleries feature Atenas – just browse through them to see a quaint little town

Home Business Sign: Language School

Su Espacio where I study Spanish
3rd location is in home of owners
 Atenas, Costa Rica

Home of David & Corinna & location of language classes
 Near public library & police station downtown
 Atenas, Costa Rica

It was difficult for them to pay rent for a house in the country and a storefront in town plus riding bus to town daily, so by moving to town to a large-enough house they can live and work in the same location with just one rent. They have one room as a classroom and could have additional classes at same time in their living room and on their covered terrace, so very practical.

And my photo gallery of Home Business Signs – Atenas

Home Business Sign: Auto Detailing

Auto Decorations?
Of course this image makes you think of your car.
And adding decorations, audio, alarms, etc.  🙂
Atenas, Costa Rica

Across the street from the Sports Park one young man runs a business out of his garage or more likely out of his parents’ garage. And every morning he carries this portable sign out to the curb to attract other young men fortunate enough to have a car (not many). He basically adds unnecessary accessories to your car, I guess to attract women like this. Interesting home business.

Before he gets up and puts the girl out, his closed business.
Atenas, Costa Rica

I’m growing a new photo gallery: Home Business Signs – Atenas

The cars we drive say a lot about us.
~Alexandra Paul

An Atenas Miracle!

Ed’s Lost and Found Camera

This blog was originally for friends and family with hopes that a few who are considering retirement in Costa Rica might find it and learn a little bit. Well, one of those is Ed Fair, a professor of law at the University of Texas in Austin and a bigger birder than me. Thus we met through him reading the blog and contacting me and we have corresponded off and on. He wants to retire here maybe next year and do the same sort of things I do He is here now for 6 weeks with two week-long birding trips planned and checking out what it is like to live here. That’s interesting but not the miracle yet.

Tuesday I gave Ed a walking tour of Central Atenas and we had breakfast in a little Tico Soda. He was carrying his camera in his hands rather than his backpack and when he missed it later we both thought he left it in the little soda. But alas, when we went back it was not there. (He didn’t leave it there but on sidewalk wall in front of a shoe store we later learned.) Ed was numb and sad and the loss of his one camera was going to affect his birding experience and he wasn’t sure he wanted to buy one here. I of course told him about losing 3 cameras in Puntarenas.

We went our own ways yesterday (Wed) and had planned to ride a bus to the  beautiful vista restaurant La Casita del Cafe up a mountain outside Atenas. We missed one bus and after an hour and a half wait on another one we gave up and called a taxi, and were later getting there than intended (providential?).

Seated at the bar overlooking the vista was a young American couple we started talking with who lived nearby in Barrio Jesus and just came at this time to get away from their 10 & 15 year old boys for a cappuccino. Earlier we would have missed them. He works over the internet and can live anywhere and chose here. In all the things we talked about, somehow photos came up and Ed commented, “Well, since I just lost my camera, I won’t have many photos this trip.” And Walter casually responded, “Oh don’t worry Ed, I have your camera at my house.” Ed and I were stunned. Walter then asked Ed if he has a daughter or granddaughter named Ashley and of course he did. (Camera had folder of photos labeled Ashley) Then he asked Ed if he took a lot of bird photos? Bingo! It had to be Ed’s lost camera. Walter was advertising it as found on multiple Atenas Facebook groups, hoping he would find the owner. But none of us expected this little miracle meeting! Praise God!

We road in their car with them to their house and got his camera and admired their house with a big yard. Then walked down the highway to Jalapeno Restaurant for a taxi back to Atenas central. Now the chances that we would meet the way we did with the person who found his camera has to be a one in a million kind of miracle! Guardian angels? Sorry I can’t say it is an answer to my prayer because I did not pray for it to be returned. I even told him he would never see it again. Oh me of little faith!

New Graffiti Art in Sports Park

I watched teenagers painting on it one day and a week later it was done!
Parque deportivo (Sports Park)
Atenas, Costa Rica

I think it is an amazing work of art! Thanks to the youth of Atenas!
And a little closer! Both are cell phone photos, as most of my photos from walks in town.
Atenas, Costa Rica

I assume that maybe art classes in one of the two public high schools is doing all of these quality murals around town. This particular park is a hangout for kids of all ages, so very appropriate here!

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul,

and paints his own nature into his pictures. 

~Henry Ward Beecher

Cars Slow Down for Horse and Carriage

It is not every day, but I do see both wagons and carriages in town occasionally.
And even more so, guys/girls riding horses. Safer than motorcycles!  🙂
Atenas, Costa Rica

“Sometimes I think there are only two instructions we need to follow to develop and deepen our spiritual life: slow down and let go.” 

― Oriah Mountain DreamerThe Dance: Moving To the Rhythms of Your True Self


And check out the “official” video on Atenas, just 2 1/2 min.
Or my little book on Atenas, Costa Rica   – Click pages to turn and fullscreen is best view
Or several of my Photo Galleries feature Atenas – just browse through them to see a quaint little town

A Morning Cup of Coffee & Quiet

In yesterday’s effort to be descriptive, this is the coffee shop mentioned.
That’s my empty cup next to the coffee-maker on my table.
La Cafetería (The Coffee Shop)
Atenas, Costa Rica

And my sidewalk cafe view of Central Park across the street.
Atenas, Costa Rica

Just another quiet Saturday morning in a little coffee-farming town in central Costa Rica.

“Quiet is peace. Tranquility. 
Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. 
Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it.” 

― Khaled HosseiniThe Kite Runner


My idea of Retired in Costa Rica, THIS BLOG

and 
Charlie Doggett’s Costa Rica, THE PHOTO GALLERY

quiet