Atenas Archives - Page 133 of 180 - Retired in Costa Rica

April 22, 2018

Oxcart Parade 2018 Atenas

Rural Families is always the focus of Atenas’ Annual Oxcart Parade, last Weekend of April.
Atenas, Costa Rica

Here a teen is the “Boyero” (Oxen Master) with sis in cart and Mom & Dad Walking behind
Atenas, Costa Rica

One of the many colorful Oxcart Wheels
Oxcart Parade, Atenas, Costa Rica

A few Oxen are entered into the contest without carts, some by older children or teens
I guess it is like FFA in the States or other programs to help budding farmers.
Atenas, Costa Rica

Last year our local University provided Latin Dancers – This year a team of ropers!
Oxcart Parade, Atenas, Costa Rica

The university campus on the edge of Atenas is one of the many UTN (Universidad Técnica Nacional), this one focusing on farming with students coming from all over Latin America as possibly the best agricultural school in Latin America or at least the best in Central America. They are good about participating in major local events like this – good neighbors! Good citizens! We like our student farmers at UTN!

Though I’ve seen them before, I always enjoy! They’re good!
Oxcart Parade, Atenas, Costa Rica

PEOPLE! You will have to go to my online gallery to see my interesting people shots.
And there are always some very interesting and colorful people!
Oxcart Parade, Atenas, Costa Rica

I know that I still post too many photos for a blog, but I have so many more interesting photos I want to share, thus it has to be on the photo gallery: 2018 Oxcart Parade. I’m working on it now and will try to finish today or tomorrow. Takes time!

This gallery is a part of my section called PEOPLE & FIESTAS. And of course there are other sections like BIRDS and TRIPS that pretty much document my 3 1/2 years in Costa Rica thus far and you can see them all at my SmugMug Gallery titled: Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA.

Enjoy photos of my

¡Pura Vida!

April 18, 2018

Variegated Squirrel

Variegated Squirrel
Hogar de Vida Campus, Atenas, Costa Rica

This is the most common squirrel all over Costa Rica, but there are two other kinds of squirrels and I have photos of all three of them. See this search of squirrels on my gallery:

Alfaro’s or Central American Pygmy Squirrel

Red-tailed Squirrel

Variegated Squirrel

¡Pura Vida!

April 17, 2018

Both Bizarre and Common Insects

Dobsonfly
Hogar de Vida Campus, Atenas, Costa Rica

Common Grasshopper
Hogar de Vida Campus, Atenas, Costa Rica

To read more about Dobsonfly: Wikipedia in 5 languages, but not Spanish!

To read more about Grasshoppers: Wikipedia in 5 languages, but not Spanish!

There are 11,000 known species of grasshoppers in the world and with more than 300.000 insect species in Costa Rica there has to be a lot of different kinds of grasshoppers here! 🙂

¡Pura Vida!

April 16, 2018

Rufous-naped Wren

Rufous-naped Wren
Hogar de Vida Campus, Atenas, Costa Rica

This noisy and aggressive little bird is the most numerous at my house and seemed to be likewise at Hogar de Vida during our week of living there. I shared a different shot than these in the photo book for the participants. To read more about this Central American bird, see:

Neotropical Birds where you can learn the most, see a locations map & hear them sing

Wikipedia where you can read about them in 10 languages and learn that the bird’s name in Spanish is Ratona de nuca rufa

And a search for my photos of this wren at my house, if interested. The only bird that flies inside my house. Click an image to see it larger.

Though wildlife was not the emphasis of the mission trip last week, I have a few animal shots that I will share the next few days from both the campus and the tourist day trip.

¡Pura Vida!

April 15, 2018

Cloudy Afternoons with Rain

We seem to be entering the “Rainy Season” ahead of May.
Atenas, Costa Rica

So what will my May trip to Arenal be like? We will see. I will expect and prepare for rain! 🙂

Already it is greening here! The “Green Season!”

¡Pura Vida!

Postscript: You may wonder if I will advertise a photo book about the mission trip to Hogar de Vida Children’s Home. I have already completed it and it is available for purchase by invitation only because the faces of the children cannot be shown on the internet in this blog, Facebook, or anywhere else. The team members have been invited already. If you are interested and I consider you “safe” I will invite you if you email me and request the link. It is a 50-page book, 7×7 inches square with 87 photos, available in softcover for $20.99 and in hardcover for $35.99. Email me at charlie@charliedoggett.net

April 13, 2018

Thanks to Nashville First Adults for Bringing Rain!

The First Adult Mission Team from First Baptist Church Nashville, Tennessee
on my terrace after lunch last Sunday. Photo by Jason Quesada on Pam’s phone. Me back center in blue shirt.
Atenas, Costa Rica

The national bird of Costa Rica is the Clay-colored Thrush or Yigüirro in Spanish. It is a rather plain brownish robin-sized bird to be a national bird – BUT – the story is that it’s singing in April (mating season) is what brings the rains in May. Well, this year the rains started in April (the day the Nashville group arrived), so we don’t know whether to credit that to the little thrush or the First Adults! 🙂 But whatever – it’s been raining ever since! Each afternoon. ¡Muchas gracias!

¡Pura Vida!

April 9, 2018

A Day with Helen!

Helen (seated) at Hogar was our helper, translator, and inspiration today – another great day!
Hogar de Vida, Atenas, Costa Rica

Also today I walked some of the group to town for a look around and the walk was too much for some of them, but we enjoyed seeing the Central Mercado, Central Park and Catholic Church.