charliedoggett.net
 |
| A cloudy morning yesterday, Saturday, in Alajuela Centro – Llobet A three-story huge department store – the old fashion kind still meeting competition from the modern new malls! And competes with Miami’s South Beach for Art Deco Design! 🙂 Alajuela, Costa Rica |
+Photos from all over Costa Rica in my gallery: Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA
 |
| I still can’t capture it raining in my camera, even with fast shutter speed, and slow is blurry. Oh well. Believe me it is raining above and you can tell that the distant mountains are grayed over by rain. From my deck for a late lunch, Roca Verde, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| Leaves up close are obviously wet, but you still can’t see the rain falling. We call the rainy season “Green Season” because everything is greener. It is my favorite time of the year! And most days it only rains 1 to 3 hours in afternoon or evening. Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| First, to get over that stream, install two very large concrete culverts or pipes for the water. to go through. Cover with gravel and dirt. This is a lot less trouble than anchoring a big steel bridge over the water! Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| Well, then you need concrete walls on each side to hold the dirt in! At least another 2 or 3 months time. Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| And well, the wall needs to be high enough to keep pedestrians from falling in the stream. Allowing enough room for a sidewalk on each side of the road! Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| After about 6 months it looks like you might actually extend this street over the stream! I have been walking by this construction for what seems like forever! Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| With the wall nearly done, we need more dirt and gravel. Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| And Suddenly One Day! I come across a paved street, concrete gutter and concrete sidewalk on both sides! Now why was I so impatient? See! It is beautiful and very useful! Our city at work! Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| Buds of the about to bloom Gardenias in Central Park Atenas Seem to be pointing to God like the nearby steeple Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| As every walk by the Atenas Catholic Church Also reminds me of God! Both steeple & palm trees! Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| And my regular trips to Alajuela (one yesterday) include walking by the Cathedral, a reminder of God Even the tall evergreen pointing high toward God! Alajuela, Costa Rica |
 |
| A furry spider? Will the gecko eat this? I leave most insects alone for the geckos. Atenas, Costa Rica |
See other interesting “monsters” in my gallery called Other Insects (all not butterflies)
Or the broader selection of “monsters” in gallery called Other Wildlife (all not birds)
 |
| The newest “Made in Costa Rica” Movie is Güilas by Tico artist/photographer SERGIO PUCCI. In pure Spanish “güilar” is “to guide” – In Costa Rica slang, “güila” = kid or child This is a collection of 7 stories of 7 kids, one from each of the 7 provinces of Costa Rica I saw at Cinemark Cinema, City Mall, Alajuela, Costa Rica |
TRAILER & Guilas Making Of:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCLb2ts_p60
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V851nDWbjAc
MOVIE WEBSITE: http://guilaslapelicula.com/
Tico Times Article in English:
http://www.ticotimes.net/2018/05/01/costa-rican-film-guilas-to-premiere-thursday
First La Nacion Article (with videos): (use your translator to read in English)
https://www.nacion.com/viva/cine/vea-el-primer-avance-de-guilas-una-pelicula/YX4MCZVEEJAL5POAJS67C5CTSI/story/
Second La Nacion Article (with videos): (use your translator to read in English)
https://www.nacion.com/viva/cine/iguilas-iuna-antologia-de-encantadores/7UMM42YLNJGLRN76NKXFTHPWCE/story/
“The intention of the film is to highlight Costa Rican identity through the experiences of these kids, with an infancy full of games and mischief, outside in the fresh air,” said Editorial PUCCI in an email this week.
MY REVIEW:
Wow! A beautiful movie! You know how “coming of age” movies are usually big in the states and also funny kid movies – Well Sergio Pucci took that concept plus the beauty, variety and adventure of Costa Rica combined into a 7-part (7 stories) about the 7 Provinces of Costa Rica through a day in the life of a child in each of these very different provinces. Magnificent! The photography, the kids, the country, the real life growing up experiences, the cultures and the color.
If you live in Costa Rica, this is a must-see movie! And if not, well watch the arts theaters, specialty TV, or maybe on DVD someday soon. Of course it is in español, but the stories speak a universal language making the words almost unnecessary!
 |
| A weiner character at the Supermercado attracts a lot of attention & lots of families have hot dogs this week! La Coope Supermercado, Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| And having a bouncy house doesn’t hurt sales either! Marketing through children seems to be world-wide! La Coope Supermercado, Atenas, Costa Rica |
See more of my photos of Atenas in those linked galleries or better yet in People & Fiestas! And if you like the Vistas from here, 4 of those linked galleries include Atenas vistas.
 |
| One of the Sphinx Moths maybe – specific variety not found La Coope Supermercado Auto Repair Shop Atenas, Costa Rica |
During my first year or so here I was finding new butterflies or moths nearly every week but have not in months if not a year or longer recently. On the last two trips I saw several Banded Peacocks which are kind of common butterflies to me now and nothing else that would land. Both Arenal and Corcovado had several fast-flying butterflies that never landed or slowed down for a photo. That included several Blue Morphos at Corcovado. But this is my first photo in a good while and I cannot positively identify it. If you know, please leave a comment! Or email me. Cell phone shot.
And see my similar photos in gallery Butterflies & Moths.
¡Pura Vida!
 |
| The city is now installing these emergency water tanks around town for when the water system is down (often), water will be closer at hand for families. As opposed to waiting for the water truck to come by for your water needs. And the rapid turnover of local politicians continues as a “real fix” is still not provided! Just promised! Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| And this is how persons got water in past when the taps aren’t working. Atenas, Costa Rica |
And yes, this “rich” gringo lives in a housing development with our own water system that is virtually never down and on top of that my richer landlord has his own well and pump just for our 3 houses on this property, meaning we always have good water. Many locals might say “Not fair!” And life continues to prove itself not fair. And the politicians continue to promise to do better! Yeah! Right!
THE PEOPLE OF ATENAS ARE PROTESTING WITH SIGNS ON THEIR HOUSES
Here are just 3 of the protest signs trying to get politicians to do something:
 |
| “ATENAS IS THIRSTY” Spray-painted on an outside wall of one of the high schools. Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| “Water is a right, not a luxury.” On a home fence in my side of town. Atenas, Costa Rica |
 |
| “Atenas needs water. Atenas united by the right to water. A whole town is protesting. I say: Present! On another home on my side of town. There are many more! Atenas, Costa Rica |
For many of us, clean water is so plentiful and readily available that we rarely, if ever, pause to consider what life would be like without it.