Category: Costa Rica

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Merry Christmas!

One of my photos of a Collared Aracari in Sarapiqui, Costa Rica — eating of course!  🙂

Or for a more traditional message and a different bird photo, see my Christmas card on Facebook.

And for more Costa Rica Birds see the photo gallery.

It is Christmas Time here! The children and teens are out of school and out of uniforms as the seniors graduated yesterday and summer vacation has started. Happy sounds! Schools begin a new year in February.

The rains have stopped and the wind is blowing; dry season is here. Soon some businesses will close for two weeks or more and when I get to the beach 22 December it will be crowded with more Ticos than foreign tourists.

My gardener team said goodbye today, “Hasta proxima anos!” They will see me next year. Mid December until January is vacation time for many people and even more so a family time. The week between Christmas and New Years Atenas will look like a ghost town with little going on beyond the always open super mercados and farmacias. Peaceful too! I will be gone on my trip to Tambor Bay December 22-27 and reporting in daily right here on this blog! (If internet connection!)

And hoping you have the joy and tranquility of Costa Rica during your Christmas celebration!

Merry Christmas!

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Alajuela Today

Alajuela City Christmas Tree in Juan Santamaria Park – BIG!
 And yes, overcast, windy, and cold for us in the 60’s!
 Alajuela, Costa Rica

 Alajuela, Costa Rica 

Variegated Squirrel, Central Park
 Alajuela, Costa Rica

Cathedral of Alajuela with staff working on incomplete Christmas decorations
The manger scene parts were outside and not assembled yet.
 Alajuela, Costa Rica 

The touristy look of my photos today is because I was showing Alajuela to a newcomer to Atenas and he learned how to ride the bus to Alajuela today and saw downtown for first time. And we had lunch at Jalapenos Central Restaurant where a British friend in Atenas walked in and joined us. Fun! My other reason for going was to return a Timex Watch to the Alajuela Walmart where they said they would send it to be repaired within 15 work days or by first of next year. If not repaired satisfactorily they will refund my money. Fair enough (cheap watch). With a cell phone I don’t have to have a watch, but got it for the quicker convenience of seeing the time. If not repaired, I will not replace it.

My photo gallery on Alajuela

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Zooave Given Excellence Award

This is “My Zoo” or the closest one to Atenas, 16.1 km or 10 miles.

Zooave is recognized for 
it’s high quality of animal care.

Read this online article about the excellence award it and one other place in Costa Rica received. Not all places labeled “Animal Rescue” are high quality!

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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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Banded Skipper

Banded Skipper Butterfly
 In my garden, Atenas, Costa Rica

Photo Gallery of Butterflies & Moths

Selfie of Old Man on Daily Walk
Atenas, Costa Rica
Strangler Fig Tree in Background

And a gallery of Other Photos of Me for those who say I only have bird photos


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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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Christmas Trees in the Mall

This one has blue elves and a train!

There are more than these two trees at City Mall Alajuela, but these are a sample of how into Christmas people are here. Every store is of course decorated better than the others and people are starting to decorate their homes. Christmas is in the air and Christmas Carols playing everywhere, more in English than in Spanish! In Atenas our Christmas Art Festival is 14-16 December with the Festival of Lights Parade the evening of 16th. It’s really a big deal!

And Poinsettias grow in our yards!   🙂


¡Pura Vida Christmas!