Portraits of an Atenas Parade (Post 3 of 3, Children Focus)

My third and last post on the Independence Day Parade 2016 in Atenas, focusing on Children:


You don’t have to be in the parade to enjoy it!


Two boys who watched the parade across from me. 



Watchers wear traditional clothing too!

Reluctantly in the parade.

Papa helps me see the parade better!

Carrying School Sign

A Tiny Watcher in Costume

Primary School Girls love to dress up! 

And boys love to play the drums!

And there were many drummers!

Role-playing a Farmer

And watching dressed as a farmer!

See All of the 2016 Independence Day Parade Photos in one place in my gallery.

AND


I went for birds and photographed many plus a whole lot more!  🙂
And yes, we have lots of beaches this un-crowded on both coasts.
How can you not love it here?
PURA VIDA!



Portraits of an Atenas Parade (Post 2 of 3, Teenagers/High School Focus)

The second of three posts on the 2016 Independence Day Parade in Atenas, focusing on Teenagers:  And obviously I focused on the people this year, thus the “Portraits” title!

Most of the high school kids here are beautiful and handsome!

One of many flag bearers.
And another . . .

with lots of flags it was very patriotic and colorful!

Serious sign carrier in one school. 

And I think a drum majorette?

“Freedom of Expression”

Including wearing your patriotism!

And dressing the way you want?

A Ceremonial Mask Tradition from the Caribbean side of Costa Rica.

“Say Yes to Tolerance and Respect”  (Anti-bullying Campaign)

And more drummers than anything in all the bands! 

See All of the 2016 Independence Day Parade Photos in one place in my gallery.

TOMORROW the focus is on Children!

Portraits of an Atenas Parade (Post 1 of 3, Adult/University Focus)

The Independence Day Parade or Quince de setiembre desfile (like the U.S. 4th of July). I’m presenting a few of my photos in three posts: Post 1-adult/university, Post 2-teen/high-school, and Post 3-children/primary.

Most of this post is of ADULT & COLLEGE STUDENT PARADE PARTICIPANTS

Literally thousands of Costa Rican flags were in the 2.5 hour parade
with every band, school, organization, etc. 

These three boys and the grandmother with small child were
directly across from me during the whole parade, so in other photos too.

Ladies in traditional dress on truck/float for one of the two
Adult Continuing Education Universities nearby.

The farmer’s university had beautiful traditional dancers in pairs
dancing down the street which was beautiful!

One of the above dancers up close.
This is the only time of year you can see the traditional clothing/dancing.

Even small universities have bands!

Seldom see a sax in a high school band

With trumpets being a little more common. 

All ages are training in farming and livestock raising.

Atenas is full of beautiful, friendly, and smart people!

Young cowboys everywhere love to show off!

And I couldn’t settle on just one roping photo! 

This reminds me of my days at Will Rogers High School, Tulsa, Oklahoma
where we had ropers instead of baton twirlers leading our marching band.
And our ball teams were called the “Will Rogers Ropers!” There 1955-58.

Some of these young adults are the future of the farms surrounding Atenas!
It is a town about the size of Warren, AR where I was born, very rural,
but also just an hour from the capital, so more of a “bedroom community”
for the city than my little birthplace farming town.
Atenas is known for its coffee while Warren for its tomatoes and pine trees!

Tomorrow’s Post: Portraits of a Parade: Teenagers or the high school bands, etc.
Following Day: Portraits of a Parade: Children – everyone’s favorite, saved for last!
After That: Maybe several days of photos from my trip to the southern Caribbean town of Manzanillo

See All of the 2016 Independence Day Parade Photos in one place in my gallery.

NEW COMPUTER ORDERED

And by then I should have my new computer, ordered Friday from a warehouse in San Jose and hopefully in and functioning with my all my files and programs by Monday evening, but typically things take longer here.  🙂  Unitec Computacion, the local computer store I ordered through said it would take at least a full day to transfer everything from my old computer to new one. More about the computer later and why I hate America’s Best Buy Store and their Japanese-made Asus Computer. In short, the processor was overheating and it had nothing to do with the fans. It can be ordered and replaced but the hard drive is damaged and cannot be fixed thus I would also need a new hard drive and on my Tamarindo trip I broke the glass on the screen which cannot be replaced but the entire screen must be replaced. Better to get a new computer and I’m trying solid state this time which hopefully will mean fewer problems. I’ll tell about the new one when I get it. Most available computers here have Spanish keyboards built in, so I had limited choices with English keyboard. I’m not quite ready for the Spanish keyboard yet, maybe next time!  🙂

FIRST FREE BUS RIDE!
Wednesday I did some errands in Alajuela and returned the rent car at airport there, then rode the bus back to Atenas. For the first time it was gratis! Free! For longer trips I will have to pay something but at a good discount! It pays to be old and have the Gold Card here! 
PRICESMART

And for those readers thinking of moving to Costa Rica, here’s an article about PriceSmart, our version of Costco or Sam’s Club in the states. It is where Gringos go for American products along with Walmart and a supermarket call Automercado. Of course all American products are more expensive here because of the import tax.  

Managua, Nicaragua

Between airport and downtown, a patriotic billboard and the electric trees.

 

A closer shot of another presidential sign.
Reminded me of similar signs in Havana
with Castro telling how good it is!

 

The different colored art trees are lit up at night. First Lady’s idea I was told.

 

My Nature Air plane this time had a frog on it! Easy 55 minute flight.

 

The international passengers entrance to the Managua Airport. Nice & modern!

And don’t miss my Nicaragua Birds photo gallery for 98 different species!

And remember that both my trips to Nicaragua were provided by Tours Nicaragua!  Check out what they offer! I’m very happy with them!

And that is all the photos I’m going to share from my 2 night trip to Nicaragua June 28-30.

15th of September Post 3: FLAGS!

Colegio Liceo had the largest group of marching flags led by a Drum Majorette.

When they stopped they had a very intricate presentation of weaving the lines
in and out of each other to create a sea of red, white and blue – Colegio Liceo.

As usual I watched the parade from Gelly’s across from Parque Central.
Here Colegio Liceo is starting their presentation seen in second photo. 
Escuela Central Elementary School did great for younger kids!
And they had the coolest caps! Boys and girls marched in separate lines.
That’s elementary school for you!   🙂
Colegio San Rafael  was led by a drum major.

Though not as large as Liceo, San Rafael had impressive group & show!

Patriotism and color on 15 de septiembre is just as big as US 4th of July!
Just no mucho fireworks in Atenas. Another shot of Colegio San Rafael.
(There’s a big fireworks show in San Jose. But I like my little farm town!)
Unlabeled School (or I missed the sign) leave our area by the church.