Category: Vistas

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Reflected Sunset

When you live surrounded by both hills and trees, you don’t get to enjoy full sunrises or full sunsets. (I get both of those when I visit the two coasts of Costa Rica + at Arenal.) But occasionally the weather, the clouds and whatever else come together for a reflected colorful sky at sunrise and at sunset, as shown here from my terrace the other night at sunset (June 23). I look forward to my September trip to the Caribbean where I enjoy beautiful sunrises every morning, While my Christmas trip to Arenal Observatory will have semi-indirect (time of year thing) sunsets over Lake Arenal, visible from my choice room. 🙂

Sunset from my terrace on June 23, 2026, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica – Sunsets to the left of this view.

For the “real” sunsets, see my galleries: VISTAS, BEACHES, SUNRISES, SUNSETS Costa Rica which includes a sub-gallery of other sunrises & sunsets from my terrace.

¡Pura Vida!

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The Charlie Doggett Photo Library

Xandari has more of my photo books in their lobby than maybe any other hotel/lodge in Costa Rica. And they were on a bookshelf in a back corner of the lobby for quite a while, but when that corner was made into an office, they moved my books to just inside the front door, nicely displayed on top of a miniature oxcart, one of the historical symbols of Costa Rica. And my friends in Reception tell me that a lot more people are using the books now! 🙂

All of the lodges that I regularly visit have some of my books in their lobbies and I know that people use them as I have received letters of thanks from tourists by way of my website Contact Page. 🙂 It is kind of fun to gift people I don’t know from around the world with a tiny expression of my Costa Rica Pura Vida in my nature photos here! 🙂

Charlie Doggett Photo Books displayed on a small Ox Cart in the lobby of Xandari Resort.
Charlie Doggett Photo Books displayed on a small Ox Cart in the lobby of Xandari Resort.

¡Pura Vida!

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Contemplative Storytelling – Photography & Mindfulness

Here is the link to my notes and report on Phase 9: Contemplative Storytelling.

Using a cardboard “window” to find an image outside or anywhere is an old trick in photography classes, but it gets you focused. I may have shared this vista before, but it was the overwhelming image in this lesson’s activity.

¡Pura Vida!

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Light & Shadow + Pause 5 Class Notes

The theme of today’s online class was “Light & Shadow” and you can see my class notes and comments at Pause 5: Light & Shadow. (linked to my notes) Still not excited about the class, but this was a good photo-activity! 🙂

So I went outside at about 3pm yesterday (not the best time for long shadows, but okay). Here are a few of my shots in a gallery that won’t work in the email, so one pix for the email and then go to the online post for the gallery . . .

Every forest is light & shadow! This one across the cow pasture by the stream.
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Full Moon on March 3

Yeah, I’m that far ahead on scheduling blog posts right now, but it won’t last. 🙂 That is one of my drivers, Alex, who picked me up at 4:30 am and decided to snap the full moon on his cell phone in front of my house, so I captured the scene on mine! 🙂 There was the possibility of a “Blood Moon” at about 2 am that date, but I was not motivated to get up any earlier than I already had to for this trip to the public geriatric hospital in San Jose for a fasting blood laboratory workup to prepare for my geriatric doctor visit on the 17th. Costa Rica’s free public healthcare system takes good care of me now!

Alex photographing the full moon at 4:30 am in front of my house in Atenas, Costa Rica, March 3, 2026.

I could have gotten a better photo of the moon with my Canon Camera and Tamron Zoom Lens, but was just not motivated that morning. And it was just a regular full moon that I’ve photographed before, not a “blood moon” at that time.

¡Pura Vida!

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Magnificent Frigatebird

The mouth of the Rio Tarcoles is one of the best places to see this large seabird. For more images, see my gallery: Magnificent Frigatebird.

Magnificent Frigatebird female, Rio Tarcoles, Puntarenas, Costa Rica (next image is a male)
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“The Hills”

“The greatest gift of life on the mountain is time… to sit and stare at the shapes of the hills.” ~Phillip Connors: 

The always changing vista from my terrace that I never tire of.

¡Pura Vida!

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Likes & Dislikes – Punta Leona

Maybe my biggest “LIKE” is the many species of birds you can see at Punta Leona like these Scarlet Macaws.

LIKES

  • Huge transitional forest as a private protected reserve with a large number of plant & animal species. I photographed 21 species of birds on my first visit in 2019, but with a lower energy level this trip and not as good a birding guide, I got only 11 species of birds, though I did also photograph 11 species of butterflies (more than last time), plus 8 species of other animals! They have correctly named it a “Nature Resort.” 🙂
  • Great Beaches & Underwater Activities that include the safest and best two beaches for children in coves and absolutely no undertow and very tiny waves. For divers (wish I was one), the first Central American Underwater Museum and first “Restored Coral Reef” that add to the uniqueness of this resort. And of course many other water sports plus a huge array of landside activities and sports for the hyperactive.
  • Punta Leona Hotel (Selvamar) has excellent rooms snuggled in among the tall trees with birds and monkeys, internet in your room, full breakfast, and all at what I consider a fair or good price.
My room in Selvamar section of Hotel Punta Leona, Costa Rica.

Read on for my dislikes and a gallery of more hotel photos.

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Christmas Crowds

It doesn’t seem as crowded in these photos as it felt in person walking on the beach and the bulk of people were in the shade of the beachside forest trees that I did not photograph, feeling like I would be invading their privacy. Nor did I try to photograph the monkeys that usually hang out in those trees because of all the people and I’m guessing that is also where most of them went to the bathroom with no public baños or porta-potties. The week before Christmas through New Years Day are the busiest days on all of Costa Rica beaches and in public parks, etc. since more Ticos are on vacation those two weeks than any other one time.

Enjoying the calm waters.
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