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| The Triquitraque is in 2nd period of blooming just in time for my visitors coming this week! Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Just sorry that most of my others are not blooming this week. But this is colorful! Atenas, Costa Rica |
CR’s Trump-like Candidate Soundly Defeated
In the Costa Rica Presidential Election yesterday the candidate most like Donald Trump, whose only platform was to stop gay marriage at any cost, was defeated 60% to 40% of the votes. Earlier polling showed it to be a closer race than that. Again Costa Rica is proving to be smarter than the U..S.
Good Friday Silence
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| As I walked to town, the streets were empty! Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Even around Central Park Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Every store is closed except Supermarkets & the Gasolinera that will close early. Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Many homes had added new, bigger decorations. Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Even the Catholic Church added a similar new decoration. Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| And people will be coming and going from the catholic church all day (all week!). The only activity. Atenas, Costa Rica |
And you might ask, “What about the non-religious?” Well, they are the ones filling the public beaches this week and fishing on the lakes and other “vacation” activities. One family I know is spending the whole week at the nearest beach. Semana Santa or “Holy Week” or “Easter Week” is not the best beach time for tourists, though most locals try to use different beaches and try to avoid tourists, but not totally possible, especially at Jaco, the closest big beach town to San Jose.
The smaller number of evangelicals and protestants in Costa Rica have a less dramatic emphasis on Easter and some expats, like the “new community” here at Iglesia Biblical have special activities they did back home. Ours did a Maundy Thursday Lord’s Supper or Communion Service Thursday night and some will meet at a member’s house at Sunrise Easter Morning for a Sunrise Service – which will be a good excuse for not attending the Spanish Language Easter Service at the church later.
Hotel restaurants have to be open on Easter, but not many others will and even the supermarkets will have very limited hours on Easter. But this year will not have the usual Easter pageantry in the streets by law, since the first Sunday of April is Election Day and no public activities are allowed to compete with voting (only worship inside a church building). Meaning that many people will leave their church of whatever variety and go straight to the voting places where the unqualified, anti-Gay presidential candidate (an evangelical gospel singer) is expected to narrowly win the election in this conservative Catholic country.
Read the article Holy Week the Costa Rican way
Felices Pascuas
Poner toda la carne en el asador.
¡Pura Vida!
Pre-Easter Yellow
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| And for one week only – this particular tree. Seen from my terrace as is the photo below. Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Behind my “Cow Pasture Neighbors” Houses Atenas, Costa Rica |
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| Even the silhouetted Chachalaca seems to be admiring the yellow flowers. In my Guarumo/Cecropia Tree Atenas, Costa Rica |
¡Pura Vida!
Danta Corcovado Book is Ready!
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| Click image or this caption for a FREE ONLINE REVIEW OF THE BOOK & ALL PHOTOS! |
I probably say this about all of my trips here, but this was one of the best and some very good photos like this cover photo of the Red-eyed Tree Frog made with my cell phone! When you click and get to bookstore, just click the cover image to start free preview of all pages and click each page to go to next page in this amazing digital world!
Happy Easter Week!
¡Feliz Semana Santa!
Read what one gringo says about this holiday week here.
It is SPRING BREAK in big way with schools out and many off from work.
Beaches are very busy this week.
Atenas Homes Prepare for Easter During Lent
Just three examples of the many homes celebrating Lent in Atenas.
These I walk by almost every day – reminders of the atonement.
From the internet at:
“In the Catholic and Episcopal churches, purple is the symbol of royalty,” said the Rev. Garry White, pastor of Orangeburg Lutheran Church. “It’s also a symbol of bruising and suffering. That is the color that is used during the season of Lent. In the week immediately prior to Easter on Good Friday, a lot of churches will take the purple cloth down and put up a black cloth as a more stark reminder of Jesus’ death.”
The placement of a white cloth on the cross on Easter Sunday represents the purity and wholeness demonstrated through Christ’s resurrection, White said.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live
John 11:25
Four Links to help you Explore Costa Rica
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| Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park |
First, as shared on Facebook, here is the link to my most recent TRIP Gallery
2018 March – Danta Corcovado
It was one of my best trips yet and I do recommend the lodge.
NOTE: This gallery is in the TRIPS folder of galleries where you can check out every trip I have ever made in Costa Rica with photos of the lodges, birds and other sights in each place (56). Trips are listed chronologically with most recent at the top. OR for a focus on just the lodges or hotels, I have an evaluation/review of every one I have visited here at: Costa Rica Lodges & Hotels (35) listed alphabetically by name.
Tico Times Suggests
Explore the best of Costa Rica with this two-week itinerary
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| Arenal Volcano |
It might not be exactly how I would plan a two-week tour of Costa Rica, but it is a very good plan and includes a variety of sights and locations. And it includes both Tortuguero and Drake Bay, two of my very favorite places in Costa Rica! It would be a good choice, so consider it!
AND SHORTER OPTIONS
If you only have 9 days to tour Costa Rica, I recommend Caravan.com tour of Costa Rica. It has some of the same places as 14-day tour without Tortuguero or Drake Bay, so of course the two week tour is better! 🙂 But Caravan gives you more for your money than any tour company here, period! The all-inclusive price is a real bargain!
And if you are considering moving here or retiring here like me, I consider it essential to take Christopher Howard’s Live in Costa Rica Tour. It is one week (8-10 days) with a 3-day tour of the Pacific Coast, a 2-day ARCR Seminar in San Jose to answer every possible question, and then a 3 day tour of the Central Valley (where I live). And he had an optional tack-on tour of Guanacaste when I took it. Check his schedules on his website, there seem to be different lengths of tours.
And however you see Costa Rica, I hope you find our
¡Pura Vida!
Charlie Doggett, Retired in Costa Rica!
Last Morning at Jungle Lodge
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| Heliconius Ismenius Clarescens A regionally endemic butterfly found only in SW Costa Rica Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
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| Golden-hooded Tanager Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
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| Chestnut-sided Warbler Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
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| Red-lored Parrot Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
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| Pale-vented Pigeon Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
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| Simple Trails Like This Led Me To . . . |
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| The Birding Canopy Tower Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
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| Going early before breakfast gave me nice views as well as birds! I went alone this morning compared to a group with guide on Wednesday. The birding tower is an excellent perk for birders who stay at Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
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| Lodge Office with Lobby to Left and Dining Room in the Background. See my photo gallery for more images of the lodge spaces and grounds. Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
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| The Last Trail Junction Before My Cabin I was in Gavilán (Hawk) Cabin Danta Corcovado Lodge, La Palma, Costa Rica |
This lodge reminded me of the delightful days I spent at Boy Scout Camps as a boy, Camp Logoly near El Dorado, Arkansas and a whole summer while in college as staff on Camp Quapaw near Benton, Arkansas. There is nothing better than simple facilities totally emerged in nature! I have so many “favorite” places here in Costa Rica and this one is certainly near the top of the list! I will return in the future. And of course I hardily recommend it to anyone who loves nature and to my birding friends! After all, I found and photographed 4 “lifers” here or birds seen for the first time.! They were the Blue-crowned Manakin, Red-capped Manakin, White-shouldered Tanager, and the Scarlet-rumped Cacique.
I had intended to stay 5 nights but the airlines messed me up on that with only 4. Next time I will try again to stay longer and soak up the ambiance of this wonderful retreat! Another joy in being retired in Costa Rica! See more photos and all the birds & other animals in my TRIP Gallery: 2018 March 13-17 – Danta Corcovado.
¡Pura Vida!
A Day in Corcovado National Park
These are the general or scenery photos. For the main events see my photo galleries on Corcovado Birds – Other Wildlife – Los Patos Waterfall
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| The Lodge converted a farmer’s tractor & trailer for hikers/tourists This took us the 6 km from lodge to ranger station where others must hike along river Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Rio Rincon or the Rincon River Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| I was the old man traveling with two young couples from Europe as here, we sometimes drove in the river bed. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| And about 15-20 times we forded the river When walking or riding a tractor, it is slow, even 6 km! Plus we stopped for birds a few times, so an hour or so each way on tractor. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| River is park border, thus one side is private property like this house above. When I got back I was showing the waiter/bartender David Venegas these photos and he said, “Oh! That is my grandfather’s house!” Small little world down here! Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| This young man couldn’t use his bike along river but was headed to the graded gravel road And note the machete strapped to his side, a basic tool all over Costa Rica! Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| We finally leave the river and enter the woods to the ranger station. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| At our hiking trail entrance near the ranger station After we registered and signed in at the station, we hike rest of the day. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| “Velcro Plant” is what Jairo called it! See next photo for why. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| School children cut pieces of the “Velcro Plant” leaves and stick on their shirts to make lots of images! Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| We are quickly in a thick virgen forest. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| There are still plants here not identified. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| More species in this park than in any other one place in the world! Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| I want to photograph everything I see – but simply can’t! Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| “Monkey Brush” Jairo explains how monkeys use this fruit/seed of a tree to brush insects out of their fur. Then one of our two girls demonstrated by brushing her hair. Incredibly good brush! Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| We stopped to see this “Stink Flower” which smelled awful! Like a dead animal! Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| And here Jairo collects some “Red Beans” He gave each of us 3 of the red beans or seeds and said that tradition is they will bring us good luck if carried in pocket. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Meanwhile David is looking for birds & found many! See the trip Birds Gallery for some I photographed. And the trip’s Other Wildlife Gallery for other animals photographed both in the park and at the lodge nearby. Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Passion Flower as one of many wildflowers seen Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| About 4pm we were back to ranger station and on slow tractor drive back to lodge by around 5pm Los Patos Ranger Station, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
This was just a brief overview of an all day hike that included the beautiful waterfall in a separate post yesterday and many birds and other animals shown earlier. Corcovado is truly an incredible place! See the bigger picture through my TRIP Gallery 2018 March 13-17 – Danta Corcovado.
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| Note that this trip was on the northeast side of park labeled “Los Patos.” My trip last year was in northwest corner labeled “San Pedrillo” near Drake Bay. And in 2009 I visited the south side of park at “La Leona.” |
¡Pura Vida!
Los Patos Waterfall
Our hiking lunch break was at this beautiful waterfall!
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| Los Patos Waterfall Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| David and I Ate Our Sack Lunches Immediately! Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| While this Swiss couple were anxious to get into the water! Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Actually the German guy was first to dive into the water, while his girlfriend ate first. Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| And here is my guide David Vargas diving in off the big rock (a belly buster!) Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| First one girl and the other in next photo diving in Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| Sorry I didn’t get the names of the two couples, the German couple here Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| And before we knew it, time to dress and head back up the steep trail! |
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| I had to make a portrait of my excellent birding guide David Vargas first! Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
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| And I think Jairo made this shot on David’s cell phone camera which he posted on Facebook. Since I’m a birder and the two Euro couples are not, Jairo assigned David to me as the birding guide. Los Patos Waterfall, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
I have hiked into Corcovado National Park three times now and this was the best! Both Jairo and David made it so as well as it being an excellent wilderness with fewer visitors. It was more difficult to hike with lots of steep hills or ups and downs which they say is the meaning of the Spanish word “Corcovado,” – “up and down” though my online dictionary just translated it “hunchbacked” which is maybe a harsher version of the same thing? 🙂 My other two visits to this park were both on flat land near the ocean, La Leona and San Pedrillo and with different trees, plants and animals, though I saw more here – giving credit to Jairo and David. See the three locations on the map below.
I made a lot of other photos on this one all day hike, so check out the different category sub-galleries like birds, other wildlife and general Corcovado folder in my TRIP Gallery: 2018 March 13-17 – Danta Corcovado for a lot of fun images from this great wilderness.
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| Only one more Ranger Station I can visit – Sirena. It is illegal to enter at any other point. And Sirena requires a very long & difficult hike or boat or seaplane trip. Maybe someday! Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica |
¡Pura Vida!
I love this place!
I love this place!