Less is More

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El Matal Ecuador, Got Paint, It Started with one Light Pole, jama ecuador

View of El Matal Ecuador from Gordon Stauble’s property

With pleasure, I point your attention to new neighbors and fellow bloggers who live in the same community as I!  Patricia Adams Farmer’s “The Poetry of Posts” and “Color Me Happy” summarize the essence of the peaceful spirit in our area.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fleeting Moment

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ceibo trees, Cruzita Ecuador, Ecuador, portoviejo ecuador, postaday, Weekly Photo Challenge, weekly photo challenge fleeting moments

Typical fleeting moment while travelling between Charapoto and Cruzita Ecuador.

(ECUADOR)  Yesterday I journeyed from Cruzita to Portoviejo for a final visit to the museum before next week’s opening reception of The Mola Series.   Armed with WordPress’s newest photo challenge, I stepped onto the bus with anticipation of the many fleeting moments that were about cross my visual path.  With camera in hand, I was ready to capture the photo opportunities that raced past my window!

Weekly Image of LIfe: Breathtaking 2

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costa rica, Ecuador, Iguana, NATURE, Rattlesnake, Sea Snake, spotted skunk, Weekly Image of LIfe, Weekly Image of Life: Breathtaking

Hang tight, baby monkey!

Here is a second round of images that depict “Breathtaking” in honor of the Island Traveler’s Weekly Image of Life.  

Let me know if any of the photos took your breath!

Weekly Image of Life: Breathtaking

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Olive Ridley Sea Turtles, Photo Challenge, Playa San Miguel Costa Rica, Sunrise, Sunset, Weekly Image of LIfe, Weekly Image of Life: Breathtaking

Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica — Pre-sunrise!     

The Island Traveler /This Man’s Journey caused a creative block when I pondered this week’s “Image of Life” theme: Breathtaking.

Scrolling back and forth through the files in my gray matter, I found no photo that stood out.    There were surely several hundred stunning images of Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica, where I live when I am not in Ecuador.  I knew that a search through those files would trigger attention deficit detours down memory lane, and I might not emerge until sunset tomorrow!

But a detour seemed necessary, and instantly I was swimming through sunrise memories.  Taking a deep breath I opened the folder and began dog paddling through files!

Weekly Photo Challenge: CREATE

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Art in Ecuador, costa rica, Cruzita, Ecuador, El Matal, i can do this painting workshops, Jama, Lisa Brunetti, Post-Painting Competition, Weekly Photo Challenge, Weekly Photo Challenge: Creative, WordPress Post a Day

As I prepared to leave Cruzita for a long weekend at home (aka to build a goat-proof fence!) I saw this week’s Photo Challenge:  Create.

The query asked, “Have you snapped a picture of something you’ve created, or something someone else has created? ‘

I chuckled! What have I NOT photographed lately that wasn’t related to being creative?   I smiled, decided that the ‘next’ bus out of Cruzita would be just fine, and I began the arduous task of deciding which photos to share! (Or deciding which ones NOT to share!)

Solstice Photos June 20, 2012

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Ecuador, Solstice, Solstice 2012

Honoring my expectations, the clouds parted so the sun could flash its solstice smile on Cruzita Ecuador. 

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..

https://playamart.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/solstice-a-day-of-reflection/
May the sun escort this greeting around the world and place a smile in your heart!

¡Salud! 🙂  Z

Solstice – A Day of Reflection

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Equinox, Less is More, Reflections, Slowing down, Solstice

Marking the placement of the sun — Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica

Growing up in the northern hemisphere, I immediately identified this day of the sun as the ‘Summer Solstice.’  Now that I live on the line of the equator, I realize how shallow-minded I’ve been!  Living on the equator grants me neutral status!  Whether it’s the longest day of the year, the shortest, or one with equal daylight hours, what’s most important is the discipline to say, “Stop! Acknowledge this moment!”

Manta, Ecuador – Equinox

Years ago I enjoyed playing a game of marking the sun’s placement on the horizon, starting around June 15th (or December) and adding more rocks each day to track and record the path of the sun.   The simplicity of the task and the obvious daily changes continue to plant a childlike joy in this old mare’s heart!  And when the sun seems to have no more endurance to move forward, it pauses and rests, then retreats in the other direction!

Thanks, Fairy Godmother!

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Beautiful blogger award, Cruzita Ecuador, Lisa Brunetti, Mary McDonald art, Mrs. Sparkly's Ten Commandments Award

An astrologist might have warned me of a mystical alignment of stars and planets that would sprinkle magic stardust across this Cancer-the-Crab’s Saturday! The early-morning inbox confirmed that my European friends had been slaying the day’s dragons while I was still in dreamland.   I pondered the humor of asking them, ‘Is it going to be a good day?’ as remnants of REM sleep evaporated from my dream-fogged brain.

“Weekly Photo Challenge: Close”

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PHOTO CHALLENGES, postaday, Weekly Photo Challenge: Close

Ronnie’s Birthday – Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica

The WordPress Photo Challenge Theme for this week is “Close,”   and these two images illustrate two totally-different interpretations of the word, ‘close.’  Tomorrow with camera in hand, I will enjoy searching for photo opportunities that illustrate this theme!

There’s No Place Like Home

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C, Colorado fires June 2012, Home

I just asked Raul, owner of Hosal Cruzita where I spent last night, for his definition of home.  

He paused from wiping the table and replied, “A place for peace, comfort, where you relax.  Esparanza;  if you have a house you have dreams.”

El Matal, Ecuador

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El Matal Ecuador, jama ecuador, Painting, Post-painting contest, San Pedro San Pablo

 

The painting competition at El Matal Ecuador supplied countless photo opportunities, and a small fraction of those launched the”Got Paint?” post.   

This quiet fishing village embraced the out-of town visitors who came for the San Pedro-San Pablo festivities.

Enjoy the eclectic mix of photos taken over the two-day period.

“Got Paint?”

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El Matal, El Matal Ecuador, It Started with one Light Pole, Jama Coaque Concurso, jama ecuador, OGD Tur Jama, Painting Competition, Post painting in El Matal

Marcelo, of OGD TUR JAMA.

More than 600 images crowded my camera chip when I returned home  from  the fishing village of El Matal on Ecuador’s Pacific Coast.  Phase two of the “Post-Painting Competition“ coaxed a new batch of budding artists to the sun-drenched streets, where they magically transformed concrete light posts into works of art using Jama-Coaque pre-Columbian icons.

For two days I ambled the main streets, met new Picassos and marveled at their sheer joy of painting.  They beamed with pride when anyone stopped to appreciate their work!  Why, oh why, couldn’t they all win a top prize?!!!!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Friendship

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Friendship, It Started with one Light Pole, PHOTO CHALLENGES, Travel Latin America

Coming out of my painting fog, I am attempting to reclaim my normal routine, which is never normal or routine!   Anyone new to the blogging world realizes the vast options that are patiently waiting to be explored.  One must first explore the shallows before plunging into the ocean!  This morning I kicked off my swimmies and explored a few blogs.

Every so often a “Weekly Photo Challenge” crossed my field of vision, though I never paused long enough to research what that challenge was about.  This morning – my first day back to normal after taking down the show yesterday – the OH MY!-light bulb instantly cleared the painting fog from my eyes!

Each week Word Press throws a new theme to those who are interested in participating in that challenge!    Friendship?  This past month so many dear friends have stepped forward to help ‘before, during and after’ my exhibition.  Wow, do I ever have material to contribute to the Friendship theme!

Since I’m about to dash to nearby El Matal’s Phase Two chapter of  It Started with One Light Pole, I will post images that have been patiently awaiting my attention in a folder marked, “One Friend” – inspired by Keb Mo’s song by the same title.   After this weekend’s painting marathon at El Matal, I hope to emerge with several posts;  one of the competition and another to thank my dear friends who offered tireless support during The Mola Series exposition.

I leave you with images from Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Ecuador that best reflect this week’s photo challenge of friendship!

My Cup Runneth Over

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Bolon, Bolones from Plantains, Cancebi Museum, Chiva Bus, Cruzita Ecuador, Ecuador, Experience Ecuador, Hostal Cruzita, Jacqueline Simon, Lisa Brunetti, Manabi, Manta Ecuador, Museo Cancebi, Sarah Dettman, Semester at Sea, The Mola Series

This modest house transforms into a work of art beneath the street light!

Tipping out of Hostal Cruzita during the pre-dawn hours,  I stopped  for several photos on my way to the corner bus stop.  A full day awaited me at the Cancebi Museo in Manta, Ecuador, where The Mola Series Exhibition entered its third week.

A lone rooster broke the serene stillness of the morning  as he announced the arrival of the 5:20 bus to Manta.     Although I anticipated meeting the Experience Ecuador group at the Manta airport in less than two hours, I would never have dreamed that the next two days would bring such an amazing and diverse group of people into my life!

From Airport to Playa Tarqui to Museo Cancebi