la cucaracha

ok, so there are bugs in the tropics, and then there are BUGS in the tropics.

tonight, v and i were having dinner at el tigre, a restaurant in the el callejon section of cabarete. this is primarily a dominican neighborhood, though some surf instructor types live there as it is VERY cheap. there are a few good restaurants in el callejon if you are looking to have the staple dominican meal - rice, beans, and chicken.

it's an open air restaurant. i think i have been in one restaurant since i have been here that actually is fully enclosed and has a door. anyway, we ordered our food, v is talking, and then i am distracted by something that is flying that looks like a bumble bee on steroids. this flying insect is HUGE. i motioned to v to hold the thought and check out this flying object. i then realize, no, that is not any old insect. that is a flying cockroach that has to be at least 2.5 inches long. maybe it weighed half a pound (kidding, but it looked like it was sagging in its flight due to too much weight). we duck a bit, move our chairs out so we can quickly dash away if needed. anyway, it then somehow started to ascend and move towards the overhead fan!!! oh no, i'm thinking, this thing is going to be shot across the room and land on me when it hits the overhead fan. thwack! it does hit and goes careening towards us. but it lands about a foot away. thank god! meanwhile the waitress comes over and takes care of it. thank god again, because i certainly did not want to have to deal with it, as it was still alive but on its back with one of its wings slightly detached.

i do remember seeing cockroaches fly when i lived with stubbs in bermuda. they usually only took to flight when it rained. guess they behave differently in the DR.

anyway, so it ain't all beautiful beaches and swaying palm trees.

i hope i haven't scared sheila, willow, and jessie off from coming now! really you'll be fine. it's just a bug.

susie