La cucaracha y el Picasso

We learned that Gibraltar has a problem with cockroaches, especially when it rains and floods like it did the week before we arrived. The incident happened in the bathroom. La cucaracha waved gleefully when I stepped inside, leaving me completely stunned.

My first reaction was to run. I held that back, and realized my best move would be to trap it inside the bathroom to avoid terrifying the kids. I shut the door, and then realized I was alone with a giant cockroach who looked like it wanted a kiss. Now wishing I had invoked the Pence rule with this scandalous creature, I looked for a weapon to fend her off. It’s a bathroom, so there wasn’t much – a soft, fluffy pack of toilet paper or a bottle of toilet cleaner. I grabbed the bottle.

The attack felt like it lasted twenty or thirty minutes, I was hacking and smashing all over the little space, la cucaracha was dancing the mariachi and whistling. Finally, a blow struck and knocked her loopy. I struck again, she dodged. I struck and smudged, taking a leg with me. The song lyrics now make sense, “The cockroach can no longer walk because she doesn’t have a hind leg.”

I left her body there to show my wife my conquest and discuss the horrible living conditions in which we now found ourselves. We discussed for a bit, talked to our host who assured us this happens but is rare (the rains, remember) and he sprayed, and then I went back to check on the dead señorita. “Did you move the cockroach?” I asked Jess, surprised that she would have picked up such a giant bug. Alas, the battle raged on for another round, la cucaracha can still walk without a leg. She can also swim really well, even upstream in surge of toilet flush. But not for three flushes. I know we only won the battle, for she undoubtedly swam to another drain and is tormenting another family while you read this.

We were glad to leave Gibraltar. Málaga is a beautiful city, the proud birthplace of Pablo Picasso. Tapas, vino, buena vistas y más.

A church, these seem to show up a lot on this blog

Alcazaba, a Moorish palace, the warm-up to the Alhambra

One of our children ignoring the warning that you might slip and crack open your head - I didn’t take a picture of the guy who looked like he did crack open his head, he was being tended to by the police and a photo would have been rude

Roman theater, these seem to show up a lot on this blog 

My favorite Picasso from today, it’s Owl On A Chair, but I think it should be
Fun Little Corn Flake Guy Making Fish Sandwich