So Xtine and I managed to swing a fabulous deal and are in the midst of a long-overdue and much-needed fling down in Luquillo, Puerto Rico. We did this exact trip last year, because Xtine’s college roomate’s parents do two weeks here every year and they had room for us then as now. It was a no-brainer.

Now, Luquillo is a sleepy little town that few realize has the greatest beach in all of Christendom, so it’s way off the tourist radar. It’s also right at the base of the only rain forest in the US Forest Service, El Yunque. Last year the group of us went on a long hike through El Yunque to a wonderful waterfall with a freezing cold swimming basin. It was magnificent, but we had a hell of a time finding the damned entrance. Got lost cruising through the Puerto Rican hills, wound up at some women’s prison, thought, “hmm, nice view”, and turned around.

Finally, we pulled over and asked directions of a fellow who was holding some kind of sack. He gave us very quick and simple instructions and then excused himself saying he was “late for el coliseo.” Waving adios, he crossed the street behind us and marched into El Coliseo Dona Joaquina… a cockfighting coliseum.

I had never really entertained the idea of attending a cockfight prior to this. However, knowing that animal bloodsports had recently been banned in every state of the union (other than New Mexico), this opportunity presenting itself quite by chance, well, the notion became irresistible. I was ready to hop out of the car and follow him right in, but everyone else I was with was totally turned off by the idea, those bleeding hearts. Bah!

So…when we were invited to return this year, I immediately began concocting my scheme to seek out el coliseo again. Attend, document, interview, and get ripping pissed on local drink. Now that I’m here, that’s just what I intend to do, and I have somehow managed to convince my vegetarian spouse to join me. The trick shall be finding by intention that which we did before only by chance.

Standby for updates.