Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Disclaimer

So...

Yesterday the Centro de Salud came around to fumigate. They sprayed next door and other areas on our road, but they didn't come here. We were lying in the hammocks on the front terrace, expecting them to call out, but for some reason they didn't come to our gate. Which means our property is a safe haven for nature's children.

I think the fumigation next door stirred up some critters. This morning there was a HUGE scorpion lying dead by the front door. Not sure which cat killed it, none of them show any signs of having been stung. Miguel saw Smokey playing with it (it was already dead), and later, as I was sweeping it up, Luna swatted at it. Yuck, scorpions are just ugly and those big ones are the ugliest. Luckily they are not dangerous, their sting feels like a bee sting (according to Miguel - I've never been stung although I have had one on me in the middle of the night (a story for another time)).

Having cats inside and out is very handy, because they take care of any invaders. We have Smokey, Minina, and Maya protecting the indoors, Luna protecting the back terrace, and Cappuchina protecting the front terraces. Loco used to stomp on insects too, but now he is older and he isn't interested in anything other than iguanas.

I'm thinking about putting this disclaimer on our website:

Stay with us at your own risk. We are not responsible for the distasteful and spooky things you may witness. We cannot guarantee that our dog will not lick his private parts in front of you. We cannot guarantee that Luna will not pop open your screen door and let in mosquitoes (although we will do our best to confine her on the back terrace during the night). We cannot guarantee that stray cats won't yowl, that neighborhood dogs won't bark, that roosters won't crow - in fact, we can guarantee that those things will happen. We are not responsible for spiders that jump, scorpions that crawl, ants that swarm any microscopic piece of anything sweet you may have left on the counter. We cannot help it if those huge flying cockroaches enter your room as you open the screen door to go out on the terrace - but don't worry, they are plant roaches - also known as Palmetto bugs (a nice way of saying HUGE roaches). We hope the big blue crabs don't climb the plants and clunk around on the terrace outside your room. And if you see a small gecko prowling up along your ceiling, just relax - it's there to help with tiny insect control. Yes, it makes a big noise for a tiny thing, but don't worry - it won't hurt you.

To give you some comfort, we promise to thoroughly clean your room and surrounding terraces every day. We will scoop the dead bugs out of the pool. We will wash the bird poop off the deck. We will sweep up the gecko droppings. We will bath the dog, especially if he rolls in something really nasty out in the jungle. We will do our best to keep you protected from the animal and insect world. But this is the tropics...Nature happens.

6 comments:

Charlotte said...

Couldn't help but remember the first scorpion we saw in your house when it was new -- UGLY! And it was alive....
As for the disclaimer -- shouldn't you also mention the Aluxes? All of it makes me wish to be there!

Dorgon said...

An excellent piece, Sue. We also have found the presence of cats, in and out, to be a great help in the control of unwelcome small visitors. If nothing else, we are alerted to their presence. Loved the phrase "nature happens".

Sue said...

Charlotte - Oh, do I dare write about the Aluxes? I'll surely scare people off for good, lol. And I will never forget that scorpion - came at us like a little bulldozer. A can of paint slammed over it didn't kill it. As a 'newby' to the tropics, I was horrified, you handled it with calm and grace.

Doris - thanks! And I know what you mean, there is something about the intent look on a cat's face that makes you realize they are studying something. Usually a gecko or an insect.

Moments turning to Memories said...

NO...LOL don't add that disclaimer! =) When I was first planning our vacation, I was checking out the Mar Y Sol apartments and the lady w/the apartment management was sooo rude. I read up on their reviews and all they talked about was insects and bugs so when I asked if they had their problem taken care of she flipped out and said that since I don't like bugs I shouldn't stay anywhere on the island and she wouldn't let us stay there - LOL my reservation was cancelled even before I made it. =)

Troy said...

No disclaimers Sue. That will drive people away. Just do your best to control what you can and inform your guests after they arrive. Bugs, crabs, iguanas, dogs, roosters, and even the honking of horns at 2:am when Mexico wins a soccer game is all part of the experience of being on an island in Mexico...go with the flow and enjoy. Miguels Mexican breakfasts make you forget about...what was I talking about?

Sue said...

Katie - I'm glad you didn't get to go to Mar y Sol, because we got to meet you! And I'm glad that scorpion didn't show up when you were here. In fact, there haven't been any scary things since, but I get your point - don't put up the disclaimer!

Troy - I am taking your and Katie's advice, not everyone would understand that I'm writing about the unusual, not the usual - we just don't have scary bugs and critters every day, not even every week. But you just never know.