A Tip-Top Night on the Town

Last night Dr. B, Dr. A, Lisa and I had a very, very Nica experience. First, we had an exceptional dinner at the local Tip-Top. Tip-Top is like Nicaragua's version of KFC/Chick-fil-a. If you want to eat the food there though, they treat it like a regular restaurant. The dine-in menu is extensive, except that just about everything is chicken. We were served by a waitress in a "restaurant" with a children's play area.

After dinner, we rushed to the Ruben Dario National Theatre for El Homenaje a Los Beatles, which I thought was a tribute to the Beatles performed by the symphony of Managua. The theatre was in a bad part of town, in the area where the earthquake of 1972 destroyed what was once downtown. Apparently the theatre survived the earthquake. Nearby is a protest of treatment in banana plantations. The people live in makeshift tents during the protest, but, of course, the national theatre, with a dress code, is across the way. You can't wear flip-flops, shorts, capri pants, or anything somewhat revealing. It is the only building in Managua with central air conditioning.

After walking in the theatre, my guess is that it hasn't actually be remodeled since its creation the 1970s. Everything was blood red. When I say everything I mean EVERYTHING. The walls were red. The seats were red. The floors were red. Even the handrails were covered in red velvet. Just my luck...I happened to be wearing a red shirt. I never expected to be camouflaged while wearing red!

We sit down in our red seats and a rock band (!) comes out shortly after with two guys and a girl as singers. I think they must have belted out the choruses of somewhere between 30 and 50 songs without taking a break. The show continued on for about 2 hours combing the stylings of the rock band, Las Vegas lounge singers with a Nica twist, part of an orchestra, part of a gospel(ish) choir, and a keyboardist.

Highlights from the show:
1. the cheesy head-bobbing
2. the lazy air guitar
3. "SomeTIIIING in the way she moves...."
4. What Dr. A called "interpretive dancing" of the Beatles' songs
5. the seizure-inducing light show

But the best part.....
6. When Dr. A jumped up and started dancing like crazy to "Love Me Do"

All in all, it was a great cultural experience. I never expected to watch a homage concert for the Beatles in Managua, but now it's one more thing I can check off my list.