Ole!

Well, since I'm a master procrastinator, I thought I'd take this opportunity to post a few more vacation pics instead of working on my diversity project!

Sunday evening we decided to take in a bullfight. It is such a purely Spanish tradition, we though we had to go for the experience, regardless of the potential for bloody violence. I tried to chose carefully so hopefully the next few pics won't make you sick.

WARNING-the following is not for animal rights activists or squeamish stomachs.

This is the view from inside the Plaza de Toros. The seats there are classified by "sun" or "shade". Luckily we has shade tickets-imagine sitting at a baseball game with the sun in your eyes, that is what the sun tickets were like. There weren't too many people at this fight, since the matadors weren't too well known.

Our seats were actually quiet cool. We sat right on the railing with our legs dangling over the edge. All of the other seats were basically tiered concrete slabs. They aren't too concerned with comfort.We nicknamed these guys the "pep band". The play music at certain parts of the fight. It is actually a carefully choreographed and timed production. The whole spectacle is very interesting. You are not even allowed to get out of your seat once the fight begins. The spectators whistle at the matadors they don't think are doing a good enough job, and of course shout "Ole!" when the like what is going on.

The fight starts out with a parade of all the participants. They all bow to the president of the bull fight who acts as the judge. In this fight there were three matadors, and each fought two bulls, so there were six fights in all.

Before the bull comes out of the pen they injure him by piercing his neck, and as the fight goes on they stick more dagger-like things in his back to weaken him. There are also "matadors-in-training that work to wear him out, leading up to the entrance of the real matador, shown here.

Eventually after they wear the bull down enough, the matador goes in for the kill. Here the matador has brought his sword back ready to strike. The object is to kill the bull as instantly as possible by getting the sword directly through the heart. Some of the matadors we saw did a terrible job. One kept trying the kill the bull, but he kept getting up. I had to eventually shield my eyes. One even got knocked down by a bull and was injured.

I'll spare you the photos of the aftermath of the fight: the dead bull is pulled around the ring by a team of horses.

At the end of the fight the president of the bull ring decides if any of the matadors deserve an award. None of which I personally would want to win. If the matador does a great job and they can win the ears or tail-oh happy day! Unfortunately (I guess) no one won any prizes at our fight.

Overall it was good to experience something from another culture, but I have no desire to see another bullfight, it is way too gruesome for me!