Ever since I was a kid I’ve wanted to go to a bullfight. I remember being 13 and my brother bringing a pair of banderillas home for me as a gift from a trip to Portugal. I hung those things on my wall like a trophy. They were cool. Being 13 and a city kid from New York, I had no idea what they really were used for. They were just cool.
Well, a couple of years ago I visited Spain. I figured I’d treat my traveling companions (my wife and friends) to a bit of Spanish culture. We were traveling in early October and I was disappointed to see that bullfighting was done for the season.
Or so I thought…
Lo and behold, I saw a sign. A dream come true. Excitement. Culture. I really had no idea what we were in for.
It didn’t take long to find out.
Bullfighting is a staple of Spanish culture and tradition. There is a lot a pageantry, music and fanfare. It was an especially glorious hot October day and we sat in the sunshine, enjoying a few cold beers. There wasn’t a big crowd that day, as you’ll see from the pictures, but it was a vocal one. I made sure to get a great seat and then walked over to where the gate opened to the bullring in time to capture the start of the festivities. It was exhilarating.
It wasn’t long after the parade that the real “fighting” began. For those not accustomed to bullfighting, namely us, it was quite surprising and gruesome. For those accustomed to the spectacle, it was just another day at “la plaza de toros.”
Yes, the bull dies. No, I won’t show you a video.
Many people think that bullfighting is mano-a-mano, one man versus a bull. Well, that might be the case at the end, but it’s not the way the “fight” actually transpires.
To me, and I’m clearly no expert, it resembles a circus where there are many things going on at once. When the bull enters the ring there is a bunch of men running around who tease and confuse the animal.
After a while, the bull becomes tired from all of the running. It is then that the banderillas are driven home. The running continues until the matador emerges and the show begins.
As the bull weakens and tires the matador does the deed, to loud cheers from the crowd.
My wife and friends were disturbed by what we saw and, I have to admit, it’s not easy to watch. That being said, bull fighting has a very long history in Spain, and elsewhere, and it’s not going to stop anytime soon.
FYI… the dead bulls are brought to a slaughterhouse and the meat is used for human consumption.
goliveittravel.com 
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