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Published: August 16th 2006
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Call me a bad person, but I really enjoyed my first live bullfight.
AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT AGREE WITH IT, YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ THIS ENTRY! : )
Since I saw a Torero(aka matador), on TV in Canada, get down on one knee and rìp open his jacket in front of a snorting bull, whom he had just faught, I have been intrigued by this very traditional and complicated, sport.
Amongst all the Señoras with flowers in there hair, long ruffled skirts, and plastic jewllery, Señors with large cigars, straw hats and very serious looks on their faces was
little, Canadian, me.
And I couldn´t have been happier!
Everything surrounding and including the event screemed honour, tradition, and passion.
Our seats were in the sun(cheap), and in the middle section of the plaza(cheaper still), but worth the 14€( an maybe the best 14€ I had spent thus far in Europe) we paid. I later read in a book about Andalucia that our seats were where the real fans sit.
The fight begins with music, played by the smaller of the two´bands´consisting mostly of trumpets. The Torero´s, Banderilleros, and Picadores are introduced, and
the first Bull(there are 6 per fight, each Torero fights twice- for my mathematically challenged readers ....cough...pixie.....) rushes out of the gate.
The bull is shown the pink cape by several Torero assistants, and then the Picador comes out and stabs the bull once in the back. The bull usually reacts by trying to gore the horse, however, the horse is protected and is usually just pushed around.
Following this, the Banderilleros approach the bull as gracefull as any dancer, they monitor the bull for a minute and position themselves into a specific angle, at which time they run towards the bull, thrusting 2 short, decorated blades into it´s back. They make a quick turn and run away, unharmed, just inches from being gored. THIS, to me, is the most dangerous of all the positions one can have in a bull fight.
Repeat 2 more times.
That is a total of 7 stabs to the back, taunting from all angles, and the bull is as agressive as its initial push out of the gate.
But vegetarians are wusses.
; )
Finally, it is the Torero´s time to shine.
He moves towards the bull, light on his feet,
left.....right
left........ right
Red cape & sword in hand, determined, yet passionate look on his face. With a flick of his wrist, el torro(the bull) agressively pushes his horns right through the bright red cape. ¡Ole!-with emphasis on the ´E´.
Again.
¡Ole!
Again.
and yet, Again.
The more experienced fight go-ers said ¡Ole! in way that suggested approval, (sounding more like ´OK´) and when the Torero or Toro does something exceptional, they raise their voice, and begin to clap.
A good Torero- from what I have learned, can turn a bull almost 360 degrees around him without lifting the balls of his feet.
My favorite part is the expressions the Torero´s make after completing such a manouver! they flick their chin proudly, and walk away from the bull, calmly and contently. A popular move as well, is to point the sword on the bull´s head as if saying ´Sit boy´.
After this dancing continues for about 10 minutes, the crowd quiets down to nothing but the ´tick ticks´of the plastic fans in the hands of almost every señor, señora, & señorita.
The Torero lifts up his sword, his eyes are strong, legs and arms extended................ ¡OLE!, the sword
is thrust into the back. The bull relaxes its hind legs, lays down in a corner and is stabbed one final time (by the shortest blade yet) in the neck. He falls and is dragged and applauded out of the Plaza.
2 out of the 3 Toreros were awarded the white scarf from the President. The order of ´awards´is: Applause, white scarf from the crowd, white scarf from the President, 1 ear, 2 ears, 2 ears and a tail, and being carried out of the Plaza.
One Torero was given the ear of the bull, and to the crowd´s surprise, he gave it back to the public- throwing it to the section just below Juan and I.
I really enjoyed this experience, and look forward to seeing more fights while in Spain.
We went to the Malaga fair afterwards for a drink and some dancing. I enjoyed it, but I miss my girlfriends with whom I used to go dancing with!
Miss everyone, except mother nature- its 28 degrees here and its almost 2 in the morning.
XOXOXOXO
Jennazita
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Mel
non-member comment
You're in Spain!
Sounds like you've already settled right in and are taking in as much as you can! Good luck, keep the stories coming and think of your Canadian friends every time you hit that beach!