22 April 2009
Well, I can officially say I’ve been to Spain now because I’ve seen a bullfight. API bought the tickets, which was nice because my seat cost 35 euro, and it was one of the cheaper seats! It was so hot sitting in the arena – I can see why the shaded seats cost so much money, but I think it would be worth it! At least I’m getting a nice tan. Before the fight, I didn’t think I would like it but I didn’t really know what to expect. It was strange to see everyone gathering and buying drinks and finding their seats like it was a normal sporting event, a baseball or football game.
At first the toreros and other guys march around the stadium. Then the let the bull out and it runs around the arena. There are a bunch of men with pink and yellow capes that taunt the bull and try to tire him out. Then men on horseback called picadors enter the stadium and attract the bulls attention, then they stab him with a spear in its back when it attacks. This is my least favorite part, I could hardly watch it. The horses have a lot of armor so they’re not hurt when the bull attacks, but it just seems unfair to the bull. Then these other guys called banderilleros come out and their job is to attract the bull, jump in front of his horns and stab these little flag things into its back, and twist away before getting gored by the horns. I didn’t like watching them hurt the bull, plus the first bull (there are 6 total, 3 matadors that each fight 2 different bulls) ended up catching one of the banderilleros between his horns and tossing him around in the air. I was horrified because I thought he had gotten gored by one of the horns, it was so scary. Then the matador fights the bull alone, doing different series of moves with the red cape to tire out the bull. Finally he takes a sword and stabs the bull in the neck/back. Then him and a few other guys tire the bull out until it finally dies. The worst part is the guy who goes over to the bull after its fallen to the ground and stabs him in the head with a dagger and twists it around until the bull stops twitching. Then, the bull is dragged from the arena by horses and its meat is sold as food – apparently the best part is the tail. At the end of the 6 bulls, the crowd waves white handkerchiefs for which torero they like best. The winner parades around the arena and if they did particularly well, they get presented with the ears and tail of the bull. Our winner got one ear, which I guess is still pretty good – Luis Bolívar, 24 years old from Colombia. Another was from France and one was from Sevilla
My personal opinion…I’m still not entirely decided. At first I was horrified. I was sick to my stomach watching the bull get tortured and ganged up upon and falling down. I definitely don’t like how painful it looks for the bull, I felt so bad for the poor animal. However I’m not against bull fighting because I think it is a part of the culture and I would have appreciated it more if I knew what technique was good or understood a little more about what was going on. It is really neat to see how the toreros (the main bull fighters) move the cape and their bodies; it really almost is like dancing with the bull. I don’t understand how you could be so calm with an angry bull charging at you! It makes me feel a little better for the bulls knowing that the first like 5 yeards of their life they are treated really well – huge pastures, best food – they are pampered because it’s an honor to be a bull fighting bull. And they do sell the meat after, so they aren’t wasting 6 bulls every night, it’s just really hard for me to watch the animals suffer so much, all for the entertainment of people. I’m glad I went though, just to experience it, and see the cultural side of bull fighting, although I don’t think I’ll ever go to another one! Enjoy the pictures – I’m heading to Greece tomorrow and then it’s Feria (April Fair) here in Sevilla, so as usual, expect more pictures and updates soon! <3
Wow - I'm kind of glad we could only see a tour when I was there. But I'm proud of you for making it through!
ResponderEliminar