Corrida de Toros

To round off the loco week/weekend we've had, Carls Barkley, Surf Shop, Animal, Yackster, Sarah, y yo went to the Corrida de Toros - a "Bull Fight" - btw, the Spaniards are very offended by our English translation ("fight") of this "DANCE" between man/intelligence and bull/strength.

(Torero (fighter - the man) #2 was very theatrical; lots of personality)

When you break it down, it really is a terribly sad and sort of twisted cultural phenomenon - bringing one healthy and strong bull into the ring, one after the other, and within fifteen minutes the toreros have stabbed it to death.  HOWEVER, the combination of the arena's antiquity and the ambiance that it creates, as well as the enthusiasm of the crowd coupled with the fighters' level of gravity (and absurd, yet beautiful, uniforms), somehow all work together to desensitize the event.  As a tourist and first-time spectator, you're drawn in by sheer fascination.  The reality shock of what you've just witnessed doesn't hit until about an hour after you leave.  

(Horse is blindfolded (prevents it from seeing the bull and FLIPPING out) and wears lots of thick protection to avoid any injuries resulting from contact between bull horn and horse.)

Not sure if they all work the same way, but in this Corrida de Toros, there were three matadores (the main bull killers) who each had "helpers."  Each matador faced two bulls, bringing Sunday's death toll to six.  It concludes with the killing of the bull by a single sword thrust (la estocada), which really showcases the torero's skill - with bulls #2 and #6, the torero won an ear (which was cut off and given to him as a "prize") because of his "outstanding performance" - [for the record, now as I write this and think back I feel really bad for enjoying this experience and I officially do not support it.]

 (Ear in the right hand)

Sitting to my right was a nice Spanish gentleman of about fifty years who provided us with a lot of helpful information.  Every now and then I would turn to Yacks and Ana and say "I didn't understand a word he just said" - found out about halfway through the "show" that he speaks English fluently and is an Economics professor at the University of Valencia.  Typ.  This impressive title (20% of Spain is unemployed, so yes, this is an impressive title to run across - more so than in the States) didn't stop him from ripping shots of whiskey out of his thermos about every twenty minutes...... NO PASA NADA.

(I was rooting for the bull.)

Another local whom we quickly befriended was seated directly in front of us - a seventy-one year old Valencian who was really a hoot.  Told us about his "super guapo" (REALLY handsome) son who's forty years old and still living at home because it's just "easier" - why leave the house when your bed's made everyday, food's on the table, and it's free?  Kept saying what a catch "Daniel" (su hijo/his son) is but that he needs to find a "mujer" (woman/wife).  Got supermega-AWK when he showed us a picture of his (turned out) not-so dashing son and gushed more about his prized looks.  Anyway, Jose Maria was also a helpful source during the "bull dance" and it was fun to see how much pride he took in his culture and the event. 

(Bull: 1, Torero: 0!  Bloody horn ---- bloody ankle)

Though I definitely can't say I'm now a fan of the "sport," I appreciate the cultural aspect of the Corrida de Toros.  It's fun to be around something in which the Spaniards take such great pride, and it's always a successful day when you get the inside scoop from the locals.