Ole, Ole, Ole
Trip Start
May 30, 2007
1
38
41
Trip End
Aug 21, 2007
Madrid,
Spain
Friday, August 17, 2007
At night we went to the bullfight or corrida de toros in sevilla. The bullfight was lightly attended which was somewhat of a surprise since august 15 is a fiesta day in sevilla, which we realized when we were walking at 7 am and droves of people were out walking toward the cathedral
arches inside mezquita
. The fights themselves were interesting with 2 out of the three bullfighters providing good performances. the first guy was ok but had a real hard time killing the bull and attempted at least 6 or 7 times with no avail. of course people whistled as to boo, and some even booed because clearly the bull was suffering. the other two were much better and were cheered with oles and applause. Celia was really great at the fights and by the end of the night i think she had become desensitized that she seemd to be watching and enjoying them. Bullfights are filled with a lot of fanfare and there are even two bands that provide music throughout. there is much pomp and circumstance at the beginning with a procession of horses, bullfighters, bandilleros *they stick the bull with the small pointed flags to weaken the bull* and others who give a greeting to President of the Maestraza and take a momentg of silence.
The fight itself consists of three parts, the first is when the bull comes out and men with capes make the bull chase them toward the partitions, basically having the bull run all aournd. then the main torrero enters the ring and makes the bull charge the cape, this round is basically to ensure that the bull is strong and worthy or noble enough to fight
beginning of bullfight
. the second round is basically to weaken the bull where men on hourses with spears make the bull charge as they poke the bull with the spears. Then they are three men on foot with speared colored flags that get close to the bull and then place the flags on the bull as the animal charges. The third stage the matador comes out again, with the bull charging his cape for a while until he is sufficeintly tired and then the matador summons his sword and attempts to kill him. basically they try to place the sword in the bulls back as he charges and if successful other men come in with capes and wave them around the bull until the bull drops. Usually still alive once the bull drops, another man with a small dagger like knife sticks the bull in the back of the neck, if successful the bull drops immediately as it appears to sever the spinal cord. if not successful, he keeps trying and of course people whistle as to boo. Once the bull is dead, music calls in the adorned mules with men whipping them, the bull is attached to the harness of the mules and the men run the mules out of the arena.
Yesterday we arrived in Madrid and walked around mostly, but we also did a guided tour of the footsteps of Don Quixote. The tour included actors that portrayed characters of don quixote, but the tour also gave us information of the literary writers of the time as we walked through different neighborhoods.
We are staying at a hotel with laptops and unlimited internet access, so i will have ample opportunity to write and share these last few experiences with you. Take care, jaime
Comments
while in madrid
Check out Real Madrid's schedule. I believe they play on Sunday (8/19) in the Santiago Bernabeu. This is a must. Have a good trip back home...and hurry up the Trojans are right around the corner.
Bernabeu!
Even if you can't make a game, you should check out the stadium. It is huge!
Also, if you haven't already, try some morcilla.
See you when you get back.