Corrida de Toros (Bull Fight)

Monday, October 11th

I hadn’t really thought too much about whether or not I would go to a bull fight while in Spain, but when Isabel told us we could go as a group and have it paid for and organized I decided it was an important cultural experience.

There was a presentation about the tradition before we went, but I was sick and didn’t go so I don’t have a lot of details about the meanings of it.

I thought before going that it would involve fighting one bull, but there are in fact six. Each one is basically the same series of events. The bull comes out and they play with him a bit with their cloaks, but because he’s still strong they just come out for a minute and hide behind their walls again. Then a Picador on horseback comes out and stabs the bull at the top part of his back/neck. (Supposedly the bull has no nerves there and it does not hurt him, but serves to make him bleed and weaken).

In the next part, which seemed most dangerous, banderilleros let the bull run past them and put colorful sticks into his back. “Banderilleros attempt to place the sticks while running as close to the bull as possible. They are judged by the crowd on their form and bravery.”

After that the principal matador enters with his red cloak and played with the bull for some time. When he (or the crowd) is ready he gets a new sword from the Mozo de Espaldas and ends the fight. The idea is that he’s not supposed to suffer and it’s bad he has trouble bringing him down with one try.

I thought it was sad to watch. I am glad I went though, but I don’t have any desire to go again. After seeing four bulls killed I decided I didn’t really desire to see another one and that I would rather beat the crowds to the metro than to see the final bull.