On my recent holiday I had the opportunity to go to the Sunday Bull Fighting, for 5 Euros I had a front row seat to what I would consider a very controversial sport outside of Spain. If you are an Animal Lover I suggest you don’t read any further…
The Bull Fighting was quite spectacular and disturbing at the same time, I don’t think I would go again…
The show starts with the introductions of the Bull Fighters and the supporting crew. After they all take their positions the bull is let loose and then tormented for a while before driving it to the man on the horse with the spear… who then proceedes to stab it between the shoulders to slow the bull down a bit, twice… What was interesting was if the guy on the horse left the spear in too long the crowd started to boo(whistle), as to say stop cheating and give the bull a fair go. Next come the guys with the job of spearing two smaller spears into the shoulders of the bull with the spears remaining in the bull, 3 guys, 2 spears each, 6 in total, you need courage to perform this stage as it is very dangerous for the bull fighter. Once this stage is complete the featured bull fighter grabs a fake sword and show boats for a while to tire the bull out and to show how close he can get to the bull, so close in fact that their beautiful costumes end up rubbed with blood, the mark of a good bull fighter. After about 5 minutes of show boating the bull fighter swaps his fake sword for a real one and goes in for the final kill. A deep thrust between the shoulder blades to the heart and the bull is done… A good bull fighter will kill the bull almost instantly whereas an average bull fighter often misses the mark and the bull need to be finished by the helpers with a few stabs to the back of the neck with a special knife… After the bull is dead it is dragged out by 3 costumed donkeys… then its time to start the process again, 6 bulls were killed in total for the 2 hour event… I wasn’t quite sure what to think while it was all happening…
If the bull fighter puts on a great show and kills the bull quickly then the president of the bull fighting association, seated in the grand stand, will wave a white handkerchief indicating a great fight and to reward the bull fighter the most coveted prize in bull fighting, of one of the bulls ears, and if the fight was exceptional the bull fighter will get both ears… all of which is heavily influenced by the crowd… It’s hard not to get caught up in the whole atmosphere and at the same time feeling guilty about the death of an animal…
Here are some of the 350+ photos I took during the show… as I said earlier… don’t look if you don’t like this stuff…
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This post is tagged Bull Fighting, Spain
9 Comments
Great photos.
I love to go to the bullfights whenever I’m in Spain. I see it as a sort of ballet cum sport; the best of the matadors are very graceful and, of course, very brave.At the end there will be death and/or injury.
The last fight I saw was in Malaga a few years ago when I saw El Juli(?) fight several bulls. It was very expensive.. I had to go back into town to get more cash for our tickets. The fight was televised and the matador was treated as if he were a great pop star.. lots of beautifully dressed teenaged girls and women almost swooning! It is always a big social occasion for those who go to the fight.. all dressed in their very best Sunday clothes.
I first became hooked when we had our young children with us on Spanish holidays.Before going out in the evening I’d watch the fights on TV whilst my wife got the children changed. I then started going to see the fights live and, in later years my son has come with me. He’s 25 now and I think he’d go on his own if he was in Spain.
I know many who are very much against it but.. if you have an open mind.. try to go to one of the minor events. You can always walk out if you really don’t like it but you will see some of the real culture of spain.
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-Paul Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 8:18 am
It’s easy to see how you can get hooked on the sport after you get desensitized to the death of the bulls…
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I just hope all that meat gets roasted over a spit/rotisserie for all to consume afterwards.
Bulls balls or “Rocky mountain oysters” fetch a good penny in some parts.
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-Paul Reply:
July 28th, 2009 at 11:36 am
surprisingly enough they don’t use the bull for food… It’s dumped on the trash basically…
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Don’t feel too good about the sport, myself. But, those are some amazing action shots, worthy of publication in a magazine. Seriously. I think #8, the one where it looks like the matador is about to be gored by the bull’s horn, is impressive.
Nice work, Paul!
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-Paul Reply:
August 9th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Thanks Billy… still waiting for offers…
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hello paul , i happened by chance to stumble across your webpage whe loking to find if my 13 year old son would be allowed into the bullfights in madrid this coming weekend (31/8/09). I would appreciate any information you may have on this subject
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-Paul Reply:
August 24th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Hi, Your son will be allowed no problem. Make sure you ask for a seat out of the sun or you will get fried like a lobster.
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I wonder how long the bull fighter would last if he had 6 massive spears imbedded in his back with blood running freely…. get real
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