July 6, 2007

• Viva Espana-Toreadores in Madrid

  When last I left off, my family and I were wandering the city of Madrid looking for something that was actually open. Well, a little research on my part before we left told me that the month of June in Spain is known for the festival of San Isidro, A famous bullfighting tourney held approximately 1 month before the running of the bulls (it is this week, and obviously, i am on rotation so cannot go (T_T) )

  This is a fairly popular festival as i am sure you can imagine

  
  Wooo-eeh. look at those crowds
  
  The tourney began with a procession

  
  After making a loop around the ring, the high inquistor released the fighters competing for the day
  
  All these people are involved in fighting a bull. Seems a bit unfair, doesnt it?
  
  This is the spanish equivalent of the bikini-clad vixens who parade around the ring at boxing matches announcing what round. There were a total of 12 fights on the card for us to watch and judge
  
  Yes the brothers Dworetzky sat down to enjoy some good old fashioned
  quality toreadoring (that is bullfighting, to the non spanish-speaking
  among you). We were having a grand old time until we realized that the
  real thing is not so much like the cartoons. For one, the bull dies at
  the end. for real. every time. There is no little circle of
  birds/stars/dancing matadors above the head, the bull is just killed
  and then dragged around the stadium. Also, the matadors cheat. I always thought it was man versus beast, mano a mano and the best competitor wins. Instead, multiple junior bullfighters all gang up on the creature until he is tired and bloodied, then the headliner comes and delivers the final blow…where is the sport in that?

  What is this hiding behind walls whenever he gets to close, then taunting him? huh?

  
  The reason the horse is blindfolded is because he is there for the bull to charge into, while the guy safely on his back stabs a spear into the bull. ANd you thought YOUR job sucked

  
  Finally, all glory be to the matador (spanish for “killer”) who steps in to deliver the mercy blow to the beast, ending the fight. Then they do it again. After 4 fights, i couldnt watch it anymore, so we left to go be immature outside the stadium
  
  No bulls were harmed in the making of this photo

  
  One matador might have been though

  -J

  • 10:44 pm
  • 2 Comments