In a nutshell, the
bullfight was a revelation of my complete disillusionment in what bullfighting really is. For some reason, I thought it was man:bull and they do a dramatic dance in a glittery outfit (matador in tights, not the bull) and bright capes. A dance with danger against a raging bull. And after the beautiful dance we all (bull included) go home after a beautiful, tension filled dance in the ring - man:bull. Wrong. It's more like bull: matador, 6 helpers, 2 horseman with spears, 6 darts, a sword, a knife, and 4 "hiding" walls.
Round 1, goal - get the bull tired: 6 "helper" matadors get the bull to run after them and when the bull does, the "helpers" scamper off behind the closest hiding wall. And the bull looks confused like, "Wait a minute, if you were gonna bring your mates, I'd have brought mine too. And who are all these people watching?! C'mon come out from behind the wall and let's dance!"
Horn blows. Enter 2 horseman with giant spears. Bull rams horse. Horseman spears bull. Bull begins bleeding profusely. Horn blows. Exit horsemen. Bull begins to tire.
Round 2, goal - continue to get the bull tired in preparation for the "real" matador to come out in 3rd round: Three of the 6 "helpers" now have 6 darts, 2 each. Bull's blood now soaking into its hide, still bleeding profusely. One at a time the "helpers" taunt the bull and charge the bull head on to thrust 2 large darts in its shoulders. This happens 3 times and at the end the bull now has 6 darts stuck in its shoulders and is bleeding all over the place. Enter "real" matador.
Round 3, goal: Kill bull. "Real" matador to dance with the tired bull who at this point is bleeding everywhere and has been stabbed 7 times. The matador does a little dance with the bull - bull is tired and really doesn't feel like dancing but charges matador anyway because he's pissed he can't get that itch (the 6 darts still stuck in his shoulders) on his back. The matador taunts the bull verbally and in somekind of body language that consists mostly of him stepping toward the bull pelvis first as if to say "Waz up now?! C'mon, what you got?!" I found this part amusing - ATTENTION MATADOR - have you seen the cajones on the bull? Bull is not impressed with your pelvic dance, and hardly threatened. Just wave that red cape again that seems to get his attention.
And in one swift move, the matador thrusts a full length sword into the spine of the bull (some how finding a spot between the 6 darts still in his back). Bull falters, bleeds from mouth, crumbles to the ground. "Helper" matador then takes hand knife and stabs it into the bulls skull. Bull is dead.
Horn sounds. 3 asses with bells and chains enter the ring. Bull is hooked on to the chains and in the final stage of complete humilation for the bull, the 3 asses drag the bull carcuss out of the ring.
Matador does a slow "victory" lap around the arena. People cheer and throw anything from flowers to jackets off their backs into the ring for the matador.
Next bullfight begins.
I saw 4 bulls die that night for our entertainment. (I think I also inhaled the smoke to the equivalent of about 3 cigarettes - YUCK!) I also saw one bull knick a matador and send him flipping in the air and land face first in dirt. I think I'll skip the bullfights next time I'm in Spain and opt for another glass of sangria.
'deezy
