Day 21 - Blogabond

Paul got John off to the airport and home to Christmas Lake. We were going to miss him, but he thought he was ready to get back to America. Paul returned the car and we decided to give Madrid a second try since dinner had been nice the night before. We were not going to experience real Madrid from our current hotel so Paul booked us into the Villa Real near the Prada for 2 nights. Our room was fantastic. We had an upper and lower floor, two balconies that over looked the square and Spain’s Congress building. The area was filled with squares, restaurants, museums, and a very short walk to Madrid’s version of Central Park. Paul went and extended our stay to 4 nights. We relaxed in our room, went to the Park and relaxed some more while Mark explored, then off to the Sunday night Bull Fight.

The bull fighting is quite interesting and we are glad we have seen it once, but that is enough. This night was for the lesser known and less experienced matadors. They dressed with all the glamour of the famous matadors and there was great pomp and circumstance when they entered the ring. The first bull entered the ring and appeared to try to get back out again. I think he had some prior knowledge of what this was going to end like. First several matadors or helpers try to rile up the bull, then after a horn is sounded a horse and rider come out and tease the bull into attacking them. When the bull charges, he is poked in the back by a large spear. Next the Matador holds 2 picadors and attempts to stick them in the bull’s neck while being charged. This is repeated 3 times to loosen the neck muscles of the bull to hasten the kill at the end of the fight. Now the matador places his hat in the ring and does his one on one dance with the bull, trying not to get the horn. Finally, the matador places a sword in the bull’s neck that is meant to kill it quickly when removed. If that doesn’t do it, a dagger is used. Once the bull is dead he is hooked up to a couple of horses and dragged from the ring. We stayed for 3 bulls and as the skill of the matador improved, the suffering of the bull definitely lessened.

written by

pscossette on July 8, 2007 from Madrid, Spain

from the travel blog: The Cossette Family Sabbatical

Send a Compliment

comment on this...