I remember my nephew wanting to watch his bullfighting videos once in awhile, but I attributed that to his condition of William's Syndrome (he always wanted to see the bull win, and the videos didn't show the bull being hurt in any way).
So, it was actually with my nephew, Tyler, in mind that I decided to take my camera along to my friend's apartment yesterday. She's in the process of moving, and she has a fabulous panoramic view from her top terrace (which also happens to overlook Alcudia's Plaza de Toros - the bullring). There was a bullfight scheduled for 6PM, and I was there with my camera ready. There was a small contingent of protesters across the street, shouting "toros, si... toredos, no." 
There was also a lot of pomp and circumstance in preparation for the big spectacle... a marching band, horses being primped with ribbons (after having been tied to the side of a transport truck in the scorching sun for 10 hours prior), men dressed in tightly-fitted suede suits with matching hats... riding the exhausted horses into the ring, etc.
Needless to say, I didn't stay on the terrace long enough to see the bull killed. It was enough to see the frightened, dazed bull being pierced twice in his shoulders with long arrows, adorned with flowing ribbons, thrown from a man on top of a horse (hardly a great skill). I'm told this spectacle continues, to a cheering crowd, until the bull is repeatedly pierced, taunted, and exhausted.
Finally, a guy with a sword plunges it between the bull's shoulders, behind his head, to deliver the fatal blow.
I think if I'm around for Alcudia's next bullfight, I'll likely be joining the folks across the street, trying to shout some sense into the people who find this barbaric practice entertaining.
Til next time,
Tanya
www.ActiveEmotion.com
No comments:
Post a Comment