Spain is know for its controversial bull fighting. I managed to get tickets to a bull fighting event to experience it first hand. Upon entering the arena we were welcomed with crowds of protesters expressing their hatred for the sport.
The stadium was like an old gladiator arena. It was as though it had stopped in time.
Bull fighting is a process. First the bull would come out charging. The clowns would make the bull chase them around the arena from corner to corner. After some toying around, they then brought out heavily armoured and blindfolded horses. Men with spears mounted the horses as defense. When the bull got a glimpse of the horses it would then charge and try to thrust its horns through the armour. The armour was strong enough to with stand the blows however the bull would sometimes be so enraged that it would lift the horse right up into the air.
The crowd would cheer and urge the bull fight to press on. It was as if each step in the process was a test. A test for a fair fight? Hardly. As the trumpets sounded, the horses left the arena and the so called 'heroic' matador would rise to fight..eh erm humiliate the bull. The most entertaining part was watching the matador pose in really weird ways.
You began to understand why some people enjoyed the sport. The art was in controlling the bull. Making it run around you as if you, the matador, had toro in a trance.
After piecing some shallow spears into the bulls back the matador would then dance around the bull a few more times, tiring it to walking pace. The final step has been reached. The matador is handed the killing sword. He stands tall, pointing the steel just past toros head. He swiftly steps towards the bull with his cape pointing down to open up the strike zone; in the junction between the bulls shoulder blades and neck. The sword approximately half a metre long is to pass diagonally into toro to severe the aorta causing immediate death. The matador would sometimes miss and be booed by the crowd. Sometimes it would enrage the bull and try to seek revenge seen here. The bull fighter was lifted up into the air and slammed on the ground. Toro was unsuccessful in killing his adversary.
After seeing the first bull get slaughtered you understood why people hated the sport. Many people left the arena after the first kill, it was too much to bare. Another 5 more bulls came out and one after another, they were taken through the process. Only one bull didn't qualify. It kept falling over when it went to charge. The unentertained crowd booed the poor performance. A farmer then stepped out into the arena and guided the bull off.
Overall an unforgettable experience. Something that I wouldn't see again and don't condone.
Barcelona is a massive city which joins the city to the sea. In the picture below you can make out Antoni Gaudi's 'Sagrada Familia' which is still under construction.
The amazing architecture is seen throughout the city. Every side street has something different from cafe's, tapas, to guitar and shoe makers.
Of course whilst in Barcelona you have to see all of Antoni Gaudi's famous art pieces. Here is the famous Park Guell. The art works looked amazing but that's if you can fight past all the tourists to get a view... and I was there to add to it?
The stadium was like an old gladiator arena. It was as though it had stopped in time.
Bull fighting is a process. First the bull would come out charging. The clowns would make the bull chase them around the arena from corner to corner. After some toying around, they then brought out heavily armoured and blindfolded horses. Men with spears mounted the horses as defense. When the bull got a glimpse of the horses it would then charge and try to thrust its horns through the armour. The armour was strong enough to with stand the blows however the bull would sometimes be so enraged that it would lift the horse right up into the air.
The crowd would cheer and urge the bull fight to press on. It was as if each step in the process was a test. A test for a fair fight? Hardly. As the trumpets sounded, the horses left the arena and the so called 'heroic' matador would rise to fight..eh erm humiliate the bull. The most entertaining part was watching the matador pose in really weird ways.
Whilst in Barcelona a cool site to see was the home ground of the FCB- Camp Nou. You were taken through the full history of the football club and to some extent, the Spanish league. The museum/stadium was decked out with 2 metre tall touch screens and 4x5 meter widescreens for a full cinematic experience. Definitely worth a look for any champions league fan. Pictured to the right is a pair of football boots from the 1920's.