See a bullfight in Spain

“So, in the end, I did go to see one and while it was not enjoyable in the way that I find a theater or dance performance to be enjoyable, it was interesting. The most interesting thing to me was actually watching the audience, not necessarily the torero and the bull. Deciding to purchase a ticket and show up at the Plaza made me feel a bit uneasy about ‘supporting’ bullfighting by extension. In stark comparison, everyone around me looked genuinely excited…especially the kids. That was the part that honestly got to me the most—seeing adorable 8 year old kids all dressed up in their feria best and cheering and yelling along as the bull was weakened and weakened made me feel even more uneasy about being there.”

“The stadium was packed with people toting their coolers of “Estrella Levante,” the local beer, and trying to combat the sun and sweat with paper fans. My fan served a dual purpose: my only defense against the glaring sun and an eye-covering when the bull fighters delivered their final blows. Once the man with red cape stepped into the arena I knew that the bull’s dance was over. [...] However many misgivings I had during the show, the energy inside the arena was electric. I found myself cringing and whooping along with the sounds of the crowd. I grabbed a tissue from my purse and waved it in the air to commend a bullfighter’s job well done and I tried to whistle, very unsuccessfully, when the man to my left jabbed his elbow into my leg.”

“To start with the bulls are absolutely magnificent – black rockets that scream into the arena and charge down anything that flaps. But doomed beasts they are and I spent the vast majority of my time rooting for the bull without quite fully appreciating what I was hoping to see. However, what at first seemed like a cruel pastime (akin to schoolboys pulling the wings of insects) changed with a performance from a Matador that demonstrated courage, skill and flamboyance in a measure that was equal to the bull’s ferociousness. I can’t say I’m a convert, but wow that guys performance was brave!”