Bullfights and the Running of the Bulls

15 May 2017

You know, now that I think about it, we really did a LOT of things while we were in Spain; funny how my memory starts to come back after I write about something.

I can't tell you how many bullfights we saw . . . several dozen? I had no . . . still really don't have . . . aversion to what some consider a bloodsport. In Spain bullfighting was referred to as an art form, and it was breathtaking to watch. There are a lot of people who call it cruel, and I suppose it could be considered that in our world today. Back in the 70's however, organizations like PETA didn't exist, and animals were simply considered animals.

Besides, the bulls they killed in Spain went to slaughter afterward . . . to feed kids living in orphanages.

I was fascinated by this sport . . . so fascinated that I actually wanted to be a matador! El Cordobes was the standard by which many other matadors were measured . . . one of Spain's most famous . . . brought such theatrics to the ring . . . very unorthodox moves! He would turn his back to the bull . . . and wait for it to charge before turning to face it . . . plunging his pencil sized banderillas into the bull's neck. He was gored in a fight in 1964 . . . nearly died . . . returned to fight a mere 22 days later. We did get to see him once before he retired in 1971 at which time he was the highest paid bullfighter of all time.

El Cordobes

My mom gave me a book, Or I'll Dress You in Mourning, written about his life. One day I'll have the time to read it.

Tradition marked this sport deeply . . . governed closely by rules and social expectations. The matadors wore these amazing outfits that were decorated from head to toe. Funny little hats that sort of resembled fallen Mickey Mouse ears. If a fight went extremely well, the audience would petition the president to award him by waving white handkerchiefs. Flowers are thrown into the arena too. If a matador's performance was exceptional, the president would award the fighter with the bull's ears. In more rural areas, he may even earn the tail as well. We saw this happen on more than one occasion!

"The Pirate" - Juan Jose Padilla lost his eye to a bull that gored him . . . suffered a number of fractures . . . major paralysis and loss of hearing . . . returned to the ring 5 month later . . . sporting an eye patch

There were several scary moments too. We saw a matador get trampled once. Then there was one bull who charged with his head so low he got his horns caught on the ground and flipped. At one fight we watched in horror as the bull went over the fence into the audience.


One of the most amazing bullfights I ever saw was in Portugal . . . everyone . . . even the matador . . . was on horseback. There was even a female matador! The entire event was more like a ballet than anything . . . the bull wasn't even killed in the end.

While my dream of becoming a matador never came true, my mom actually got into the ring with a bull . . . only a cape separating them! She'd gone to lunch with some other Navy wives to tour a bullring, and the ladies were encouraged to try their hand! I think Mom was the only one brave enough to do it!

There's another event in Spain that involves bulls: The Running of the Bulls. Tradition says that this event was borne out of the necessity to get bulls from the fields to the bullrings for the fights. It's held in July of each year and will have hundreds of participants who dress in white clothes . . . fitted with red sashes . . . who run about 957 yards through the streets . . . in front of the bulls!! In Pamplona, the most famous site, there have been only 15 deaths recorded since 1910. I personally think the participants are nuts!

"Bravery is believing in yourself and the thing nobody can teach you." ~ El Cordobes