Allthego and Tony went off to see a bull fight in the Madrid Bull Ring, Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas. It was built in 1931 and has a capacity of 23,800 spectators. It is the second largest operating bull ring in the world, behind one in Venezuela. The ladies declined the opportunity to watch this cultural spectacle.

The event started at 6 pm. It seems that, just like at a football match,the crowd gathers slowly outside the Ring in cafes and bars ahead of the game. We thought it was a full house and guessed something like 30-35,000 were there when things got underway. Allthego later researched the capacity at 23,800, so we were a little out.

The crowd was of all age groups from young to old, male and female. They all appeared keen.

Above is a typical night. There are three matadors and six bulls to be fought, two bulls for each matador. Each contest is of 20-25 minutes duration. The objective is to kill the bull in accordance with strict protocols of process, the bull doesn’t have any protocols and seems to just want to gore the matador.

There is a parade of all the participants around the ring before the first contest. Not the bull of course!

At the start, the bull is enticed to various parts of the ring by banderilleros, to tire the bull a bit but also so that the matador can assess the bulls strengths and weaknesses. The picadors, on horseback then join the action and spear the bull in the neck area a few times. The bull tries to gore the horse. They leave the action after a few minutes of work on the bull.

The banderilleros then rejoin the action and attempt to insert up to six to eight barbed darts in the bulls neck area.

The matador then takes over and engages with the bull in passes of the cape. Again wearing the bleeding bull down and positioning it for the final thrust of the sword the matador displays his skill in mastering the bull, it is quite theatrical at times. The bull continues to attempt to gore the matador.

We were quite surprised when in one of the contests we watched a bull did actually gore one of the matadors, appeared to be in the thigh. He got carried off to cheers from the crowd, one of the other matadors took over.

Well, what can I say about it all. Interesting to go and see what it is all about. Wouldn’t go again. The theatre of it all brought back memories of scenes from those Roman Empire movies of action in the Colosseum, gladiators and wild animals with the crowds cheering and crying out for more blood!

Looking forward to something more sedate!