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Bullfighting in Spain

I went to the bull rings & the bull ring museum in Spanish cities; however, I just could not go see a bull fight. Allan did see a bull fight.

Bullfighting has certainly been a popular sport in Spain for thousands of years. Recently, the people in Spain are not as interested in the sport. Once it was considered a contest of art & great skill, but that is no longer an opinion of the majority. Others, and me included, feel that it is a cruel sport because it involves killing the bull.

In Spain, bullfighting is called corridas or "corrida de toros", which means "running, or fiesta of the bulls".

It looks to me that part of the flair of bullfighting comes from the clothing. The matador costume is called traje de luces or "suit of lights". I was "floored" to find out that these costumes can cost as much as $10,000.

Bullrings are all over Spain. We saw the ones in Seville, Madrid, and Ronda. In the Ronda Bullfighting Museum, we learned that the origins of the corrida de toros are traced back to the Bronze Age in Crete! At one time, seeing young boys test their worth by throwing themselves onto the horns of pasturing bulls was outlawed, but it was restored again by the Moors during their occupation.

Bullfighting is most popular among older people; some of the younger people think the bull suffers a slow, painful death, only for the viewers' entertainment. Animal protection groups are trying to have it banned in Spain, Mexico, Portugal, & Peru.

Allan says that the bullfight is complex: it begins with a parade & ceremony. The matador is the focal point. He has assistants called banderilleros [on foot] and picadores[on horseback]. The bull is taunted with capes and long sticks. The finale involves the matador doing intricate maneuvers with cape and sword. The matador aims for the spot between the bull's shoulders, plunging his sword in. (ugh)

Equipment: The crowd cheers "Ole! and throws flowers into the ring. But, unless the matador fights well and with dignity, there will be no cheers. One thing is for sure: many matadors are wealthy celebrities in Spain

It would seem that the "equipment" you need is your enthusiasm.

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Sports in Spain

Everyone knows that Soccer is "king of sports" in Spain. It has a long history in this country, being first played in 1873. It was the English and Scottish workers in the Spanish mines that first introduced this new game that they called "football".

Spain has qualified for nine World Cup Finals at least. It's the leading spectator sport in Spain. Most games for the Spanish League are played on Sundays from September to May. Two of the most famous teams are Read Madrid and FC Barcelona. The towns have enormous stadiums and more than 100,000 fans turn out to watch their team play. Yes, the Spanish are passionate about their Soccer teams.

Jai Alai is a ball game invented in Basque; it is one of the fastest games in the world. In the rallies between players, the ball may travel at a speed of 150 miles (241 km) per hour. It's a type of handball played on a large court. Opposing individuals or teams alternately bounce a small, hard ball against one, two, or three walls and catch it upon its return. The court is called fronton [it's a rectangle with solid walls on 3 sides and a wire screen on the 4th side. The ball is caught and thrown with a glove-shaped wicker basket that is strapped to the player's wrist.

Bullfighting is a Spanish tradition. More and more Spaniards are opposing bullfighting on the grounds of its cruelty; however, it remains second only to soccer as Spain's most popular pastime.

Fans applaud not only the bravery of the bullfighters but the artistry as well. It's the ultimate test of a person's intelligence and will against the formidable strength of the bull. We found that most Spanish cities have at least 1 bullring. Madrid and Seville are considered the top venues.

Golf has become increasingly popular in Spain and can be played throughout the year. If you are interested in golf, there are several golf vacation packages available at reasonable rates.

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