"Bullfight! (contains graphic photos)" Top 5 Page for this destination Mexico City Travelogue by acemj

The bullfight is divided into three "suertes" or acts, each announced by the sounding of horns. In the first act, the bull enters the ring and is met by several "toreros" who bait the bull into tiring charges toward their colorful capes.

After the bull has tired a bit, the "picadores" come out riding heavily padded and blindfolded horses. The bull will attack the colorful padding of the horse and when he does, the "picador" will stab the bull between the shoulder blades to further weaken it.

In the second act, the toreros return to the ring and challenge to bull with their "bandilleras". The bandilleras are what you see in this picture, metal tipped spikes that the toreros drive into the bull as cleanly and artistically as possible.

By now the bull is usually fairly exhausted, but he should have enough left to make some spirited charges in the third and final act against the matador himself. After another blast from the trumpets, the third act begins and the matador comes out to face the bull.

After making as many daring moves as possible and gathering up "oles" from the crowd as he goes, the matador sizes up the bull for a death blow.

In the end, the matador drives his sword deep into the bull between his shoulder blades. If executed properly, the bull will crumble to the ground and will be moments from death.

After the bull is down, another man comes out (on the left in this picture) and draws a small knife from its sheath and with a quick blow to the bull's brain, makes certain that his suffering is over.

The bull's lifeless body is removed by two horses after the fight is over.