Madrid,Spain-Bullfighting-“terico del muerte”-“Death in the Afternoon”

(These blogs are part of my Travel Notes series for my friends to share my travel interests. I attach 20 or so photographs taken at each of these trips. These phots are available on request. Videos taken during the trip are available on NEILTUBE - @ https://www.youtube.com/user/neilmarathe

(This blog was originally posted on June 25, 2012)

Earlier this year, I had traveled to Madrid to see the pretty boy, Ronaldo of Real Madrid. During that visit, I toured the Ventas - a bull fighting arena built in 1930’s.

Hemingway’s Spain is famous for sherry and bullfighting. So, while I sipped lots of sherry on my last visit – to witness his soul – only a bullfight will do.

I have just returned from Madrid after taking in this Spanish Inquisition.

A bull fight is divided into three parts: the terico de varas (a picador on a horse with a lancer); terico de banderillas (or a dart with a harpoon) and terico del mueerte or death.

Prior to first terico, a very healthy toro enters the ring –to find the peons (matador’s assistants) – wearing lavish costumes decorated with gleaming braid. These peons attract the toro by making various passes withmuletas or capes – both to tire it and, more importantly, to put its temperament to the test. (Photos named per these tericos)

The toro is having a ball and appears to say, “Boy, I am glad I got the email.”

In the 1st terico, the picador (a heavy and well protected man on a blind folded horse) uses his pica (a lance) to incite the toroto charge. The pica is a pyramid-shaped tip with razor-sharp edges. The pica tears the morillo, a mound of muscle on the bull’s back. This makes the animal subsequently lower its head to deal the death blow.

The peons with their muletas are present to pull thetoro away - in case, the picador gets dismounted – and could get gored by the toro.

In the 2nd Terico, a peon faces the bull and challenges it to attack. As the toro is charging the peon – hestabs two fancily ribboned razor sharp banderillas (darts) into its back at high speed, as though beginning of a hunt. Its end is bent like a fish hook to prevent it from working free of the wound. Torogets stabbed with six of banderillas.

By this time, the torois bleeding heavily – and breathing heavily.

He is now thinking, “I should have read the email.”

In the 3rd Terico, the matador with a red muleta puts the toro through its paces. He establishes his complete command over the heavily wounded toro. Now physically weakened, he does not attack thematador even when they are only a breath away.

The matador is now ready to finish off the bull with an estoque or sword. The matadorthrusts the sword into an area, called la cruz (the cross). The sword travels behind the shoulder blade, entering the fourth intercoastal space and ending up in the lung. The internal hemorrhage caused by severing the pulmonary or cardiac blood vessels often leaves the animal standing long enough to guarantee a dramatic effect.

Unfortunately, this is no Shakespeare– for the toro. His role – no, his life - is over in 15 minutes.

See ya,

Neil

PS: Watch complete bullfighting on NEILTUBE. (Parental Guidance strongly advised)