La Corrida de Toros

The bullfight was nothing like I imagined it would be -- a gruesome, bloody massacre in a gladiator-like duel between man and beast -- but rather, an exhibition of art and culture.  The costumes worn by all participants and the formality and grace of their actions reflect the true nature of the event.  It is an exhibit of man's dominance over animals, but to be successful in killing a bull the matadors must exude courage and valor and move with deliberation and confidence.  All elements combined create an art form like none other.

The arena looks circular, but is actually oval and slopes downward toward the edges to give the toreros the advantage when running away from a bull.

Horsemen led the procession that opened the event.

Local celebrities, officials and other important people entered the arena.

The toreros.

The picadores.

This team of horses and mean drag the dead bulls out of the stadium.

The first bull.

A small group of toreros wave magenta capes to get the bull riled up after it enters the arena.

The picadores stab the bull in the back of the neck with a lance to weaken it.  

The men in the red shirts had to pull a fallen horse back onto its feet.  The bull's horns had gotten caught in the horse's protective covering and knocked it over.  

A picador stabbing a bull.

Three toreros hook two small lances into the bull's neck, aiming for the hole made by the picador.  This further weakens the bull.

Matadores put on a bit of a show before actually killing the bull.  A good matador can keep the bull's full attention the entire time. 

Matadores put on a bit of a show before actually killing the bull.  A good matador can keep the bull's full attention the entire time. 

Round 2!

Dragging out the dead bull.

This bull was particularly clumsy, and at one point fell to its knees and proceeded to somersault onto its head and land on its back before gaining his footing once again.

This bull fell too early, and was deemed a weak bull.  These bigger, less elegant bulls were released into the arena and the black bull was herded out, making his shameful exit with the rest "of his kind."

La Feria!

All last week women walked around Sevilla in flamenco-style dresses, complete with matching shoes and earrings, and combs and flowers in their hair.  The men dressed up in suits to accompany them to the Feria, a week-long festival full of visiting casetas (fancy tents), dancing Sevillana (similar to flamenco), drinking rebujito (the signature drink of the Feria) all day and all night long.  The festival was situated down the block from my home stay, so all week the street was teeming with people and taxis coming and going at all hours.  My favorite part was the dresses.  They are beautiful in a very elegant and feminine way, coming in every imaginable color and pattern, and look good on everyone who wears one. 

The festival opened and closed with light.  At midnight on Monday, the first night of the Feria, they lit the entrance to the festival grounds along with the strings of lanterns that adorned the lines of casetas.  Sunday night they closed the Feria at midnight with an amazing fireworks display over the Guadalquivir river.

Opening night of the Feria, just before midnight.  A huge crowd filled the streets outside the fair grounds to watch the lights.

The entrance in all its glory.

A few of the hundreds of casetas set up for the Feria.  The insides are set up like actual restaurants, with tables, chairs, a bar or kitchen area, and a dance floor.

Inside a caseta.

Inside the Feria

A vendor selling various sweets and nuts.

I think these are enormous versions of those gummy sour straws.  I took this picture because when I saw them I though of Colleen and Brian, who would have gone crazy seeing these on display.

Most casetas are private/invitation only, but we made friends with some girls who invited us to theirs for dancing and rebujito.

All the girls dancing, led by one of the musicians.

Vicky dancing Sevillana

Tilden and Anne Byrd enjoying rebujito.