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. |
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| Horsemen led the procession that opened the event. |
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| Local celebrities, officials and other important people entered the arena. |
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| The toreros. |
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| The picadores. |
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| This team of horses and mean drag the dead bulls out of the stadium. |
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| The first bull. |
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| A small group of toreros wave magenta capes to get the bull riled up after it enters the arena. |
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| The picadores stab the bull in the back of the neck with a lance to weaken it. |
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| 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. |
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| A picador stabbing a bull. |
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| Three toreros hook two small lances into the bull's neck, aiming for the hole made by the picador. This further weakens the bull. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| Round 2! |
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| Dragging out the dead bull. |
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| 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. |
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| 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." |
