Bull Fighting

Watched my first bullfight on the tele a few nights ago. Never seen one before, just wee snippets.

I have to say it was educational. I can see the attraction of bit of it. It's like a blood sport version of american wrestling merged with gladiators.

The bull comes out and has a wee run about thinking 'what the hell is all this then'

then the matador makes an appearance with a large red/pink sheet.

He flaps it about a bit, and the bull made a half hearted charge at it then walked away (are the bulls trained ? I dunno). He tried again, but clearly the bull was really not that bothered about it all.

After about 5 mins the crowd obviously started to get restless so this other bloke on horseback comes out. The horse has a suit of armour on made of what looks like wicker/cane to protect it.

The bloke on horseback goes up to the bull which is not too bothered at this stage and gets a 10 foot stick with a large spike on the end... He then procedes to stab the bull in the back with it.

Not deep, just an inch or so, but keeps at it.. stab stab stab... I assume to try and piss the bull off.

This works (surprise) and the bull starts to get a bit fecked off with all this stabbing at it... I mean wtf did it do it's probably thinking... christ I left that bloke alone, even though he was goading me with that sheet, and this is the thanks I get....

So, the horseback stabber retreats and the matador comes forward again.

All this time the matador is acting like he is in some sort of pantomine... playing to the crowd.. big gestures like 'fa... this bull is not worthy of me... look at me, I am a god.. look at the socks I have stuck in my stupid looking skin tight spandex suit covered in gold buttons', etc , etc

So now the bull starts charging and the matador starts playing with the bull. It's a big sheet at this time so not really a lot of skill as far as I can see, the bull seems not to really give a toss about the bull fighter, just the sheet (hence me wondering again if they are trained to hate the sheet..).

After a bit he goes in, and gets a smaller sheet.

He now starts the pantomime bit again, but it's clear now that some skill is involved. He can clearly 'read the bull'. the bull onlt charges when he tells it to. Sometimes he turns his back to the bull and walks away (the crowd like this bit). I am assuming that this is what seperated the good bullfighters out.. this affinity/empathy with the bull.

After a bit with this, he goes away and some other matadors come out whose job is to run up to the bull and stick 2 spikes into it with the fluffy bits on the end.

There are 3 sets of these guys. Basically their skill seems to involved sneaking up to the bull, stabbing it then running like f*ck and jumping over the wall.

The bull by this stage is looking a bit fecked... its saying 'what the hell have I done to deserve this ?'.

Anyway, to a big round of appluase the matador comes back out with a wee sheet this time and a sword.

He ponces about a lot this time, goading the bull. sometimes making it charge, sometime not. Sometimes just going up to it and looking it in the eyes (bull just looks back)... sometimes even getting up to it to pat it.

Eventually he starts stroking its head with the sword.

Anyway, a bit of a pantomime ensues again.. will be stab it.. no... this time ? no.

I am assuming that ideally he is supposed to lunge the sword in the once and the bull is dead ?

Anyway, he has a go... sword goes in about 6 inches, sticks there... he turns round bowing to the crowd, but the sword falls out, and the bull is still up.

So he gets another sword, and pantomime again... following my stabbing number 2.

Again, the bull stays up.

He get close ups of the matador here, and he does not look best chuffed.

After the 4th stabbing and the bull staying up the crowd has clearly had enough, and the bull is looking really sorry for itself, but still on its feet...

They are clearly then about to bring something else on... maybe killer dogs or trained eagles to peck its eyes out ?... but the bull finally has had enough and topples onto its side.

The crowd cheers.