Bull Fight – Corrida de Toros

I understand that every culture has different customs, beliefs, and traditions.  While I am in Spain I want to do as much as I can to experience Spanish culture but attending a bull fight is an experience I am definitely not down with having.  I just can’t find the just in taunting and then slowly slaughtering an animal for enjoyment.  Since I was young I always loved animals and I remember at a young age making posters to stop animal cruelty and begging my mom to let me post my posters and their poor spelling and grammar around the neighbourhood.  I even remember at the age of 7 forming “H.E.S.L” with a friend, which stood for help endangered species live.  Now, H.E.S.L didn’t become a huge corporation or anything, but I just remember always feeling so strong about animal rights.  I became a vegetarian almost ten years ago, as a personal choice, but by no means am I the type of vegetarian to preach my beliefs on others.  I understand that having meat as a part of your diet is just a part of “the circle of life” and I know it is healthy to have the protein.  I just think if an animal is going to be killed, it should be done humanely and then the meat should be used.  Even though I am completely against this certain Spanish tradition I thought I’d talk a little bit about bull fighting since it is so import to Spanish culture.

Bull fighting is a major part of Spanish culture.  Every city I have visited here, including Murcia, has a Plaza de Toros, which is where the bullfighting takes place.  Usually 6 bulls are killed during one “show” and it is the matador that is doing the killings.  First the matador’s assistant waves a yellow and pink cape get the attention of the bull, while the matador observes the bull’s nature.  Next, when the matador is ready, numerous fighters (picadors) enter and begin to throw spears into the bull’s back.  When the bull is weakened, 10-15 minutes of torture later, the matador enters the ring.  The matador then taunts the bull with his cape (muleta), which weakens and slows down the bull even more.  When the bull is finally at its weakest state the matador brings out his sword (espada).  He distracts the bull with his cape and when the bull is not looking he stabs him in between the shoulders with his sword.  If the bull does not die instantly, the matador is also armed with a tool called a descabello that he uses to stab the bull in the neck which is supposed to sever its spinal cord and cause death.  So, I don’t see how this is at all entertaining, but it is very important to the Spanish people.  Matadors are considered brave heroes and are highly honoured in Spain’s society.  Personally, I think the bull is obviously the one with more talent and bravery here.  From what I have read, it sounds like the matador barely does any work.  First of all, there are like six men who throw spears at the bull for about fifteen minutes.  So what I’m thinking is this bull has been speared at least a hundred times, probably more, before the matador even gets up off his seat.  So, after being speared a good hundred times the bull gets tired and is obviously in a lot of pain, then gets taunted by the matador and stabbed to death?  I don’t see any skill or bravery in this tradition what so ever.  I would like to see how the matador performs after being speared for fifteen minutes.  The only feelings I have towards this tradition is frustration, sadness, and disgust.

Early In

So it has been 3 weeks now since I have arrived in Spain.  I’m not sure if time is going by quickly or slowly because 3 weeks doesn’t sound like too long of a time, but it has definitely been long enough for me to become comfortable living here.  Even though I have become comfortable here, there is still not a doubt that there are some major differences between Spain and Canada – social, physical, and cultural.

Everybody I have met has been very friendly, whether they are from Spain or other parts of Europe.  It is also extremely common to greet others with a kiss on either cheek which is very different from the simple “hey” we give to others in Canada.  People here also do things much later in the day than we would at home such as eating dinner (at 9 or 10 in the evening) or going out at night (between 1 and 2am).  I also feel like they generally all have very laid back personalities, which I feel is also a trait many Canadians are thought to have and many do have - especially in British Columbia.  The difference between being laid back in Canada and laid back in Spain is that in Canada everybody is still very “go, go, go.”  In Spain, there are fiesta times, where businesses are closed in the afternoon for about three hours or so a day.  On Sundays, it is very rare to find anything open and on a regular day businesses close fairly early (unless you are a bar or a restaurant).  In Canada, businesses stay open late to be convenient for all.  Therefore, there is not the option of running to Tim Horton’s late at night to grab a coffee or any late night trips to Wal-Mart or Shopper’s Drug Mart.  It is very rare to even see anyone walking with a coffee in a to-go cup or to go somewhere to pick up takeout if you don’t have time to cook.  I think they generally believe there is plenty of time for everything.  Instead of grabbing a coffee to go they would rather sit outside a cafe and enjoy it and instead of getting takeout they would rather take the time to enjoy their meal.

Murcia is very physically different from Cranbrook and from Canada.  Instead of walking out the door everyday and seeing maple and pine trees (which I love) there are palm and orange trees (which I also love).  In the town there are many cultural landmarks such as a 15^th Century Cathedral, Mar Menor, the Casino, and many museums.  So you can imagine how different it feels to walk around your town and have a gigantic cathedral that is centuries old only minutes from your home.  Driving in Murcia would be an event in itself.  The roads are set up very different than they are at home and drivers are extremely aggressive on the road.  When I first arrived I would sit on the bus with clenched fists wondering if I would make it from A to B without getting into the largest car pile up to happen in history.  One thing that is very comforting about Murcia because it is similar to home is the endless number of mountains that surround the city.