For the most part, the bull dies. It dies because it is repeatedly wounded and subsequently loses bl

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There are a few hot topics sure to stir the pot at any dinner party in Madrid : language (Castilian vs Basque, Catalan, etc), football airline travel sites (Barça vs Real Madrid) and bullfighting. While many defend bullfighting as an art and tradition important to Spanish culture, others think of it as barbaric and archaic. Where do you stand?
About ten years ago I wasn't sure what to think about bullfighting, and figured, like many foreigners do, that it was a good show and part of the culture. So I went to the bullring and saw the fight. Now, this was in Mexico not Spain, but the concept is the same.
I've not been to another bullfight and did not get through the fight in Mexico. That's the thing about bullfighting, they kill the bull . You need to be ready to see a bloody fight if you go to the bullring. This is not your typical Western Rodeo. If you get queasy when you order fish and it comes with the head still on, think twice about bullfighting.
But what if you want to see Spain like Hemingway did? The dust, the grace, the thrill of the clash between man and beast? Well then you can, at one of Madrid's Sunday bullfights at Plaza de Toros las Ventas . From March to October, airline travel sites there are fights on regularly, and if you do your homework you can plan to see a famous Spanish bullfighter in the ring. Bullfights are called corridas de toros and tickets at Las Ventas go between €5 and €150.
For the most part, the bull dies. It dies because it is repeatedly wounded and subsequently loses blood and the strength to fight. Once in a while a bull might injure, maim or kill a matador or bullfighter, too. So this is another aspect you must be prepared for at a bullfight, that is, the possibility that you might witness a human death. This is not your average sport where a soccer player sprains an ankle!
One of the most popular bullfighting fiestas is San Fermin in Pamplona, which is coming up next month in July. If you've read The Sun Also Rises , by our friend Hemingway, then you have some idea of what to expect from Pamplona. During San Fermin bulls run through the streets airline travel sites into the bullring early in the morning. The daring and sober are able to run with these bulls, and many do each year. It's important to mention that each year runners are also seriously injured and at times killed.
Also, bullfighting is seen as a very Spanish sport. Therefore, some who do not feel Spanish and may even wish to separate from Spain are against bullfighting. This is the case for many in Catalonia, airline travel sites where bullfighting was banned in 2010 (the ban was the result of many factors). airline travel sites In Barcelona, the elaborate bullring on Plaça Espanya is now a mall; go figure.
airline travel sites Also in our guide: If you re preparing for a trip to Madrid any time soon, be sure to charge over to our guide to budget travel in Madrid . We have advice and tips for visiting Madrid without spending to much on hotels, food and sightseeing.
About the author: Regina W.Bryan is a Barcelona-based freelance writer and photographer. When not eating tapas and exploring Europe, she is tending her balcony veggie garden and practicing Catalan. For more of her thoughts on Spain, check: www.regwb.com and www.thespainscoop.com .
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