Day 14: Cordoba & a Bull Fight!

"Today we had a two hour drive to Cordoba. I read a lot." Ashlynn.

"Today we woke up and drove to Cordoba. We drove around to find out info. about a bull fight. Mom and grandpa found out from the policia that it was girls only! And it was free! Grandpa didn't like that. So me, Kennedi, Ashy and Mom and Grandma Smith were going to go. We thought about getting wigs and dresses for boys. That plan failed =)." Talie.
After getting lunch, we set out to find the cathedral and castle. Every major town in Spain has a large cathedral and a castle on the top of the hill, where the villagers would watch from the watch tower and the entire village could run to for refuge in times of war. The streets are more like sidewalks than streets, and they are lined by tall, identical white washed homes, making it hard to see where you are going or remember where you have come from. It is very hot. We find a fountain to walk around in and cool off, and we pick oranges, but are disappointed as they are not yet ripe.

 

We find the cathedral, but of course we must cool off with some el helado first.

 

We admire the beautiful courtyard and cathedral.

The cool skinny trees that I just love!

    Benson drops us off at an ancient brick stadium for the bull fight! It's so old, it's amazing it's still standing - we are definitely not in the Pepsi center. The snacks for sale are: candies, water, sodas, cerveza - of course, nuts and gum. Hmm, would not go over well in the states, but, apparently good enough for Kennedi. I ask her, "How do you like the bull fight?" To which she questions (with a mouthful of candy), "What bull fight?" There are lots of little girls and older women dressed up in the traditional Flamenco dresses. Most everyone has a flower in their hair - which we later discover is to throw to the triumphant matador after he wins the "battle"with the bulls.

As we enter the stadium, we are given paper fans to keep us cool - boy do we feel authentic!

We get some of the last shaded seats and are only four rows up from the arena.

     The bull fight begins with matadors in training. There are about six of them who hold out their capes and when the bull gets too close to them, they hide behind a protective wall which lines the edge of the arena.

 After they wear out the bull a little, a man comes out with two spears and stabs the bull in the back of his neck. Finally the matador comes out with his red cape and waves it for the bull to run through.

 If the bull gets too close, some men run out to distract the bull, and draw him away from the matador. Secretly, Talie, Ashy & I were hoping that he'd get the matador - atleast a little bit. It did happen about six times through out the night, where the matador would lay down and cover his head with his arms until the bull was conned into chasing someone else.

    The crowd yells, "Ole" when the bull runs through the cape. The matador keeps stabbing the bull in the head with skinny spears until he is dead or can't get back up. When the bull is killed, two horses drag him off

                                                 and the matador walks around the ring

                  while the women wave white handkerchiefs and throw flowers into the arena.

                                           It was definitely a girl's night out to remember!!

"It was fun! We got lots of snacks. I had 2 ice pops and gummy worms. At the bullfight, they killed eight bulls. So the matadors (people who kill the bulls) had red sheets and the bulls would charge for the sheets. It was amazing!" Ashlynn.

"At the bull fight, we sat in the shade (it was hot!) We were like four rows from the fight! Our seats were perfecto! The Matadors looked my age (13-16)! One of the fights, the matador killed the bull on his first try. Girls threw roses at him. Through out the fights some of the bulls ran into the Matador and knocked him down it was kind of cool watching it!" Talie.