Bull and picador

(photo by Maurice Berho)

Sevilla, April 11th, 2016

Unique shape of the Plaza de Toros Sevilla

 

A screenshot showing the unique shape of the plaza de toros in Sevilla.

Juan Del Alamo in Madrid, May 17th, 2016

(photo by Julian Lopez)

639 kilos !

(photo by Maurice Berho)

A Miura bull tipped the scales at 639 kilos this year in Sevilla.

There must be another story to this photo with some of the crowd smiling, laughing, at applauding for the two trumpet players. What the story is though I don't know.

So many little things about the bullfight I don't know and probably will never know unless I live a few seasons in Spain.

Wind, a bullfighter's worst enemy

(photos by Maurice Berho)

Wind is a matador's worst enemy. It can be rather difficult to fight a bull with the wind blowing the muleta all over the place.

One thing to notice at a bullfight will be all the little pieces of torn up newspaper on the ground close to the wooden barreras. These pieces of newspaper are thrown in by one of the matador's team members in an attempt to give the bullfighter an idea where the wind is blowing and if there is an area of the plaza where the wind might be more calm. If there is then the matador might choose to take the bull there for the performance.

You'll also notice on a windy day a team member pouring water on the bottom portion of the muleta. This is to make the muleta heavier on the bottom so that the wind might not blow it around as much.

A mark in the sand

(photo taken earlier this year in Valencia)

Occasionally you will see a bullfighter enter the plaza and make a mark in the sand with his foot.

Usually they are making the sign of the cross.

A la plaza

Morante de la Puebla, on his way to the plaza with time to ponder and reflect.

The next generation

Guillermo Hermoso de Mendoza training in Mexico. Looks like the torch will be passed.

Concurso goyesco de recortes, Madrid, May 2nd, 2016

(photo by Ana Escribano)

El pasado 2 de mayo, a las 12 de la mañana, la plaza de toros de Las Ventas acogió una competición de toreo a cuerpo limpio, en la modalidad  goyesca, para conmemorar el día de la comunidad de Madrid.

El espectáculo ha reunido a 16 de los mejores especialistas que se han enfrentado en grupos de cuatro, a cuatro reses de la ganadería El Sierro, clasificándose los cuatro mejores para la gran final, que se disputó con otro toro del mismo hierro. José Antonio Pérez “Josele” fue quien se alzó con el primer puesto del concurso, con una gran actuación a lo largo del mismo.

 

Al término del concurso, las hermanos Coral y Sara Mota, junto a Rocío Pulido, se enfrentaron en una exhibición a un novillo de Sepúlveda de Yeltes al que realizaron recortes de mucho mérito. Al final de la lidia, Sara Mota fue volteada por el animal sin graves consecuencias.

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http://www.las-ventas.com/noticia.asp?codigo=4499

 

 

Tijuana postcard

Que toro !

(photo by Maurice Berho)

A bull from the Fuente Ymbro ranch fought by Juan Jose Padilla in Seville, April 17th, 2016.