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.