Hostal San Lorenzo Madrid

Ole!One of my fondest memories in Madrid was visiting a bullfighting ring . Regardless of one's personal opinion of an encounter between matador and bull , attendance at the bullring is an emotional experience ( emotional for the bull no doubt ) . Bullfighting is an event of ancient origin in which the matador enters the bullring with an animal trained to kill . In Spain the ritual has 3 main acts . First the picadors , on horses , lance the bull to weaken its neck muscles . Then the banderilleros , on foot , place a pair of darts in the bull . Finally the matador walks alone into the bullring carrying a sword and a muleta , a small red cloth draped over a stick . Shaking the muleta to attract the color-blind bull's attention , the matador begins the duel . Each encounter with a bull takes approximately 20 minutes . Bullfighting as I have learned is more a contest between the matador and his own courage than with the bull itself . If the matador had been especially courageous , he is awarded the ears and tail of the bull ( what a souvenir for the kids huh ) . In my opinion ( which I am sure you have all been waiting for ) is that no matter what the culture of this activity I believe this killing is a sport and I do not think I would sit through one . If you are someone who is interested in this the fights are generally held on Sundays from Easter through October .