We attended our 1st Azorean bullfight last weekend. Bullfights, here, are very different then what you are probably thinking. Only very rarely they are held in an arena, they do not have matadors, or red flags and they never kill the bull. They began in May and I am assuming will continue through August.
Bullfights, here, are the locals version of cheap weekend entertainment during the summer. The owner of the bulls, pays the cost to "rent" the street to have the bullfight. Everyone just stands where they please, and they have white lines marked on the street, where the bull cannot go past, or the owner will be fined. This is the so-called "safe zone". A group of about 10 people hold the bull with a rope within the boundaries, yet we came to find if the bull comes near them they drop the rope and run, so don't count on them for protection. :) Anyone can join in and tease the bull. They have 4 bulls and each round is about 30 minutes.
It was pretty entertaining for the most part. We were standing on the sidelines on ground a good 5 feet above where the bull was, and I was still a little scared that the bull was going t0 charge us. From what we have heard, and seen on videos, it is only really fun and interesting when the bull gets someone!! Unfortunately, we didn't get to witness that. Maybe, next time.
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