So first, we visited Italica - the first Roman ruins found NOT in Rome! Very cool. I took pictures..
THEN WE WENT TO A BULLFIGHT. I was very nervous about this. It is not everyday you watch an animal (let alone six) get killed right in front of you for sport. We went in with an open mind, treating it as a 'cultural experience'. Maybe it was because our seats weren't that close, but I really didn't think it was that bad. I mean, of course, the animal suffered, and that is very sad. But did you know that bullfighting bulls are bred and raised to be killed in that way? And if the bullfights didn't exist, neither would those bulls? Also, as my Intensive Spanish Grammar teacher put it, 'They live an excellent life, but die a tragic death'.. so apparently they are treated very well (fed, and kept healthy) up to this point in life. We stayed for the whole thing (a lot of the people we know left after a few bulls). Here's the thing - the only reason we might have wanted to leave early was not because we were horrified or scarred for life.. it was because really, after you see a few bulls killed, it all seems the same. I know this probably sounds terrible and that we got super desensitized (which, I mean, claro, we did) ... but this is an ancient Spanish tradition and I don't think I'm one to judge. There was a certain elegance to everything, in a way... And did you know that every part of the bull is used? Like, toros from a corrida are a delicacy dish.. so the meat does not go wasted.
Basically, there are two sides to this 'debate' (which is actually becoming very controversial in Spain right now) and I think I'm able to see them both.
But if it makes any of the animal-lovers feel better, this one Matador, nicknamed 'El Cid' ... he was supposed to be one of the best toreros there tonight (there were 2 others)... well for BOTH of the bulls he fought, they knocked him down.. I'm pretty sure we found out later that he broke his hand or arm or something.. so they didn't let him take them down without a fight.
Anyway, after the bullfight, we went to LA FERIA DE LAS NACIONES which is this AWESOME thing that happens in Sevilla every year (maybe twice a year) for like TWO MONTHS. Legit, it started this week and it's ending November 4th! It's down by FRIENDSHIP PARK (not the real name)... there's stands set up from ALL OVER THE WORLD selling their DELICIOUS FOODS and crafts and things.. OH MY LORD I GOT JASMINE PANTS. Okay wait, I said I'd take a picture. Just look.
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| I CAN SHOW YOU THE WORLD |
Oh, but before we got to la FESTIVAL... this is a weird story. So we were by the Universidad de Sevilla, and Michele and Alison were getting cash from the ATM. All of a sudden we see A MAN DRESSED IN A FLY COSTUME... fly as in, the insect, following pedestrians and saying BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ at them... so of course we start laughing and OF COURSE that makes him come over and talk to us... He was asking us what we were going to do tonight. I thought he was going to try to get us to go to some bar or something.. THEN AS HE'S IS BEING WEIRD AND BUZZING AT US, a chico of about 16 years or so (actually i didn't see his face, I have no idea how old he was), comes over to us, probably because a friend dared him to freak out the guiris, TURNS AROUND, SQUATS, AND PULLS DOWN HIS PANTS.
THAT'S RIGHT. Tonight was the night I was mooned for the first time. BUT I LOOKED AWAY. Because that was the hairiest most disgusting buttocks I HAVE EVER SEEN EVER. Not that I've seen many buttockses but STILL. ENOUGH WAS ENOUGH. And all this happened and the fly is still BUZZING. Then some random guy comes over and says DO YOU WANT A PICTURE DO YOU WANT A PICTURE... and we don't know if he's with the fly guy, and we don't know if they're gonna try to charge us or try to rob us.. but we can't really say no. SO HE TAKES A PICTURE WITH HIS OWN PHONE AND WALKS AWAY. So now there is a picture of me and my friends and a FLY MAN on the phone of a random spaniard.
EVERYTHING IS STRANGE.
I LOVE IT.
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