Recortadores

In several villages around here, it is now Fiesta Time. It is different for every area. Last week, it was at ‘La Pobla Del Duc’, a village about 5 miles from here.

They had several nights of entertainment at the local bull ring (a temporary structure) as well as parades, and a huge ‘grape fight’, where everyone throws lots of bunches of grapes at each other.

We went to two nights at the bullring; the first was with professional people, (called Recortadores) who perform amazing stunts with the bulls. They goad the bull to charge, then, at the last second, they jump over the charging bull! The second night, it was just the local ‘have a go heros’ in the ring.

The Recortadores were excellent. As well as jumping over the bulls, they did lots of stunts. Sometimes there were two of them standing together, and as the bull charges, they simply parted, and the bull went between them. One of them even pole vaulted over the bull. Another 'game' was to try and hook a small metal ring with ribbons on it, over the bulls horn. It only counts if the bull is running towards you when the ring goes on (no sneaking up behind him!). They used several bulls during the course of the event, so that they didn’t get too tired. Good job really, because one of them jumped over the barrier 3 times. Thankfully, it didn’t land on the audience, but simply in the corridor the men usually use, to get away from the bull. It was very funny, watching everyone jump into the ring, instead of out! The oddest thing though, was that the entertainment didn’t even start until 11:30 pm. I guess that this is because it is simply too hot in the daytime! Oh yes – entry fee – 2 euros.

On the night of the ‘have a goes’ it was the same – very late and only 2 euros. Many of the lads were chicken really. They may have been in the ring, but they were only brave when behind the bull. There were 3 lads who were very good, one of them even doing a jump over the bull a few times. Excellent entertainment, with neither man nor bull being hurt.