Retail Therapy & Bullfighting

Its been 4 weeks since I have been into EXITO but I made up for it today with a little retail therapy to help me get used to being back in Colombia. A couple of work shirts, a pair of good jeans, some underwear and socks, a T Shirt,a casual shirt and a belt and all for the equivalent of £50 and the jeans and casual shirt were half of that, I know, I know I am getting extravagent in my old age.

In the afternoon I was channel hoping when I found a bull fight on one of the channels.
Bull fighting is big business in Colombia and is one of the main "sports" after Football for the local population.
Although I havent watched a bull fight before I found I was fascinated and revolted at the same time. The bull is on a loser before it ever set its hoofs in the ring. The Matador was a pompous ass he strutted about the ring as if he owned it, taunting the bull and playing up to the crowd. He seemed so aloof, and the bull for all its efforts only found itself in more pain as the matadors spears stuck ungainly from its back. During the whole gory event I found myself hoping the bull would get the Matador it would seem only just. The Matador took the red Cape and the sword the Bulls finale was about to be played out in front of the baying crowd. I watched transfixed as time after time he taunted the bull humiliating this proud animal for the pleasure of the audience. Each time it looked like he would apply the coup de gras, he moved away to allow the audience to applaude his magnificance. Turning back he went for more taunting drawing the bull in close, only he misjudged the bull it twisted as it came in and in one very fluid motion flipped the Matador up 6 - 8 feet into the air. he landed with a crunch, as the bull trampled him in its pain and fury. Needless to say the support staff ran on and carried him out but through it all I found myself applauding the bull its life was over but it had exacted some justice for the humiliation it had had to endure.

I seriously doubt I could go to a Bullfight as I found the whole spectacle off putting but it is somewhat satisfying to know that occassionally the bull wins a moral if not total victory. In 1997 this Colombian Matador in Bogota certainly got the point of the bulls revenge. Well done the bull is what I say.
He suffered what was described as horrendous injuries, the bull is of course dead.