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Pablo Yáñez | profile | all galleries >> Places >> Portugal (1989) >> Corrida de Touros - Bull Fight tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Corrida de Touros - Bull Fight | Lisbon - Lisboa | Sintra, Obidos, Evora, Lagos, etc.

Corrida de Touros - Bull Fight

Warning image quality of these images is crappy and is only presented here for cultural interest.

Not sure if I would ever do this again, but I'm glad I went once. Photos are form 1990 -- oh to have had a digital camera back then - but, all in all, not a bad performance for my old 35mm camera, cheap and dark Tokina zoon lens and ASA 800(?) film.

A really interesting cultural event to witness. I was fascinated to see that the focus to the event was not really the "blue-blooded" Cavaleiro (horsman), or the flashy well-dressed matador, but the 8 forcados, who seem to be dressed as common-folk and by far display the most courage.

I assume the ritual, is in a way, a tribute to the common man, but of course this is just my completely uninformed conjecture - please leave any comments below if you have any real info to add in regard to this fasinating ritual.
The Lisbon Bullring
The Lisbon Bullring		 A cavaleiro's horse - I think the breed is called a lusitano
A cavaleiro's horse - I think the breed is called a lusitano		 Portugese Bullfighter
Portugese Bullfighter		 The parade before the start of the spectacle
The "parade" before the start of the spectacle
A cavaleiro fighting the bull - you can't see it here but the horns are capped
A cavaleiro "fighting" the bull - you can't see it here but the horns are capped		 A cavaleiro fighting the bull - the bull is not killed by the cavaleiro, but he is hurt
A cavaleiro "fighting" the bull - the bull is not killed by the cavaleiro, but he is hurt		 A cavaleiro fighting the bull - as you can see this is a potentially pretty dangerous for everyone involved
A cavaleiro "fighting" the bull - as you can see this is a potentially pretty dangerous for everyone involved		 Now for the insane part - the Pegada de Touros (Bull Catch) - the lead man of the Forcados aproaches the bull taunting him
Now for the insane part - the "Pegada de Touros" (Bull Catch) - the lead man of the "Forcados" aproaches the bull taunting him
Already pretty pissed off, the bull charges, hitting him hard - The man's job is to get hit! and hold on to the bull's head
Already pretty pissed off, the bull charges, hitting him hard - The man's job is to get hit! and hold on to the bull's head		 The bull will now try to drive the lead man into the far wall
The bull will now try to drive the lead man into the far wall		 The job of the other 7 Forcados is to tackle the bull and hold him
The job of the other 7 Forcados is to "tackle" the bull and hold him		 Last shot on the roll of film
Last shot on the roll of film

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Roland N Salazar 23-Jan-2008 13:56
I sure would like to know where to find patterns of a Toreros Traje de Luces or rather Suits of lights? and especially where to buy posters and books on certain Matadors like Fran Rivera Ordonez? He is our fav. We like most from Spain.
lorin niculae28-Mar-2006 11:08
Pablo, thank you very much for your comment and invitation to see your corrida. I think you have capture very well the athmosphere of the show and the dynamism of such an event. Bravo!
Guest 25-Feb-2006 19:39
I didnt like it at all
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