I was commenting about the Felanitx bullfights the other day. Here is some follow-up.

In Spanish-speaking countries, if and when the crowd considers the matador or torero to having done exceptionally well, he will be given a standing ovation, with men throwing hats and ladies throwing roses into the arena to show their appreciation. The successful torero (“killer of bulls”) will also have earned a severed bull’s ear, sometimes even two, and exceptionally even the tail of the bull, depending on the quality of his or her performance (yes, there are a few female toreros). If the bull’s performance was also outstanding, the public may petition the president of the bullring for a vuelta. This is when the crowd applauds as the dead bull is dragged once around the ring.

I went back to the Plaza de Toros in Felanitx the day after the last bullfight, and took today’s photo. If you look closely you can make out part of a banderilla, a knife, and some black objects, which in fact are such cut-off bull’s ears. It angers me somewhat that the whole fuss is about doing a good show and earning a supposedly well deserved trophy, only to find that the acquired trophy is then disregarded, discarded and thrown out. A little respect for the combatant, in this case the bull with the no. 100, 101, 109, 110, 111 or 115, would have been of the order, don’t you think?

The photo was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: August 29th, 2008. The time was 09:09:35.