10 Reactions Everyone Has Visiting World Famous Places
3. Oh Dear God. The Blood.
Landmark/Attraction: Las Ventas Location: Madrid, Spain Designer/Artist: N/A Completed: N/A Bullfighting has fallen out of favor in most parts of the first world, but it's still romanticized in Spain. And if you're a starry eyed tourist, who grew up thinking that bullfighting was a beautiful tribute to the majesty of the bull, then you have never been to or seen an actual bullfight. It gets bloody and ugly very quickly. It is not some thrilling 1-on-1 contest between beast and man before the matador kills the bull, other performers lance the bull's neck muscles, to soften him up and force him to lower his head. And the final kill is usually anything but pretty. The bull may lie twitching on the ground until his spinal cord is cut (the dagger gets jammed and twisted into the bull's neck, and the carcass is then dragged out of the arena by its legs. By all means, go to a bullfight and experience this 'wondrous' part of 'culture,' but only if you have a strong stomach.
Kevin is an AP English Language teacher and freelance writer from Queens, NY. His focus is on American pop culture and American issues. He wrote a weekly column for Complex called "Throwback Thursdays," which spotlighted video games and trends from previous console generations. Kevin has also been published in VIBE, Salon, PopMatters, Joystiq, and Racialicious. Follow him on Twitter to learn more.
