A load of bull...

You get the impression that going to see the bullfight is no longer fashionable. While it is true that many Spaniards hate the idea and indeed have never been to the Corrida, there are also many diehard fans as we saw when went along with Angus and Karen to see a bullfight.  We felt it was something we should do once to witness this key part of Spanish culture, however none of us is tempted to go back. (Well maybe with a free ticket...) It was gory and cruel and all rigged against the poor bull who did not want to be there and certainly did not want to fight. "Send him to the grill!" shouted the crowd. Horses were also injured though sadly not the toreros (bull fighters)  The highlight for us was when the audience lost patience with the bullfighter and stood up and threw their seat cushions at his head, thankfully three cushions hit him before he was led off!  If you are of a strong disposition you might want to see what happened to one of the guys we saw this year but in a previous fight (below).

200th Post - celebration!

Celebrating our 200th post with a facebook video link - we have so little bandwidth some days it is impossible to load anything - however I hope you enjoy these fireworks in the Retiro Park, these Spaniards sure know how to light the touch paper!

Barcelona (Home of Manuel!)

 

Barcelona - home of Manuel, famous waiter from Fawlty Towers. Arguably his rare Siberian hamster is more famous but there you go. We spent the holiday weekend there and came back with stiff necks - there is just such a lot to look up at, every corner has something else to see and especially famous is the Gaudi Cathedral. Having already been to Disneyland it wasn't as stunning as it might have been but is certainly something different. The beach was a bit full of Brits but we shouldn't complain being from that airt ourselves. Plenty to see and three more destinations ticked from '1000 places to see before you die' - hmm brings that day closer I suppose!