Toro!

I'm surprised that I've lived in Madrid for seven months now and have yet to write a post about bull-fighting. I am personally against the sport because of how they slaughter the animal. Before the matador fights the bull, they usually put long rods into the bull's spine in order to weaken him. The bull exhausts himself while chasing the matador and is finally finished with a sword through the skull. I have heard many of my students defend bull-fighting, saying that the bull is later cut up for food, but I cannot reconcile the demonstration of violence and prolonged suffering they inflict upon the bull.







I definitely cannot recommend attending this brutal sport, but I can recommend walking around outside the stadium. It's located in Ventas, a metro stop on the eastern side of the city. THe stadium was built in the 1929. Here are some pictures of this beautiful stadium.

There are also several outdoor statues to commemorate past matadors, which are pretty interesting.







I must say that the outside of the stadium is more interesting than the inside. Personally, I wish that they would do away with bull-fighting and just keep the building for sports or less-deadly activities.

Sorry to give such an opinionated view of the sport. It was a lovely building! We will have more pictures and stories soon!