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-   -   Bull fight tickets (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/bull-fight-tickets-151731/)

marko Jan 31st, 2002 03:39 AM

Bull fight tickets
 
I will be in Seville on a sunday in July, What is the best way to organise a ticket to a bull fight?

JP Jan 31st, 2002 08:09 AM

we were in seville on a sunday this past sept. we just saw folks lined up to get tickets...if i recall correctly i think there were 2 lines [one for sun and one for shade]<BR><BR>http://www.sevilla5.com/monuments/bullring.html<BR><BR>http://www.sol.com/abanitours/<BR><BR>sorry i'm not more help.<BR><BR>JP

david west Jan 31st, 2002 08:31 AM

can't help with specifics, but I do remember that the Corridas aren't listed in the sports part of the papers but in the culture and entertainment bit, which threw me for a while.

Laura Jan 31st, 2002 09:34 AM

I was in Seville on a Sunday last June and I was able to buy tickets the day before. It may be better to buy tickets at least a day in advance to make sure that you have a good seat. You will be asked if you want a seat on the sun or shade. I took a seat in the shade, almost all the way on top, and I was able to see just fine. My ticket was about $12 US dollars. You may want to bring a seat cushion since the seats are mostly made out of cement.

GGinSF Jan 31st, 2002 09:54 AM

Do try to buy your ticket at least a day in advance. I recommend paying a little extra for Sombra (shade) tickets since one can bake in the sun in the Sol sections. In Madrid's ring there is a middle-price S y S (Sol y Sombra) where one starts in the sun but as the sun moves across the sky the shade covers the section. It sounds like the Maestranza bullring in Seville may not have that option, though.

olga Jan 31st, 2002 10:08 AM

Dear Marco,<BR><BR>July and August are the low season in Seville, so there are no bullfights at all. It will be the season at the coast,<BR>and the most important bullfighters will fight at places like Marbella, M&aacute;laga and C&aacute;diz. <BR>The schedules are not out yet, but there are a couple of important annual events in July in Puerto de Santa Mar&iacute;a<BR>and Huelva. They have their yearly Fairs and normally there is one bullfight a day for a straight week.<BR>Both these cities are about and hour drive from Seville and easy to get to<BR>by car, bus and train so you can make a daytrip out of it.<BR>Check www.sol.com or other tourist information websites in about 2 months and the schedules will be out.<BR><BR>Every bullring I know has the sun-shade pricing structure, and normally you can rent the cushions for the seats right there.<BR><BR>

Vic Jan 31st, 2002 10:21 AM

Sol e sombra. Before the fight go to one of the open store fronts on the way to the ring and have peel and eat shrimp with lots of cheap wine. You can't beat it.<BR><BR>Get a bote bag filled with cheap wine and sit in on the sunny side. You'll really enjoy the fight. Being drunk is about the only way you'll enjoy the fight.

Richard Jan 31st, 2002 12:08 PM

Save your money, go to a slaughterhouse, you'll see the same thing.

x Jan 31st, 2002 07:21 PM

I was wondering how long it would take before the holier than thou political comments would show up. Not long.

Jenna Jan 31st, 2002 07:26 PM

I think it's great there is no P.E.T.A in Spain to spoil the fun!

goforit Jan 31st, 2002 07:37 PM

Jenna, Vic and Richard: you are all so correct in defending the life of those bulls. Your convictions regarding animal life, and the disgusting way the Spanish treat them makes me have hope in humanity. Oh by the way, I'm sure none of you would have any problem in giving me a ride to the abortion clinic.<BR>Thanks, I'll call you and set up a time.<BR><BR>

Pepita Jan 31st, 2002 07:44 PM

Does anyone watch abortions for sport?

gringo Jan 31st, 2002 07:49 PM

Pepita: of course not, it doesn't take that long. Plus, it is not as horrible as taking the life of a bull.

Mark Jan 31st, 2002 08:44 PM

I am sorry but I am looking forward to it, to me its about the art, the sport ,the spectacle ! This is not an event that has been invented recently it is part of the culture and if it is not your cup of tea don't go.

Catz Jan 31st, 2002 08:47 PM

Don't use bulls, use cats, lets get rid of that feral pest and with as much entertainment as possible.

Vic Feb 1st, 2002 01:08 AM

When I was in high school we'd go to Tijuana and pretend to be Hemmingway and drink Taquilla at outdoor cafes and fill our bote bags with cheap wine and sit on the sunny side of the bull ring. I read Death in the Afternoon and I tried, even as a sixteen year old, to see the tragedy in the "spectacle". Americans in the stands always pulled for the bull. They really wanted to see someone get killed and they weren't very suble about it.<BR><BR>We went to see a fight in Seville and while the facilities were certainly upscale compared to Tijuana, I still think you've got to be drunk to "enjoy" the thing.

Vic Feb 1st, 2002 01:15 AM

Mark,<BR><BR>You can call it anything you want, but never, never call it a sport.<BR><BR>In a sport, contending sides have roughly the same chance of winning. If the bull had a 50 - 50 chance, as crazy as those bull fighters are, they would never get in the ring.

olga Feb 1st, 2002 03:11 AM

<BR>I´m from Seville, and until about 5 years ago I had never seen a bullfight but on TV.<BR><BR>It it true that the spectacle is not for the faint of heart or animal protection hardliners, so don´t get your tickets for front rows, better to be up high, and cheaper too. When you are close, you see more blood and you can hear the noises the bull makes all through the fight. <BR>I recomend trying to focus on the aesthetics of it, the "choreography"<BR>-all the bullfighters moves are standard, it´s like a dance-, the beautiful traditional music, the atmosphere, the absolute silence of the audience when a good job is being done,<BR>the drama of it all, the lights, colours<BR>and the beautiful people all dressed up, etc.<BR>This is not to say that I agree with the suffering of the animal, but I´ll say something : these bulls live a great life, they roam almost totally free most of their life, feeding in the best pastures in beautiful dehesas, <BR>running and mating, and they are treated like priced possessions.<BR>At least they die in an "honorable" way,<BR>putting up a fight, unlike all the cattle that lives almost in cages all their life and get slaughtered en masse.<BR><BR>Just thought I´d add a different point of view.<BR>

jenna Feb 1st, 2002 03:14 AM

The sad thing is that these "tree-hugging" types that get so enraged about things like bullfighting, are very blase about and supportive of "abortion rights".

Vic Feb 1st, 2002 03:22 AM

Abortion is not nearly that simple. When does life begin. It's a theogological question. In a diverse society, the question can be debated forever.<BR><BR>The toothpaste is not of the tube. Even if Roe v. Wade was overturned, the states would be free as before Roe to make their own laws. Before Roe about two thirds of the states were pro choice states. That won't change.<BR><BR>Pro choice is with us because the vast majority of Americans are for women making the decision.<BR><BR>Live with it.

Vic Feb 1st, 2002 03:26 AM

olga are you nuts?<BR><BR>"At least they die in an "honorable" way,"<BR><BR>The bull is aggressive because he has been separated from the herd. He's just frightened. "Honorable" hell.<BR>

jenna Feb 1st, 2002 03:28 AM

Then stop lecturing people that want to go have a good time and see a bullfight in Spain. It's legal there, so , LIVE WITH IT!!!! LOL!!!!!!!

olga Feb 1st, 2002 03:45 AM

Dear Vic,<BR><BR>Having a bad day at work or something?<BR>I don´t think I was disrespectful with you or anybody else, sorry if i offended you.<BR><BR>If I typed "honourable" like that is because it was just a manner of speaking, of course I don´t like what they do to the bull, but I don´t see you going to a slaughterhouse to protect any cattle. Their meat gets sold and eaten just the same, at least they get to have some fun all their life, even if they do have a little longer death then the other bulls.<BR><BR>Have a great day!

Vic Feb 1st, 2002 07:41 AM

When I was a teen and read Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon with his description of the high art and romance of the bullfight, I was filled with flights of fancy.<BR><BR>I found no high art just a bloody mess. The horses are better treated than in Hemingway's day. They are covered with blankets so that it takes longer to kill the animal, Oh, we'd go quite often in the summer but it never got better. Just a bunch teenages going to Mexico to get drunk and watch six animals being tortured to death. But as I said above, if you're drunk, it's easier to take.

notatreehugnhippie Feb 1st, 2002 08:37 AM

Unless you grew up in this culture, and were hardened to it from birth, I don't understand how anyone could enjoy it! If you are also hardened to suffering and pain, you might also enjoy it. If you have an ounce of compassion you won't like it. I was in Spain and had to watch on tv before I could be judgemental about it. Little do most know the bull is half dead by the time the matador comes out. He has been run around the ring for at least a half hour before by horses. He is then stuck with swords in the neck to sever the muscle that holds his head up. By the time the matador comes out he has almost bled to death. In one match, by the time the matador came out the bull was already on his knees unable to walk more than 10 feet before he'd collapse again. In most matches the bull had no fight left in him and the matador was trying to get the bull to run towards him. I know here in the US, any clips I have ever seen of bullfights, look to be like an intense and dangerous fight. Seeing 6-8 matches live in Spain...far from it!

olga Feb 1st, 2002 09:07 AM

<BR>To notatreehuggingippie:<BR><BR>If you really have been to 5 or 6 bullfights in Spain, what on earth were you looking at?<BR>Maribel, Pedro, and anybody else that really know their stuff about Spain <BR>will agree with me that what you say about the bull being half dead before the bullfighter comes out is not true.<BR>The bullfighter and his crew come out before the bull does. <BR>Yes, after dancing around for a while and teasing him, the picador on horseback comes out and stabs him with a small blade at the end of a lance, <BR>and then a couple of the matadors helpers poke at him with the banderillas, but when the bull is of good breed all this does nothing but irk him and piss him off.<BR>As a matter of fact, if the bull is too tame and doesn´t attack the matador, everybody boos and sometimes they even take the bull away and bring out another in hope that the next one is better and gives a better show and oportunity for the bullfighter to prove his courage.<BR><BR>Also, I´ve never been to Tijuana, but the kind of spectacle you are describing has nothing to do with a bulfight in Spain. I´ve never seen anybody visibly drunk at a bullfight here.<BR><BR>Believe me, I really don´t like the <BR>killing and tormenting the bull part of it anymore than most people, I actually only when I have people visiting from the U.S. that insist on going. But I don´t like it when people get on their high horse and criticise something without knowing much about it.<BR><BR>Being radical and intolerant is usually not a very good idea, whichever extreme you are on. Intolerance has shed many more lifes then bullfighters, and not precisely animal lifes.<BR><BR>I am not trying to convince anybody,

Matt Feb 1st, 2002 09:46 AM

marko-<BR><BR>I've yet to see anyone post a question re: bullfights without the thread eventually turning into a raging debate between animal rights' activists and the "cultural" supporters. I put the word in quotations as, I admittedly, question the cultural aspect of this blood sport. Didn't get to Seville --- did watch a bullfight in Madrid when in Spain quite a few years ago. It's not something I'd care to do again. Must say it holds your attention. Think I got a sense of what the Romans felt like when witnessing spectacles in the Colosseum.

Vic Feb 1st, 2002 11:14 AM

If what notatreehugnhippie said is true, no one would go to see the thing. The bull is quite lively and quite deadly. The whole idea is to slow the bull down and lower his head for the kill. But believe me, the bulls no push over even at the end.<BR><BR>As for Olga, I saw one fight in Spain and there were more than a few people drinking in the stands. I don't understand Spanish so I'll just assume they were not pulling for the bull like the Americans in Tijuana.

L Feb 1st, 2002 11:34 AM

Can any of you aficionados spare a white baggie? :&gt; Ciao

Lovelife Feb 1st, 2002 12:22 PM

How can killing an animal be considered an art form? Secondly, if you are going to stick spears in the bull's neck before the bullfight then to make things completely fair you should do the same to the barbaric bullfighter. <BR><BR>What kind of message does it send to children? They see this and think it's okay to go around killing animals. And guess what human abuse usually starts with animal abuse. <BR><BR>Anyone that says bullfighting if fine and it's a sport needs to reevaluate their lives. They should all be ashamed. And no I am not with any animal organization. I just have a heart and hate to see the barbaric way in which they are killed.

Vic Feb 1st, 2002 12:55 PM

We're on shaky ground if we're not vegetarians. I was told that the bulls were given to orphages in Tijuana. True or not, I'm sure the bulls were somehow consumed.<BR><BR>If we are concerned with how animals are treated, we don't have to go as far as Mexico and Spain. How do we produce veal? We're now making our own froi gras. Apparently, many animals are still conscious half way down the slaughter line.

richie Feb 1st, 2002 02:47 PM

as a highn school spanish teacher i take my students every year to spain and a bulfight --if you know what to lok for its not as gruesome and its actaully considered an art not a sport ---in some heated discussions with some madrilenos they say to me " how can americans just step over homeless people on sidewalks yet complain about the death 0f an animal that was born to fight and die --also why do americans hunt rabbits with shotguns" to the uneducated eye it is gruesome but......

Pepita Feb 1st, 2002 03:53 PM

I have a feeling the American rabbit hunters are not the same ones that are repulsed by bullfighting. <BR>But still, if your little boy hunted a rabbit by luring the boldest one out, then repeatedly taunting and stabbing the creature with hatpins and nail scissors, driving it into a frenzy, drawing this game out as long as possible, until the rabbit collapsed, then finished it off with a steak knife and sawed off its ears, while the other kids watched and cheered...and music was playing, and refreshments sold at this event...is the kid a budding psycho-sadist, a budding sportsman, or a budding artiste?

erdity Feb 1st, 2002 09:21 PM

Did anybody eventually tell Marko how to get his tickets ?


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