National Geographic: The Soul of Spain Page #4
- Year:
- 1991
- 122 Views
to England
perfectly preserved
in a cask of brandy and sherry
At his nearby estate
one of the 500 relatives who are
shareholders
in the Domecq corporation indulges
was famed for his prowess in the Spanish
art of bullfighting on horseback
Today, he raises fine Andalucian horses
and hulls to fight in the ring
Bullfighting was once the leisure
pastime of gentlemen on horseback
Farmhands assisted with their capes
Modern bullfighting performed
by professionals on foot began
only two centuries ago
Bullfights are the highlight of the
annual April Fair in nearby Jerez
For this special event six local
breeders each enter a superior bull
in the competition for Best of the Year
Domecq is here
sharing the crowd's anticipation
and hoping his bull will bring honor
to the family's reputation as breeders
Victor Mendes
the matador who will face that bull
prepares for his test as he dons the
traditional suit of lights
The bullring manager
and other well-wishers
come bearing the only protection
they can offer "Suerte"
good luck
final adjustments
Mendes reflects on the trial ahead
It's now a fight or game between the
rational and the irrational
if is possible to arrive to the death
the death of the bull
But sometimes, the death of the man
To the Spaniard the bullfight
is not a game
but a revered ritual
not a sport but an art
Its origins can be traced to pagan
sacrifices
and to ancient Greek and Roman games
In its beauty, glorification of bravery
and disdain for death
the bullfight embodies traditional values
of Spanish life
More than spectacle
this is mythic theater
in which the drama of life and death
is reenacted
culminating in the predictable
but by no means certain
death of a noble beast.
In recent years it has lost popularity
and there is increasing disquiet
among a minority of Spaniards about
the morality of their "national fiesta
But for some
it remains an irreplaceable thread
in the fabric of their heritage
As the afternoon turns to evening
crowds begin to gather
at the fairgrounds
In this weeklong celebration women wear
traditional Andalucian dresses
friends meet, sip sherry,
make music, and dance
The region of Extremadura
in western Spain
has always been harsh and ungiving
For decades Azuaga
like many small agricultural
and mining towns
its population
The future looks bleak unless young
people can be persuaded to stay
Among the few professionals here is a
husband-and-wife team of doctors
assigned to the local clinic
Their 16-year-old daughter, Alicia
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