Bull riding, true madness!
Tonight after sipping away another juice at the juice bar, Andrew invited me to the local fair. He explained to me that there would be music, fun and games, and that the main event was bull riding! I was more than happy to tag along. I wanted to see how the locals party! At six we climbed into the van and headed to a tiny little airstrip just outside of the township. When we arrived it wasn’t very busy at all and I was wondering what all the fuss was about. But as the hours passed it got busier and busier and before I knew it I was squeezing through the crowds trying to get a closer look at the crazy ones riding the bulls!
I was amazed at how busy it had actually become. I was wondering where all the people came from and I didn’t even think that so many people lived in the area! It was a surreal experience. The younger generations now prefer their motorcycles but the older “Ranchero’s” still turned up on their horses in pride.
The locals really did know how to have fun and then I realized that this was as authentic as it gets. I was one of just a few “gringo’s” and felt very welcome! Children were playing games as their parents sang hopelessly at the Karaoke bar. There were food stalls serving local dishes, a bouncy castle and different music coming from all directions. It was more like a small festival! And then as the night skies grew dark, the people made their way to the stands. These tiny wooden arenas are built by local farmers just weeks before the event and I was wondering if they would hold the crowds. It was like a small wooden coliseum! I decided to give those a miss and headed for the gates. I climbed up high getting a clear view or the arena. This was the main event. The bulls!
Sitting on top of the fence I noticed the cowboys getting their horses ready. They made the show of making their horses dance to local tunes. The horses would trot with their knees up high attempting to keep in time with the music. In the middle of the arena was a wooden floor where the horses could then tap dance. I had never seen anything like it before in my life!
After seeing various horses strut their stuff it was time for the bulls. These bulls are massive and you would have to be a complete madman getting even close to one that is pissed off! They get the bulls angry by tying a rope around their stomachs and slowly making the rope tighter and tighter. Whilst in the pen behind the gate a rider gets on and then the gate is opened. The crowd all cheer as the rider is thrown back and forth. Eventually he is thrown off and into the dirt! The bull then turns on the rider. Crazy spectators then run into the arena distracting the bull as the rider recovers. It’s true madness and I totally loved it!
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