Item 5: Spanish Bullfight

Location: La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid, (Spain)

One of the reasons so many antipodeans come to London is to be a stone's throw from mainland Europe. Thus keeping true to this Working Holiday my first weekend getaway was to Madrid, Spain, with the added bonus of catching up with a mate from home.

All consideration for the warning that Bullfighting is quite a gruesome sport to behold, we approached the spectacular La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas with little reluctance. We were going to watch the bullfights.

Having chosen our tickets wisely, we raced up the stairs of the stadium to locate our padded seats in the upper rows, shaded from Madrid's afternoon sun. Tensely I watched as the brass band played for the first bull to come running into the stadium.

All up, there were six fights, each broken into three stages as announced by a trumpet. Through each, we we watched as the bulls were first tested for their agility and endurance by picadores on horseback and banderillero, (both carrying their weapons of choice), before the bull came face-to-face with the artful matadors and encountered their final moments.

Having only seen "when things go wrong" images on TV, the tradition and skill embodied in the stages of the fight was displayed amongst the action. We saw a bull charge at the horse, dismounting the picadore and worried more for the horse than it's rider. And as the matador's confidence beamed out towards our seats, their ability to turn their back to the aggravated bull proved much more of a trained art than we could imagine.

After the more skillful fights, the underlying culture of the sport surrounded us in the packed stadium, as spectators stood to wave white handkerchiefs of approval.

Item 5: Spanish Bullfight? Check!