| Portugeese bullfighting is very different from
the classical Spanish version. In Portugal the bull has a
fighting chance, and is not killed in the ring. Every Saturday
there is a bullfight in Lagos. Even if the price is a bit
steep, it's well worth the trip. It must be one of the
ultimate machismo challenges between man and beast.
The Cavaljero sets his banderillas
 The ultimate challenge...
Is very dangerous. This Focador is mashed to the
gound by the enraged bull...
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Man and beast
Near the Marina do Lago the bull-ring
holds action every Saturday afternoon. As the sun
is on it's way down, the bulls and the Cavaljeros,
Forcados and the Bandarilheiros makes their
duelling.
These fight are being held in the
major cities of Algarve and in the more classic
Ribatejo-area east of Lissabon.
The Portugese
bullfight has an opening where the Cavaljero on
horesback tries to aggrevate the bull, and place
the banderillas or farpas in the bull's neck. This
is being done with the utmost machismo bravado and
elegance, mocking the bull's brute force. The
Cavaljero needs to be in total control of his
horse, and to be very observant of the bull's
movements. One moment it is charging man and steed
at breakneck speed. The next moment being led on
by the Cavaljero.
As the bull tires, and the
four banderillos is well set, the next part
begins. A team of eight Forcadores enters the
arena and challenge the bull. Face to face, with
no weapons they line up in a row. The enraged bull
answeres the mocking calls from the Focadores and
charges...
The front Forcador faces the charging bull with
the others lined up behind him. With his bare
hands he tries to catch the bull by it's horns,
while the others catch up and tries to wrestle the
bull to the ground. Even if the bull's horns are
capped and covered with leather, this must be one
of the ultimate machismo challenges. Facing a
half-ton enraged bull charging down on you with
your bare hands as your only weapon certainly
demands respect!
Needless to say, it is very dangerous, and
injuries are frequent. At the fight on the 1st. of
July two men got hurt, trampled and thrown about
by an extremely valiant and brave bull. One
suffered seroius injuries and was rushed away in
an ambulance. The other suffered minor nosebleeds,
and posed as the hero of the day after the fight.
The bulls are finally being cajoled out
of the ring. They are never allowed to fight
again, and is butchered shortly after the fight.
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