Bullfight and Botin

So, since I haven't been keeping up so well with my blog, I haven't wrote about some amazing things I've been doing in Madrid. I had a chance to go to a Bullfight! We got the cheaper seats in the sun, and of course, after weeks of cloudy skies and rain, the sun chooses to be scorching hot on this day! We went to the Las Ventas bullring in Madrid. I was a bit nervous to see the bullfight, I was told it was gory, bloody, and offensive. So I was surprised to find that I loved it. I found it artistic, a dance between the bull and the matador. The way the matador moved was incredible and elegant. The colors of the matador's costume, traje de luces (suit of lights), was gorgeous, lined with gold, and the contrast between the suit, the red cape, and the black bull was beautiful. I don't know if it's bad or horrible of me to think that it was artistic, because a lot of people I went with were offended by it. I was looking around the bull ring and the spanish people were extremely into it. I think that's another reason I loved it, I was being emersed in Spanish culture. The crowd was chanting "Ole!" and cheering when the Matador succeeded in the bullfight. It was amazing. The banderilleros, the flagmen who tired out the bull, were artistic to me as well. Their costumes were not as magnificent as the matadores but nonetheless beautiful with a pink cape. The bullfight was such a great experience that I totally forgot that the were killing the bull.

For mine and another girls birthday, a couple of people from the program all met at Botin. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Botin is the oldest restaurant in the entire world! It was founded in 1725 and is a benchmark of traditional cuisine in Madrid. I had lamb, one of their specialties, accompanied by a refreshing pitcher of Sangria and it was delicious! That was a great evening. Afterwards we were treated to the best chocolate con churros ever! It was at a place that specializes in them, Chocolateria San Gines. The churros were fresh, the chocolate was thick, rich, and piping hot, the best dark chocolate. And it's open 24 hours. It is also the best place to go for breakfast after a night of bar hopping. Just another reason why I love Madrid. Churros and chocolate for breakfast, in a city that never sleeps.