Travels

Travel can immerse you deeply into other cultures. While in Madrid, Spain, my daughter and I attended a bullfight at the historic Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, the same venue Hemingway used to enjoy. Gory and blood-soaked at first, we soon were caught up in the thrill and excitement along with the rest of the crowd. We watched the intricate and ancient dance between animal and man, shared by the picadores, banderilleros, and torero in this spectacle of life and death in the bull ring. That afternoon six bulls strutted in, six bulls were dragged out. Next door to Las Ventas is a small, Spanish restaurant where we went after the bullfight for a quick bite to eat. A few other patrons who had arrived earlier than us were dining on a delicacy made from the testicles of the fallen bulls. Wanting to fully immerse ourselves in the culture, we requested it but were disappointed to learn that only six plates were served each day. The next day we made a special effort to be at the restaurant prior to the end of the bullfight and were lucky enough to get one of the special dishes to taste. I know what you're thinking but I've seen Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods eat things much worse than this so I didn't let it creep me out too much. When the waiter brought the plate of food and laid it before us, I noticed that the portion size was much smaller than the patrons received the day before. I inquired in my mix of English and broken Spanish why the serving size was so small. The waiter looked at me sadly and said, "Sometimes the bull win." Seriously, we did go to a bullfight, but the restaurant part is just a joke. However, I enjoy visiting places that people built before we Americans had a Declaration of Independence. Below are some of the places I've been fortunate enough to see. Some near, some far, but all ended up as fond memories (except that gastric issue at the Tower of London, but that's another story).

While in Madrid, Spain, my daughter and I attended a bullfight at the historic Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, the same venue Hemingway used to enjoy. Gory and blood-soaked at first, we soon were caught up in the thrill and excitement along with the rest of the crowd. We watched the intricate and ancient dance between animal and man, shared by the picadores, banderilleros, and torero in this spectacle of life and death in the bull ring. That afternoon six bulls strutted in, six bulls were dragged out. Next door to Las Ventas is a small, Spanish restaurant where we went after the bullfight for a quick bite to eat. A few other patrons who had arrived earlier than us were dining on a delicacy made from the testicles of the fallen bulls. Wanting to fully immerse ourselves in the culture, we requested it but were disappointed to learn that only six plates were served each day. The next day we made a special effort to be at the restaurant prior to the end of the bullfight and were lucky enough to get one of the special dishes to taste. I know what you're thinking but I've seen Andrew Zimmern from Bizarre Foods eat things much worse than this so I didn't let it creep me out too much. When the waiter brought the plate of food and laid it before us, I noticed that the portion size was much smaller than the patrons received the day before. I inquired in my mix of English and broken Spanish why the serving size was so small. The waiter looked at me sadly and said, "Sometimes the bull win." Seriously, we did go to a bullfight, but the restaurant part is just a joke. However, I enjoy visiting places that people built before we Americans had a Declaration of Independence. Below are some of the places I've been fortunate enough to see. Some near, some far, but all ended up as fond memories (except that gastric issue at the Tower of London, but that's another story).

Travels

Travel can immerse you deeply into other cultures.