The Dark Knight

For someone who's pretty critical of movies, I have to say this movie was amazing. I didn't watch the first Batman movie, so before the show started, I had friends tell me all about what I would be watching. I'm glad they filled me in.
The movie seemed long, but luckily not in a bad way. I have a bad habit of wondering how long a movie's been playing for so that I can guess if there's going to be a lot more plotline to cover or any twists that may happen or if the end of the story is near. There were a couple twists and open ended moments which work well for future Batman movie installments. At least that was my impression.
A little blurb by someone who knows about this stuff confirmed my hunches. I usually don't like when things are predictable, but I feel like this was done well enough that I'm not bothered by it. It kind of left it in a way that I want to watch the next movie to see if I'm definitely right. Or maybe the characters end in this one and it was just my hunches about their character development were right on and answered within the movie itself. Whatever. It was a good movie. Oh wait, I read the blurb again and it didn't confirm anything. I just read it too fast last time. I guess I will have to watch the next movie to find out what's going on or just ask to see what happens in the comics.
I guess maybe I should go back and watch the first one?
This was a gooooooood movie. Tastefully done. Action. Suspense. All the stuff that makes it a movie to definitely be seen on the big screen, but not too crazy that I needed to distract my mind so I wouldn't have to watch brutality on-screen. Good enough to get your mind imagining how scary it could have been (music was well done too), but imagination's enough. Sometimes better than seeing it for real. Costuming was nice too. For all of the hype, it (thankfully) did not disappoint.
I think all of the actors did a very respectable job. I don't know if it's up to Academy Award standard, but there were some incredible performances.
Dude, if you haven't already, watch The Dark Knight.

I gotta go out and see more movies.
The trailers were crappy. The only one that was of any interest was the next James Bond movie. I like the styling of the movie.
I need to remember to buy my ticket package for the TIFF08.

I learned something today

You can make good money working retail.
Associates at Cartier make 1% commission on everything they sell on top of their regular salary. There is some sort of quota system, but it's not too stressful to reach.
Apparently in the last week and associate sold a piece worth $1.5 million. Good paycheck.

Rumour has is that Matt Damon. is saying at the Windsor Arms Hotel, but I'm not sure if that's true. Apparently, an Asian woman from The Mummy 3 was shopping in Cartier (there was a BMW SUV waiting outside for her (the driver was a female cop hired for security). She left the store empty handed. I don't know if she's actually in the movie or if she's actually anyone of importance, but I know for sure that it wasn't Michelle Yeoh. Hmmm...after a little bit of looking, I think it might have been Isabella Leong. I am disappointed to report that she was wearing Lululemon pants.

Hazel

I went into Hazel today.
When the store first opened up, there was some pretty serious hype about it because it would be THE place for luxury goods and seemed to have a pretty perfect location as it's attached to the Hazelton Hotel - the newest hotspot for celebs and anyone who's anyone to stay at.
I also was interested in the store because one of the stylists for the store hired me at my first retail job. He was incredibly friendly (unlike most of the managers at the location), but quickly left for much bigger and better things. I know that he also has a personal styling company (although I'm not sure if he's put that on the backburner for the time being - I'm sure it's possible to do it freelance). So there's that personal connection there (even though it's not like it's personal in any way).
Anyway, the point is, I went into the store...and I was quite tentative about doing so. With all the hype, it just didn't seem like the place you could stroll into. Remember, this is snooty-and-weirdo-exclusive-for-no-reason Toronto instead of Milan or Paris or London or wherever where it's completely acceptable to go into stores where it's obvious you can't afford anything, but they still treat you like a million bucks.
It's a very small location and while it has beautiful items, I was incredibly disappointed. The merchandising and visual displays were atrocious. Absolutely horrible. Clothes were packed onto racks and shoes were casually placed about. I think that a store like this would do better if items were places into outfits a la Colette and other similar boutiques. I suppose, if you're shopping in a place like Hazel, you've got the undivided attention of the staff who can style for you and pick out outfits specifically for you, but it the boutique disappointed me immensely.
Another reason I was appalled by the store (I will never go back there again - nothing in the store really stood out to be as being that unique and inspiring) was that there was a family there who I'm assuming were staying at the hotel by their demeanor and discussions and with them was a child around the age of 8-10 years old who was barefoot, standing, jumping, no running around on the couches. The adults with him did not discipline him, nor did the staff members at the boutique say anything. Horrible.
My personal link entered the boutique with a rolling rack as I was leaving. Congratulations to him - it's nice to see that people can move up and do great things in the fashion industry.

Paris trip number 11 (I think)

You know how much I love Paris, so I won't bother to go into the nitty gritty details.
Paris was a super short trip, but wonderful.
Absolutely wonderful.
I discovered the 6th and Ile St. Louis and Ile de la Cite...sigh. I crossed lots of stuff of my list, but added even more on...sigh.
I continued the tradition and got my hair cut. It threw me for a loop, but it also saved me a lot of money. You see, I was ready to buy a bag. Since my haircut took way too long the boutique closed and I left Paris bagless. I will get it in the future. I promise.
Colette went above and beyond my expectations as usual. Whoever the buyer and visual display person is - they deserve a prize. And they also need to be my fashion consultant.
Repetto made me swoon.
I have come to appreciate Sonia Rykiel even though they still make those ugly rainbow striped things.
I would like new sunglasses and almost bought a really cheap pair from a stall, but waited too long and someone picked them up and bought them moments after I put them back on the table. I take it as a sign that I'm not supposed to have cheap items. On a related note, all designer sunglasses look good on my face.
Darn it, I'm starting to ramble. I wanted this to be a quick post.
Forget it, here are the photos.

There was some sort of Rugby tournament going on. And the finals were happening that day. Fans of the two teams took over the Champs Elysees. It was fun.





Why do I love this city so much? Why? Is it true love or just infatuation?






A picnic at the base of the Eiffel tower. I was surprised at how many people do this. I wonder if anyone picnics at the base of the CN Tower. I like picnics. Why do I not do all the cool stuff I did in Europe here in the city? It's possible, I just turn lazy or something.



Looking towards the Champs Elysees/Arc de Triomphe/etc. from the Tuileries. I could sit here for hours and watch the world go by.





Still in Tuileries. I want to own one of those balconies.







Louvre. I appreciate what's in it, but it's not my fav.





Place de la Concorde/Assemble Nationale/Hotel des Invalides...I will never forget my experience at Les Ambassadeurs. I am truly grateful for knowing someone to share that experience with.


And now, more moments from picnics by the Eiffel Tower.

Wake

Wake is a play written by Rachel Blair that played at the FRINGE festival this year. It's gotten amazing reviews, won awards and has subsequently been chosen to extend it run.
If you read my pseudo-reviews, you'll know I'm usually pretty indifferent about stuff. Actually, looking back at my TIFF reviews, I was very positive, so I guess that's what happens. I'll either love something or be completely indifferent (which often means that I didn't like it, but don't want to be rude). Okay, maybe that's not true either. I suppose I see the positive aspects of each of the pieces of which I'm indifferent towards so can understand why they were be good, but I just wasn't blown out of my seat.
Anyway, back on track and true to form, after watching this play, well, I LOVED it.

As written on the play's website and on the FRINGE website:
Wake is a touching and beautifully written drama which delves into the lives of three brothers who reunite for their father's funeral after a terrible crime tore them apart. Who is responsible for the event that changed their lives forever? How far do the bonds of family extend? Playwright Rachel Blair explores complexities of family and forgiveness.

Everything about the play was fantastic. The writing, the directing, the acting, the costuming and set design. Everything was seamless. I think I noticed a couple stumbles in lines, but it did not take away from the production. I really enjoyed the way that the story unfolded and how easily vignettes from different times and moments in the character's lives came together. The acting was superb, even the most subtle change in voice, posture and facial expression to highlight a time frame were not lost on the audience. Sets were changed flawlessly, like it was a well choreographed dance. So simple, yet so effective.
Congratulations to the whole team for this outstanding performance.
Too bad for those who didn't see it, because tonight was the last performance.


***********************
An anecdote to prove that I'm actually really shy. So after the play, I stood up, ready to walk out of the theatre. I turn around and Rachel Blair's sitting behind me. I know it's her because she went to my high school around the same time I did. I have no idea if she's remember who I am, but again, my shyness overcomes me and instead of congratulating her as I really want to, I just smile (I think I managed that, but I can't be sure) and walk out. I can tell you though that I do have an amazing speech in my head of what I would say to her if I had actually started a conversation. It's strange. I do so many things which contradict my shyness, but other times, I just can't get over it.

Outdoor movie

I've never been to a drive-in. At some point, I want to.
Tonight at Yonge and Dundas Square, there's an outdoor screening of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet. Hey, what's Claire Danes up to these days. All I know about Leonardo DiCaprio is that he's trying to save the planet. Is he the one that's making a whole eco-city?
Back on topic. The movie is part of the Outdoor Film screenings. I would love to take a picnic. Sit on a blanket, bring an extra one and enjoy the event.
The Princess Bride is showing next month. Maybe this is my chance to actually watch it.

Adam Growe's The Mom and Pop Shop

Another night out during the FRINGE took me to see Adam Growe's The Mom and Pop Shop.
This one-man comedy show takes place assuming that the members of the audience are attending their first pre-natal class. A frazzled Adam enters the room, letting us know that his wife (the real teacher) is running late. A father of three, he tries to stall...
It was exactly what I imagined it to be, nothing more, nothing less.
I didn't laugh out loud, but there were a lot of people around me who did, so I'm sure it was legitimately funny. I got the humour, it just wasn't funny enough to get me to, well, laugh out loud.
There was one joke that I found mildly entertaining but no one else seemed to get it (I assume, because no one laughed out loud). Adam was discussing that our parent generation (and prior, I suppose) had pregnant mothers not being too concerned about smoking and drinking (insert laughter here). He proceeds to warn us not to give our babies drugs (ha ha ha) and cough syrup (silence). I told someone I work with about this moment and as I was trying to explain to him why I thought this was supposed to be funny, he kept interrupting me and saying something about cough syrup having alcohol in it or something. I, personally, think it has something to do with the recent health report.
The show did have a nice arc to it. The ending was such that I didn't feel like I was just at a stand-up comedy act.
Would I recommend? Yikes, hard to say. I'm happy I went, but I'm wondering if there are better shows out there. I guess I enjoyed it though, so in that sense, I'd recommend it. I wasn't bored and that's a pretty big deal coming from me.

SYTYCD (results show for top 10 reveal)

I'm still watching the episode, so I don't know who's getting cut, but the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre performance. WOW. I wonder if Will aspires to be in a company like that. It'd be perfect.

SYTYCD (again)

I'd like to know if Katee and Joshua actually nailed the Bollywood number. It looked amazing, but I don't really know if it was well-done or not.

Nursery School Musical

Went to see Nursery School Musical tonight, part of the Fringe Festival.
It was a last minute decision even though I'd been wanting to go to the Fringe Festival since it started. I must admit that I was a little intimidated by all the different shows that were playing during the festival and no knowing how to sort through them and pick what to see. Luckily (?!?) I've been so busy this past little while and am going to continue to be throughout the weekend I could narrow down my options rather quickly. With the smaller list of shows to go through, I ended up with Nursery School Musical. For a couple obvious reasons. School. Musical. Done deal. I read a couple good reviews too, so that helped. I needed a light hearted show to go to anyway.
What did I think of the show. Uh oh, I find it difficult to give bad reviews. I mean - it was okay, but...meh. It was okay. I was hoping to laugh out loud, but I didn't really. I guess I don't laugh out loud very often though, so it's not that surprising, but I had high hopes. The fact that one of the numbers was called: "I sh*t my pants" made me think that I would be dying of laughter. Unfortunately not. It was a little high school show-esque. Punch lines were predictable especially when they were rhyming words in a song. While the issues that were being examined were true and had so much potential...the follow-through wasn't satisfying. If they had taken those issues to the extent of where Avenue Q went, I think it would have produced much better results. It just wasn't enough. A little amateur in my mind. Sorry. One highlight of the show - the two boys in their strollers. A little reminiscent of the Tim Hortons sketches from Air Farce. That was the closest I got to laughing out loud, so kudos for that.
As for the Fringe, I like the fact that 50% of the tickets are available to be purchased on-site just before the show - gets rid of the frustration felt at the Toronto International Film Festival (although I guess it's just not feasible at this level). I was at a venue which held 100 people. It was really sweet. I don't know if all of the venues are similar in size, but it really created a different type of vibe. A nice, homegrown festival kind of feel. Everyone working the event was wonderful, especially those who were asking for donations for the festival itself.

SYTYCD

Wow - the Broadway dance with Chelsie Hightower and Mark from the Top 12 show. AMAZING. I'm intrigued by by Mia Michael's comments however.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

To tell you the truth, I wasn't really interested in seeing this show, but I figured it's a classic musical and as I thought seeing the Phantom of the Opera would be good, I guess the same could be said for Joseph.
Ugh. Wrong. I'm not sure if I would recommend this show.
If you know lots about it and know what you're getting into and still want to see it, then go see it.
I had no idea what the storyline was (sorry - no Bible studies for me) and I just have memories of TV commercials with Donny Osmond and something with a pharaoh that looked like Elvis Presley. No idea what Elvis has to do with the Bible.
The beginning was a good start. I say that because there were songs that I recognized and the children's chorus was incredibly good. Both Lee Mead (Joseph) and Jenna Lee-James (Narrator) were phenomenal in their parts. Fantastic voices.
Once the real show started, I became confused. Very confused. I followed the storyline quite easily, but I wasn't sure why characters all of a sudden became Spanish or French. Or the little American desert thing. I still don't understand why Elvis made an appearance. Or why we were back to the 60s and 70s.
Honestly, I don't understand. It was so weird.
The songs were good, but the backdrop and costuming was bizarro. I was not expecting it, nor am I really sure that I enjoyed it.
I'm sure that was Andrew Lloyd Webber's point - to do something different, but sorry Sir Webber, I'm not a fan.
Proceed with caution, that's what I say.

Hairspray

Oh oh oh, woke up today...feeling the way I always do...
Went to see Hairspray in London. I knew that the show had gotten rave reviews when it opened on Broadway and then I watched the movie. It was cute.
The beginning of the show was exactly how I imagined it to be and I was ready for the fun night.
Too bad, I was really jet-lagged. About half an hour before the intermission my eyes started to droop. And I think (exhaustion clouds my memory) the storyline veered away from the movie and something weird happened which I didn't really understand. I don't know for sure, but it
was really difficult to keep my eyes open. I'm convinced that if the show was really captivating I would have been able to stay awake. Something about it was a little dull.
After the intermission (and giving my eyes a little rest) the show resumed its good times and I was hooked for the rest of the show. Everything became more upbeat and exciting. The ending was FAN-tastic.
I would recommend this show for sure. It's a toe tapping good time. Makes you want to sing along. Makes you want to dance. Makes you laugh.
Michael Ball did a hilarious job as Edna Turnblad, as did Rachael Wooding (Amber Von Tussle), Tracie Bennett (Velma Von Tussle) and Elinor Collett (Penny Pingleton). Superstar singers were Leanne Jones (Tracy Turnblad) and of course Johnnie Fiori (Motormouth Maybelle).
Oh yes, I was disappointed that playbills weren't being given out anymore. A simple cast list and musical number is all I need. I only think it's fair for the audience to know who/what they're watching without having to pay for it. I think it's only fair for the cast to have the audience read their little blurbs.
Anyway, as I said before, a great night out. My recommendation, don't be jet-lagged.

-picture courtesy of www.hairspraythemusical.co.uk

My second home

And now, some pictures from my second home:

Flying into Geneva...take a good look at those alps. Zurich is a much nicer airport, but this view is truly special, so decide carefully which airport you want to fly into. Also, if you're a passport stamp collector, Geneva doesn't give stamps, but Zurich does.


Sigh. The Red Church. Lake Neuch. Look really carefully and you'll see the Jura mountains. These aren't the "Swiss Alps" that you've probably heard of. My apartment was wonderful because I could see the lake and the mountains. My condo is great because I can see the lake and the freeway.

When I first arrived to Neuch, there was a big ditch here. Plans were in the works for a new football stadium and I only found out a little bit later that it was for Euro2008. I never had a chance to watch a Xamax game, but I did get a chance to set foot in the stadium. It was only one time - at the end of the BCN Tour du Canton 2007 when I felt more exhausted than I've ever felt before. I still hate running. Anyway, it's a beautiful stadium.


In the old town of Neuch. Downtown Neuch is beautiful. There normally isn't a big slide in the middle of downtown (although that would be really cool), there just happened to be the Fete du Musique going on, so lots of other fun things happening. Word on the street is that the time on the clock tower is super-duper accurate. I have no idea if this is rumor or fact.


Behold, the Saturday market. I'm not sure why I haven't made it to the
St. Lawrence Market yet. How embarassing. I do enjoy a good market. I enjoy it a lot. Neuch has a market on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. In the winter, they scale it back a bit...it usually just takes place on Saturday. The same vendors come to the market all the time and they set up in the same area. I wonder if they have to rent the spots and/or they are protective over their lot.

Looking south and seeing the number 7 turning from Longchamps tot he last stop in Hauterive. The building on the left of the picture that has a reddish coloured roof is an elementary school and it was nice to see the kids walking to and from school each and every day. I didn't go up to this lookout spot very often, but I really should have more often. It's a beautiful view and such a perfect spot to sit and reflect. I don't know if you can tell, but the boats are at a lower level than street level. There's actually a bunch of levels below what you can see leading to the Port d'Hauterive.

Looking east from the same lookout point. There's a street that curves upwards towards the top left of the picture (you can see a silver/blue car on the street) which I would walk every day to get home from the bus stop. After three years, I got really good at going up and down that hill. I'm sure my leg muscles benefited from living there. There is a restaurant among those buildings that I always wanted to eat at, but never got the courage to go to for some reason. The manager of the restaurant when I first arrived always made a point of saying hello to me. I would often see her on the Number 7 on her way to get groceries for the day. She was a very stylish lady with firey-red hair. Sometime before my third year there, the restaurant changed ownership. I still saw the lady every so often on the Number 7, but not as often as before.

In the previous picture, there's a grassy area to the left of where that silver/blue car is. During the spring of my last year there, four little goats showed up. They were really sweet, often coming over to the wall to greet me. I was happy to see that they were still there, but completely grown up! They completely ignored me this time. Boo.

Looking toward the street up to my apartment from the bus stop. This little island, well, they always kept it looking good. Beautiful flowers all the time. Decos during the holiday season. I'm not sure what the significance of this is - but I'm sure it's something. The building at the back with the brown shutters is the restaurant that I never went to. Bonus points if you can pick it out from the other picture.

I spent a day driving around the Jura mountains. Swiss people hike. Really, they do. I think the Swiss pretty outdoorsy and enjoy nature. There are of course lots of trails to go hiking. There are also lots of bike trails too. The Swiss also have ridiculously long lunch breaks. Sometimes up to 2 hours. This gives a chance for school children to go home and have lunch with their families even if their schools are a little further away. I have heard stories about children going home for lunch in the wintertime only to bustle off to the mountains for an hour of skiing and then return to go back to school. That's quite nice.

Another view from a town in the Jura. Obviously there is lots of farm land here. This is also the area known as the "Watch Valley". All the big watch companies are here and all the amazing watches are made in this area. I vaguely considered getting a really nice Swiss watch, but I feel like the value would be lost on me as I just want something pretty which tells time and I will inevitably scratch the face, so spending a bazillion dollars probably isn't worth it.



Looking down at the River Doubs. Standing on the Swiss side of the river of course. The other side is French. It is quite beautiful. Green and beautiful.





It's so beautiful here, non?





It was nice to drive around. Without a car, you're sort of limited to where the train stations are. The Post Bus is really good, but I still stayed with the rail. I pretty much visited every major city in the country (although I've decided that I still need to go to St. Gallen and Winterthur) but driving lets you see that much more.

I like having multiple "homes". I can't wait to go home once again.

Tee hee

Improv Everywhere does it again. I like this tip-off too. Funny.

Madrid, Spain (May 24th - 28th, 2007)

***WARNING - there are pictures from a bullfight in this post. If you're a little bit squeamish, I would advise you not to go through the rest of this post. They're towards the end, so I suppose you can read the beginning parts, but consider yourself warned.***

Well, here's another trip. Madrid was fabulous - I really enjoy Spanish culture. I'm sure I'm not going to actively pursue it, but I like to learn more languages. It's nice to have a couple phrases in your backpocket as you never know when they'll come in handy.
I think I enjoyed Barcelona more than Madrid. Don't get me wrong, Madrid was great, but I thought Barcelona had more heart. I would like to see more of Seville, however. That town seemed really sweet.



Yes, the obsession with metros continues.






Some shots of architecture in the city.
























I'm not the most avid football fan, but I do enjoy a game every so often. I took a tour of the stadium used by Real Madrid. They weren't playing while I was there, or else you'd better believe that I would have tried to get a ticket. Beckham - hello! Anyway, the stadium was intense when it was empty, I can only imagine what it would be like during a game!














Okay, so these benches are pretty swanky eh? What if I told you that they're heated. Even better.




Back to the source, but no purchase. Sigh. I love their Twin series soooooo much, but my weirdly shaped feet don't fit into them properly. The way that they're shaped the toe on their shoes doesn't work well with the taper of my feet. This can also be said for Birkenstocks, which I should have no interest in, but sometimes I do.




Another over-priced keychain. Sigh.






Some breakers practicing in one of the metro stations. I've always been a fan of breakdancers. Swoon.



Do they have Zara Home in Canada? I don't remember. Let me tell you something - here in America, there's Old Navy, GAP (including Baby and Kids) and Banana Republic. They all belong to the same company and target three different demographics. Spain has a similar trio: Mango, Zara (including Baby, Kids and Home) and Massimo Dutti, respectively.



You want good churros and chocolate dipping sauce? Go here.





Pedestrian streets. Still on the trend of loving walks and walking everywhere, well - pedestrian streets are amazing. The bonus of this one is that it's not cobblestone, so ladies, wear your heels if you want to!




I'm not sure why, but this bear and strawberry tree (strawberries don't grow on trees...) sculpture is famous.





The store itself was disappointing, but bonus points on the signage.





SEVILLE



I also like train stations.





As I said earlier, I really liked the bright, sunny feel of Seville. Here are a couple pictures from the day trip. I think at least a weekend would be more appropriate. Seville hosted the World Expo in 1929 and the city has preserved many of the buildings/pavillions built for the event.





































Seville has a very famous bullring. These pictures are just of the building, so no scary stuff here.





I don't think that I'd want to be waiting in the wings here. Too scary.






BACK IN MADRID...
Okay - the scary pictures are coming. I was lucky to be there during the San Isidro festival (traditional Spanish corrida de toros) when they have bullfights in the Plaza de Toros called Las Ventas. I was lucky enough to score some good tickets (btw, it costs more to sit in the shade) and even though I wasn't really sure if I would enjoy what I was getting myself into, I chalked it up to being another once in a lifetime experience. I still think that bullfights kill animals for no reason, but especially after watching one, there's more to it than just that. There's culture, there's art, there is something more to it. But I still think it's a little strange.
Someone scoffed when I told them that I was going to a bullfight - saying that it was just for the tourists. I'm sure I wasn't the only tourist there, but the fact that everyone within earshot of me was speaking in Spanish made me think that it was a pretty good local turn out. The language barrier was definitely there and although I wasn't completely sure what was going on (in the ring and in the stands), I wouldn't trade in being surrounded by locals for tourists any day. They tried to explain what was happening in the ring and often resorted to hand gestures (not unlike what the judges do anyway). I think I was starting to get the hang of guessing if the matador was doing a good job or not, but I can't be entirely sure. They were trying to describe the intricacies of the bullfight to me, but I'm sure that I didn't get all the nitty gritty details from them. I had a wonderful time and everyone was so friendly.

So the event begins with a parade. All of the participants enter the ring and of course the matadores are the last to come in just before the bull. There are a couple different parts to the bullfight and in this picture, you can see one of the picadores.




Each night has three different bullfighters who each have two bulls to fight. Round 1...fiiiiiiiiiight!



In this picture, we're waiting for the good stuff to begin. The men in green kind of do the odds and ends. Cleaning up and stuff. You can also see the banderilleros as well. They're easily mistaken for being the matadores, but they're not. Each matador has three banderilleros.

Prior to the beginning of the fight, there is a procession where the members of the fight salute the presiding officer. A trumpet sounds to start the segment (and does so at the beginning at all other segments as well) and everyone comes in. A band plays during all of this as well. The music is exactly what I imagined it to be. The stereotypical bullfight cheers/sounds definitely happen.
The next part of the bullfight involves the entrance of the bull. The cuadrilla is comprised of the matador, two picadores and three banderilleros and amozo de espada who holds the sword and they are the team for the duration of the fight. As the matador changes, so does the cuadrilla. Anyway, so the bull enters the ring and the matadore and his entourage size him up to determine how scary he is. How brave the bull will be. How fierce it is and stuff. They taunt him with a cape and watch what the bull does. There is some running behind the barrier by the men.
The trumpet sounds again and the first stage of the fight begins (tercio de varas). The picadores re-enter the ring and the matador (alone) sizes up the bull some more. When he is ready, he gets the bull to run towards the picador who spears the bull. First blood. A long time ago, the horses had no protection and you can imagine what happened. Often, the bulls would be pushing against the horses with so much force that the horses were on two legs, almost falling over. The picador is aiming for a certain spot on the bull and of course blood loss means that the bull becomes weaker. The goal is also to jab in an area which will make the bull unable to raise his head as high, thereby making it easier for the matador in future stages. The trumpet sounds to start the next stage and the picadores exit the ring. It's a good thing that the horses have coverings over their eyes, because it would be mayhem otherwise.

The second stage of the fight (tercio de banderillas) has the three banderilleros each taking a turn at stabbing the bull. I'm sure you've seen pictures of the bull after this stage before. Those ornately decorated banderillas jabbed into the same region that they've already been stabbed at from stage one. This part gets the bull even more intense and the banderillas show the first signs to a complete bullfight rookie that this is an artform.












The last stage of the fight (tercio de muerte), well - it's the end. Here, the matador is given the sword by the amozo de espada and brings out the famous red cape. Using the cape to attract the bull, this is where the posing, gesturing and such really happens. It shows how brave the matador really is
and of course I don't really understand the details, but this stage is where the event is really judged. All the really good stuff happens here. The stage ends when the bull is, well, dead. I think the aim is for the matador to jab the bull (once) with the sword in that perfect spot between the
shoulder blades and so the end of the sword pierces into his heart. If the matador does a good job, the sword goes all the way into the body so that only the handle is sticking out. The back attempts don't go all the way in and it's the worst when the matador has to take the sword out and re-jab. Ugh. After sword is in the bull (for the last time, if it has to be re-jabbed), the banderilleros come back out and confuse the bull with their magenta and gold capes. You can really see the bull nearing
the end here. Head down, looking frantic, back to the wall and it literally just collapses at the end. I can't believe how sudden it happens. The matador in red apparently did a really good job. This was the super jab into the heart I think. He got a standing ovation and paraded around the
ring after the bull was dragged out. The three banderilleros were there to congratulate him. You can see the that the banderilleros have costumes with silver as opposed to the matador who's outfit has gold. His round two didn't get the same response. There was a matador who got
booed by the crowd. My guess is that his jab wasn't very good as he had to re-jab. I can't even imagine the life of a bullfighter. The adrenaline, the prestige. I'm sure it's something that the Spanish culture reveres, but it just seems really scary. I suppose that there are people who go to work everyday risking their lives, so this isn't much different, but it's still pretty impressive.

I don't like this part. It happens really quickly and the bull is dragged from the ring. Yes, there is often a trail of blood. So the audience and judges decide if it's a good fight and of course I just follow along. Six bulls died this evening, no lives were spared. I'd almost like to see just how brave a bull needs to be to have its life spared, although I'm not sure what kind of life it would have after going through all of those stages.



ALCALA DE HERNARES
A cute little town to see an old university. I also like looking at universities. I don't know why, but I like them. The town is quite sweet as well, another town with character and a completely different vibe from the other places. I wonder if different towns in Ontario look different.













Phew. So there is it, another trip ticked off the list. A wonderful country, some unique experiences, and I didn't even talk about the great shopping!