Vistas y Diversiónes de Madrid:el bueno, el malo, y el feo

While walking the streets of Madrid, we noticed that Madrilenos love their dogs. Everywhere we went, there were little dogs and big dogs. Dogs on leashes, and dogs on ledges - like this one who peered down at us with cute puppy dog eyes and floppy little ears.

Madrid is a huge metropolitan area - cars bustling in between narrow streets and tall buildings. On the go and with style.

But when you take a respite from all the hustle and bustle of the city, you can take a stroll in one of the capital's large parks - Parque del Retiro. And you can remember what it was like to be a child, sitting in front of a small puppet theater.

It reminded me of my own childhood and watching the marionette shows with my mom - something I loved and always looked forward to. I called her tonight and asked her if she remembered those shows. She laughed at me for even remembering. She mentioned that the shows were somewhere in Silverlake or Hollywood, or maybe Downtown LA.

I'll have to ask her again when she's not so tired.



But in my reveries of being an innocent child, a part of me thought of the story of "Ferdinand the Friendly Bull" when MS and I bought our five euro tickets for the Sunday bullfight at the historic Plaza de los Toros.

I was reminded of the glitz and glamour of the matadores, and how grand the toros were as they entered the ring. I was mesmerized by the colorful uniforms that glistened in the sunlight, and the dance that both the matador and toro seemed to play. With each twirl and twist of the matador's cape, the bull would respond with beautiful grace.

And for a little while, I honestly thought that this dance was what "bullfights" were like. But ignorance is bliss and I soon remembered that this was a bull-fight, that this spectacle was wrought with violence and brutal deathblows.

My admiration quickly turned into horror, disgust, and anger.

I turned away from the bloody gores, and asked MS to leave.

One of the things that's written in the guidebooks as a must do - but after having done it, I regret buying our tickets with a heavy heart. My conscience hopes that the meat is donated to those less fortunate, but I don't really know what happens after the bulls are killed and hauled out of the ring - which is an unsightly and repulsing image in itself, as you bear witness to the bull fighting for his last breaths while being pulled disgracefully and inhumanely away from the public eye.

Madrid. Full of things to do and see - the good, the bad, and the very ugly... the adventure continues...