Steet bullfight

Michael and I walked to the grocery store one afternoon in Angra to find it closed and stalls set up in the parking lot and on the road.  Upon asking what was going on we searned that a bull fight was going to take place in the street in a couple of hours.  We decided to hang around.  These street bullfights are more like bull teasings than fights, although sometimes people do get hurt.  The bulls are not killed.

In addition to the stalls, there were also street vendors selling snacks and beverages.

















The blankets hanging from the windows are a carryover from the days when the girls would stand on balconies to watch the bull fights.  The blankets would be hung on the railings to keep the guys from being able to see up their skirts.  The guys would flirt with the girls and tease the bulls to show how macho they were.

We met a couple, Morris and Alda there with their granddaughter.  Alda is originally from Terciera and met Morris while he was stationed there.  They married and are currently living in Florida.  It was a pleasure meeting them and sitting on the wall with them.  They were able to explain to us a lot of what was going on.



The bull is kept on a rope kind of like a long leash.  About halfway down the line 4 rope handlers hold onto the line and again at the end of the line are four more.  It is the responsiblility of the rope handlers to keep the bull within the white lines that mark the ends of the street where the bull is allowed to go.  If you leave your car parked inside the white lines or you yourself are injured, you are responsible for all damages.  If the bull goes outside the white line, the farm is responsible for all damage.
 Sometimes when the bull gets teased and starts running back up the street the rope handlers at the center of the rope will drop the line and get out of the way and then grab the line again after the bull runs by.