The Wayfaring Adventures of Rod and Clinton...

Madrid, Spain:

May, 1999: Madrid, Barcelona

After Copenhagen Rod and I flew to Madrid, then on to Barcelona. My first trip to Spain was incredible! Above are some images of Madrid: Our bullfight tickets, the beautiful Cathredral de Almudena, and the Plaza Puerta del Sol at night.

It was such a different scene here after Denmark, with all the words actually nearly deciferable after living in California all my life and letters I could actually read.

The Bullfight:
Rod and I took in a bullfight while we were in Madrid. It seemed to be a popular attraction for the locals as the place looked to be sold out.
I didn't see any scorecards outside the arena so I'll keep score for you as I go along.

To the left is Rod outside of the Bullfight Arena.

The "fight" commences with a gentleman who comes out and stabs the bull with a bunch of shallow swords in his back so as to get the bull really pissed off. Then this guy comes out on horseback and stabs him some more, while the bullfighter waves the red flag in front of him to piss him off some more. After about 20 minutes of this you got yourself one really pissed off, yet very fatigued bull.

Next, the Bullfighter does the flag routine a bunch more, as he stands still as the bull rushes by him, horn fully erect, nearly missing him every time as the crowd oohs and cheers.

Then he finishes off the job as he does the flag routine some more, then stabs the bull in the back of the neck with a long, sharp sword to kill him.

Then these guys come out and use a horse to drag the dead bull away.

Bullfighters: 1, Bulls: 0

Next the clean up crew sweeps up and makes the grounds nice and clean for the next "fight," after which it's Bullfighters: 2, Bulls: 0.

I'm not quite sure how I felt about the whole procedings, but it was something you'll never see in San Francisco, that's for sure. It was interesting. The place was packed solid full of raving, cheering "fight" fans. I don't think any of them for a minute thought that the bulls would score, but I guess the thrill is watching the near misses as the bull rushes the Fighter, thinking that sometime a bull might win.

One day there was a demonstration on the Playa Del Sol. As far as I could tell it was a Pro Russia, Anti-NATO, anti (Kosovo) war gathering. It was peaceful and many people spoke on the PA set up in the Playa.

Rod observing the proceedings.

The clean-up crew afterwards

Rod's favorite museum in Madrid was the Museum of Ham.

One night Rod and I went wandering looking for some eats when we saw that Lew Tabackin was playing at Cafe Central with his Trio, just a short walk from where we were staying.

He's an excellent tenor player, and he had two great players behind him on drums and bass!

This shot was taken inside the club where photos are prohibited, but I took it without a flash so as to not let anybody know I was taking it. Obviously a little fuzzy without the flash...

Observing the signs to San Francisco...

Rod in front of the Jardines Cabo Noval

And the Doc' writing his Mom and Dad some postcards.

Germany | Belgium | Denmark | Spain | Italy

Side Trips | Back home | Paris | Clinton Day Music

		To the left is Rod outside of the Bullfight Arena. The "fight" commences with a gentleman who comes out and stabs the bull with a bunch of shallow swords in his back so as to get the bull really pissed off. Then this guy comes out on horseback and stabs him some more, while the bullfighter waves the red flag in front of him to piss him off some more. After about 20 minutes of this you got yourself one really pissed off, yet very fatigued bull.
		Next, the Bullfighter does the flag routine a bunch more, as he stands still as the bull rushes by him, horn fully erect, nearly missing him every time as the crowd oohs and cheers. Then he finishes off the job as he does the flag routine some more, then stabs the bull in the back of the neck with a long, sharp sword to kill him. Then these guys come out and use a horse to drag the dead bull away. Bullfighters: 1, Bulls: 0
		Next the clean up crew sweeps up and makes the grounds nice and clean for the next "fight," after which it's Bullfighters: 2, Bulls: 0. I'm not quite sure how I felt about the whole procedings, but it was something you'll never see in San Francisco, that's for sure. It was interesting. The place was packed solid full of raving, cheering "fight" fans. I don't think any of them for a minute thought that the bulls would score, but I guess the thrill is watching the near misses as the bull rushes the Fighter, thinking that sometime a bull might win.
One day there was a demonstration on the Playa Del Sol. As far as I could tell it was a Pro Russia, Anti-NATO, anti (Kosovo) war gathering. It was peaceful and many people spoke on the PA set up in the Playa.	Rod observing the proceedings.	The clean-up crew afterwards
Rod's favorite museum in Madrid was the Museum of Ham.		One night Rod and I went wandering looking for some eats when we saw that Lew Tabackin was playing at Cafe Central with his Trio, just a short walk from where we were staying. He's an excellent tenor player, and he had two great players behind him on drums and bass! This shot was taken inside the club where photos are prohibited, but I took it without a flash so as to not let anybody know I was taking it. Obviously a little fuzzy without the flash...
Observing the signs to San Francisco...	Rod in front of the Jardines Cabo Noval	And the Doc' writing his Mom and Dad some postcards.