Sunday, August 21, 2011

Spain’s Amazing Bull Leapers


Teams of 5 to 7 bull leapers gather each year in cities like Valencia or Barcelona, to take part in a performance that many compare to the Russian roulette. Each team may face up to three bulls in the ring, at once, taunting and jumping over them just when the beats prepare to impale them.

The bull leapers all look calm and brave, but they don’t hesitate to run for their lives after a successful jump or evasion, to stay well clear of the angry bulls. The atmosphere in the bullfighting arena is said to be exhilarating, with the crown cheering every successful trick.

Sure some may call these death-defying artists insane, but I have a lot more respect for them than I do for bullfighters. At least bull leaping doesn’t get the bull killed in a violent way. sadly it can’t quench the Spanish thirst for bull-fighting blood.

5405161150213265010

5405161011163029794

5405161008120964962

5405160997274611522

5405160992682587554

5405160987171571490

5405160760909078898

5405160759270143810

5405160750209412066

5405160747306502258

5405160737202741730

5405160474549093682

5405160469886979058

5405160468695840786

5405160462234969778

5405160456670581234

5405160259723282386

5405160257316707938

5405160253041802946

5405160243058848402

5405160238561179250

5405160008683799522

5405159998312232114

5405159992494057890

5405159990963837730

5405159987372527010

5405159462035439586

5405159457200385442

5405159451963123650

5405159449976561730

5405159442351999810

5405159246575057474

5405159244272762834

5405159239524388146

5405159235755105874

5405159225979902482