Bullfights!

This is just a reminder that Gustine's festa of Our Lady of the Miracles is coming up. Due to a family reunion, we will not be able to attend the weekend events, but I will certainly be at the Monday bullfight on September 13th. It looks like it is going to be a great cartel.

The reason I am bringing this up now is that I have heard from a lot of folks who are interested in going. I am happy to be the tour guide for this event, but be warned that it is one of the most packed bullfights of the season. Although it starts at 8pm, we will have to be there much earlier. This bullfight will be at standing room only easily by 7 and will be sold out by 7:30.

What this boils down to is that we will need to leave probably by 4pm from the Bay Area in order to get seats. If you are in the area and want to join us, please let me know. If you want to meet us there and don't know what I look like, keep your eyes on this website, as I will tell exactly what I will be wearing, where I will probably be sitting, and when I can be found at the food and beer stands.

Also, there is a serious thing to consider about this. Gustine is very close to a major wetlands. The mosquitoes fly in clouds. West Nile virus has hit California. Be prepared. I have only found the things to be as bad as they are in Gustine in Minnesota. No other place on Earth comes close. Last year I absent-mindedly swatted my arm without looking. When I did look down there were five dead mosquitoes where I had slapped. Long sleeves, repellent, all of these things are a big help in combatting the little menaces. Not as good as liberal applications of DDT, but don't get me started on the grave error banning that chemical was.

Also, on September 18th, there will be a Tourada a corda (bullfight on a rope) at Pico dos Padres. Those are very fun events.

Then, the next day will be a big bullfight in honor of the 90th birthday of one of the legends of California bullfighting. I might not make it to the Tourada a corda, but I will certainly be at this one. There are four horsemen, three matadores, and two forcado groups (one from Lisboa) on the cartel. One of the matadores is Vitor Mendes, who is a great matador. The band will be from the Azores. There will be entertainment on both days, and the bullfight starts at 5pm. This is another that we will want to get to early, although the last time we got to Pico dos Padres late, the seats were taken, so we joined the crowd on the hill above the bullring, and it was actually quite nice. Still, I would rather be in the seats.

Finally, mark down Oct 16 and 18 for the Our Lady of Fatima festa in Thornton. I am planning on bringing Amalia to the day bullfight on the 16th, since I promised that I would take her to one more, and Gustine gets crowded and goes very late into the night (ditto with Pico dos Padres, although if I make it to the a corda, she will want to come to that). So, if you want to get the toddler commentary, get in touch with us and you can sit by us. Amalia is quite enthusiastic about the fiesta brava, although she might get off on a tangent and start identifying where the various beef cuts come from on the bull.

Vamos al toros!