It is a pleasant January Sunday afternon, the Tiabaya stadium a popular and traditional district of Arequipa city. The people start to come with families and tourists to see one of the unique folkclore show. There are no animal kills. The line is long but runs quickly. At the entrance, the people receive the brochure with the info.
Everyone has a nice big 'characato' or 'chalan' hat some of them made by high quality or simple straw, so the price will depend of the product. I have one that is a kind of mix of fine and simple straw. Almost every 'Arequipeñan' has this traditional hat. The Bullfight - Pelea de Toros is a essential celebration among the religious or civic festivities. 
Municipal Stadium Tiabaya, Arequipa - Enero 2009
These Arequipeñan giants are grew up in a peculiar way. Their training consists in long walks about 7 km (11 miles). The owners should have special contact with the animals talking to them and of course, careing and feeding them.
When the bull is confident, it will responds with soft head touchs on the body of its breeder, also it moves the tale, smells, lick him in that way the relationship turns intense between man-animal. It is a detailed job to achieve its confidence since the bull is the protagonist in the event in the presence of the visitors.
During the fight, the bulls spend most of the time with their owners or trainers, they are called by funny names like: "Guaguito" (my little baby), "Mi Dinero"(my money), "Loco Mía"(my crazy one), "Indio", "Chocolate" and others like the "loncco" names. Loncco, is a peculiar language of Arequipa among the farmers and old people of the region. Furthermore, they talk to them with familiar phrases as they are talking to a person: "Vamos, hijito" (Let's go son!), "Tú puedes, carajo!" (You can do it! %@!#) and only to thread him, they say: "Si no ganas carajo, te llevo al camal!" (if you don't win I will sell you!)
Before the official fight, usually runned in big spaces located in traditional areas like Sabandia, Cerro Colorado, Tiabaya, Sachaca districts. The bull use to be reserved in a place without any sexual contact. This period is around a month with a main purpose: to gain more energy. The day before to the event, some breeders do not feed their bulls in order to generate anxiety or extasis; if the bull doesn't react at its first intent in the fight, it will be impulsed by a young cow who will pass among the competitors to 'awake' them.
The Fight
It could delay from 5 seconds to 30 minutes. But according the new rules the fight should have a limit of 15 minutes to avoid the boredom in the people. and overall to avoid animals suffering.
The Champion
The bull winner has a big prize cup which it is received by its owner who celebrates drinking a local beer called Arequipeña. Everything is fun between relatives, friends and gamblers who are the more enthusiastic making their bets with money.
The bull winner has a big prize cup which it is received by its owner who celebrates drinking a local beer called Arequipeña. Everything is fun between relatives, friends and gamblers who are the more enthusiastic making their bets with money.
My mom (red blouse) is holding my 'chalan' hat and greeting a family celebration.The Bull Defeated
Its owner will star the training for other fight. The bull have to be well attended to increase its autoestima. In some cases, if the bull has shown few conditions to fight, the animal is sold or sacrificed in the slaughter.
Its owner will star the training for other fight. The bull have to be well attended to increase its autoestima. In some cases, if the bull has shown few conditions to fight, the animal is sold or sacrificed in the slaughter.
The bull suffer physical and psychological debilitation, they have a depressive time for the lost adrenaline in the fighting. It is important a good resting to recover all its energy.
Long live the Traditional Bullfighting of Arequipa! Cheers! Salud!
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