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Either there can't be much on TV in the evenings on Terceira or street bull-running really is the most popular and traditional festivity on the island. The first records of the street bullfight date back to 1622, during celebrations for the canonization of saint Francisco Xavier. Nowadays it takes place across the island every evening over a period of a few months with different villages hosting the event.
The ARC Europe participants made a short walk up to the top of the town, a good stretch for the crews that have been at sea all this time!, to where the street bullfighting is hosted at around 6.00pm. They found the streets already bustling with locals and street vendors and houses already boarded up in preparation for the bull. Once you cross the 2 white lines marked on the street you are then within the limits the bull will be allowed and the first thought on everyone's mind is 'I must find a safe spot'!
There are the seven shepherds who wear the traditional white shirts and 'Mazantino' hats and attempt to control the bull once he is out on the streets. Three of them hold the long rope in the middle and the other four hold the very end in order to keep the bull within the established limits.
One rocket explodes to signal that the streets should be cleared with people retiring to safe places in houses, behind walls and on balconies. Only those 'Toreros', bull fighters, willing to stay prepare for the bull to be released from the cage. Once the bull is out on the streets he is charging at anyone that might be in his way turning his head at anything that catches his attention. You stand your ground as long as you can before running, it's much like a game of chicken, only the chicken weighs in at close to a tonne and has horns!
People are running away in all directions down the narrow streets jumping over walls if the bull gets too close. Some of the more experienced locals 'fight' the bull with their jackets and even umbrellas. The other danger aside from the huge bull charging around is the rope the shepherds are using to control the bull which suddenly whips around the street. After half an hour or so the bull is returned to his cage and two rockets explode to signal the streets are safe again.
During the intervals between the bulls people are back on the streets walking around meeting the villagers, visiting the bar and talking about how close they came to the bull. With vantage points along the streets some participants were invited onto the balcony of a local house that was being used to watch the fiesta and shared wine and chatted with the family.
In all there were four bulls on the street each one getting bigger and angrier, whilst the people became more inebriated, braver and just that bit slower on their feet! It was a great evening and an experience to remember with plenty of photos captured. Some were daring enough to stay on the streets, throughout the festivities, mostly local men however one brave female rally participant Lisa, braved the bulls and enjoyed the adrenaline.
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