Spain 56th Week 11-17 May 2009
Ole! Ole! So goes the bullfight. The pageantry and the hype are outstanding.
Sharon, Ron Bradshaw and I went to a bullfight during this week during the month long San Isidro celebration. During this time they have bullfight about four nights a week but beginning in June they revert back to their “Sunday Only” schedule so we thought we had better take advantage and experience this tradition of Spain. Sharon said it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. The pageantry and the pomp and ceremony were interesting to watch. To start with all of the matadors, picadors, banderilleros, horses that drag the bull out and others all enter the ring and parade around to the applause of the crowd. I have copied some of the information off of the web site to give a better understanding of the event: 
The Las Ventas Bullring (holds probably 10-12,000 people) 
Madrid's main bullring is called La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas del Espíritu Santo, or more simply, Las Ventas (Alcalá street, Metro: Las Ventas). 
Built in mudejan style, this impressive building is formed of red brick and ceramic tiles. The construction, designed by José Espelius and Muñóz Monasterio, was terminated in 1929, although the ring itself wasn't inaugurated until 1931. Today the ring is also used for rock concerts and political meetings. They sell seats according to where they are located (distance from the ring and also Sun seating (in the sun for the entire time-we bought these seats),
Sun/Shade seating (part time sun/part time shade), or Shade seating (entire time in shade-most expensive). 
San Isidro
The best time to see bullfights in Madrid is during the months of May and June. The world famous San Isidro bullfight festival takes place during these months and brings together the best fighters, bulls and aficionados. There are fights every day for 20 days, starting at 7 o'clock in the evening. The festival includes a variety of different fights, with novillos (young bulls), rejones (bullfights on horseback) and Goyesca fights (in period costume)
Bullfight Notes:
A corrida or bullfight normally lasts around 2 hours, but there is no fixed time limit and depends on how many bulls are sent back to the corral or any other incidents during the fight itself.
A normal fight brings together 3 matadors (the ones who actually kill the bull) with their respective troupes and 6 bulls, 2 for each fighter. The matadors fight in turn, the most experienced fighter first, unless a new fighter is being presented for the first time in Madrid, in which case the most experienced fighter will cede his turn to the new fighter. This is called dar la alternativa.
Each matador directs a 15 minute session, called a faena, which in turn is divided into 3 sections. The first section involves the matador receiving his bull with a large cape. Here he is able to make his first judgments regarding the bull's strength, courage and general validity for the fight.
The second section, la suerte de varas, involves picadores and banderilleros. Picadors, on horseback, use long lances to weaken the bull's neck muscles.
The bull's courage can be discovered by his willingness to approach the horse and lance. Secondly, the banderilleros stab brightly-colored barbed sticks or banderillas into the bull's back.
The matador receives the bull alone in the third and final section of the faena, perhaps the most interesting for aficionados. 
Holding a small red cape now, he attempts to pass the bull as close to his body as possible in an artistic and varied manner. After effecting these passes, he will take a real, sharpened sword to attempt to kill the bull by bringing it on to him with its head lowered so he can thrust the sword between the bull's shoulder blades. 
Following this the horses come in and drag the bull out of the arena and another fight starts immediately.
The fight is then judged by the public. They may whistle and boo, remain silent, clap or award the matador one or both of the bull's ears by waving a white handkerchief until the fight president awards this coveted prize. If a fighter receives two ears in the same afternoon, he is lifted up on to somebody's shoulders and transported out of the ring and through the main gate. He has thus opened the Puerta Grande, the maximum accolade for any fighter.
The final bull of the night actually got a couple of pretty good licks in on the matador. On one pass the bull’s horn got the matador’s hand and it took him a couple of minutes to wave it off. Then a couple of passes later he upended the matador (this picture is a little fuzzy-but notice the position of the matador’s head).
He ended up face down on the ground about 5-6 feet from the bull…we are sure the bull could have finished off the job, but the other matadors, banderilleros came running with their capes and the bull kind of froze, thus saving serious injury. His shoes were knocked off and he had blood on his forehead, chest and leg. After a couple of minutes the matador righted himself and begin again to fight the bull, eventually he finished him off to the delight of the crowd…although the bull was also applauded. It was an interesting evening and an experience one should not miss if in Spain.
We also had the opportunity of showing a Russian Missionary couple (Elder & Sister Moleff-Washington State) here for their visa renewal a little bit of Madrid. He is seventy, she a little younger. They had requested a Russian mission as he has some family from the area; they seem to take the rough conditions in Russia better than many we have spoken to.
This week in the Temple was a pleasant but fairly busy week. By week’s end we had about 100 sisters in from Cadiz and Barcelona and they kept us really busy. We had double sessions all morning long on Saturday; it was very tiring but very rewarding to see so many people. I had probably my most spiritual experience thus far in the Temple. There was one older gentleman that came on Saturday, he could hardly walk, could not use his right hand and could not say one audible word. I had the privilege of presenting him at the final station of the endowment and had to be his voice while communicating there. He would nod his head with every word that I said he knew what I was saying and he agreed), it soon brought tears to my eyes and I was choked up hardly able to utter the wording. About half way through the person on the other side also begin to feel the spirit and he became choked up. There is no doubt in my mind that this great man is a chosen child of our Heavenly Father knows him and loves him. Sorry I can’t say more about the experience, but I hope you all can understand through the spirit and that each of us takes opportunity to attend the Temple whenever we can, because if he can do it, we can certainly do it.
There was also a special Madrid Spain mission reunion during the week. This coincides with the celebration of the Church being in Spain for 40 years. On Saturday the Temple received a phone call from one of the old Mission Presidents (President Steven Shallenberger) requesting a special session for the missionaries and their spouses. They came at 10:00 am (about 50) and we had a great session. I had recognized the name of the old president, but wasn’t sure until I saw him. We had served together in Uruguay-Paraguay as young missionaries, it was good to see him again and meet his wife. Just that morning he had spoken with our old Mission President (Gardner H. Russell) he was going to call him back and tell him that he had run into me in the Madrid Temple. It really is a small world in the Church!
On Sunday we were in Church when who should appear but Sharon’s cousin Jeanne McDaniel Walker (youngest daughter of Wayne McDaniel). She was there with her husband (Larry) and daughter (Tenisha).
Tenisha had served in the Madrid Mission but was only able to serve for 10 months due to severe feet problems that had come on during her mission. They had just completed a 14 day cruise in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, they were here for 4 days for her to show her parents her mission and then return home to be married in June. They also have twin sons serving in Peru missions. It had been a while since we had seen them but both Sharon and Jeanne recognized each other about the same time in Relief Society. We invited them to dinner and then we all went to Retiro Park in downtown Madrid and walked around. Here we saw the memorial that had been built to the victims of the terrorist attack at the Atocha Transportation Center in 2003. 
There are 191 trees representing each person killed in the attack (juniper or olive tree). It is a sobering memorial, but beautiful.
We want each of you to know that we love our mission in the Madrid Temple. God does live and Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. We have a living Prophet on the earth today. Please know of our deep love for each of you, we feel of your prayers, support and love each and every day. Please take good care of yourselves and keep doing the things you know that you should be doing.
Love Mom & Dad / Nana & Papa / Elder y Hermana Shaw
Ole! Ole! So goes the bullfight. The pageantry and the hype are outstanding.
Sharon, Ron Bradshaw and I went to a bullfight during this week during the month long San Isidro celebration. During this time they have bullfight about four nights a week but beginning in June they revert back to their “Sunday Only” schedule so we thought we had better take advantage and experience this tradition of Spain. Sharon said it wasn’t as bad as she thought it would be. The pageantry and the pomp and ceremony were interesting to watch. To start with all of the matadors, picadors, banderilleros, horses that drag the bull out and others all enter the ring and parade around to the applause of the crowd. I have copied some of the information off of the web site to give a better understanding of the event: The Las Ventas Bullring (holds probably 10-12,000 people) Madrid's main bullring is called La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas del Espíritu Santo, or more simply, Las Ventas (Alcalá street, Metro: Las Ventas). Built in mudejan style, this impressive building is formed of red brick and ceramic tiles. The construction, designed by José Espelius and Muñóz Monasterio, was terminated in 1929, although the ring itself wasn't inaugurated until 1931. Today the ring is also used for rock concerts and political meetings. They sell seats according to where they are located (distance from the ring and also Sun seating (in the sun for the entire time-we bought these seats), Sun/Shade seating (part time sun/part time shade), or Shade seating (entire time in shade-most expensive). San IsidroThe best time to see bullfights in Madrid is during the months of May and June. The world famous San Isidro bullfight festival takes place during these months and brings together the best fighters, bulls and aficionados. There are fights every day for 20 days, starting at 7 o'clock in the evening. The festival includes a variety of different fights, with novillos (young bulls), rejones (bullfights on horseback) and Goyesca fights (in period costume)
Bullfight Notes:
A corrida or bullfight normally lasts around 2 hours, but there is no fixed time limit and depends on how many bulls are sent back to the corral or any other incidents during the fight itself.
A normal fight brings together 3 matadors (the ones who actually kill the bull) with their respective troupes and 6 bulls, 2 for each fighter. The matadors fight in turn, the most experienced fighter first, unless a new fighter is being presented for the first time in Madrid, in which case the most experienced fighter will cede his turn to the new fighter. This is called dar la alternativa.
The matadors can be distinguished from the rest of the troupe since they will be the only ones whose traje de luces (suit of lights) are braided in gold.
Each matador directs a 15 minute session, called a faena, which in turn is divided into 3 sections. The first section involves the matador receiving his bull with a large cape. Here he is able to make his first judgments regarding the bull's strength, courage and general validity for the fight.
The second section, la suerte de varas, involves picadores and banderilleros. Picadors, on horseback, use long lances to weaken the bull's neck muscles.
The bull's courage can be discovered by his willingness to approach the horse and lance. Secondly, the banderilleros stab brightly-colored barbed sticks or banderillas into the bull's back. The matador receives the bull alone in the third and final section of the faena, perhaps the most interesting for aficionados. Holding a small red cape now, he attempts to pass the bull as close to his body as possible in an artistic and varied manner. After effecting these passes, he will take a real, sharpened sword to attempt to kill the bull by bringing it on to him with its head lowered so he can thrust the sword between the bull's shoulder blades. Following this the horses come in and drag the bull out of the arena and another fight starts immediately.The fight is then judged by the public. They may whistle and boo, remain silent, clap or award the matador one or both of the bull's ears by waving a white handkerchief until the fight president awards this coveted prize. If a fighter receives two ears in the same afternoon, he is lifted up on to somebody's shoulders and transported out of the ring and through the main gate. He has thus opened the Puerta Grande, the maximum accolade for any fighter.
The public may also judge the bull to have been so brave and noble, that it should have its life spared (indultado). This happens only very rarely. The Bulls have pedigrees and are bred, raised and trained for their big day in the ring. 
For the more experienced bullfighters the bulls must be between 4-6 years old and weigh a minimum of 1,100 pounds (most are much larger, but extremely agile) for the less experienced bullfighters their bulls must be between 3-4 years old and not weigh more than 1,200 pounds.
For the more experienced bullfighters the bulls must be between 4-6 years old and weigh a minimum of 1,100 pounds (most are much larger, but extremely agile) for the less experienced bullfighters their bulls must be between 3-4 years old and not weigh more than 1,200 pounds. The final bull of the night actually got a couple of pretty good licks in on the matador. On one pass the bull’s horn got the matador’s hand and it took him a couple of minutes to wave it off. Then a couple of passes later he upended the matador (this picture is a little fuzzy-but notice the position of the matador’s head).
He ended up face down on the ground about 5-6 feet from the bull…we are sure the bull could have finished off the job, but the other matadors, banderilleros came running with their capes and the bull kind of froze, thus saving serious injury. His shoes were knocked off and he had blood on his forehead, chest and leg. After a couple of minutes the matador righted himself and begin again to fight the bull, eventually he finished him off to the delight of the crowd…although the bull was also applauded. It was an interesting evening and an experience one should not miss if in Spain.We also had the opportunity of showing a Russian Missionary couple (Elder & Sister Moleff-Washington State) here for their visa renewal a little bit of Madrid. He is seventy, she a little younger. They had requested a Russian mission as he has some family from the area; they seem to take the rough conditions in Russia better than many we have spoken to.
This week in the Temple was a pleasant but fairly busy week. By week’s end we had about 100 sisters in from Cadiz and Barcelona and they kept us really busy. We had double sessions all morning long on Saturday; it was very tiring but very rewarding to see so many people. I had probably my most spiritual experience thus far in the Temple. There was one older gentleman that came on Saturday, he could hardly walk, could not use his right hand and could not say one audible word. I had the privilege of presenting him at the final station of the endowment and had to be his voice while communicating there. He would nod his head with every word that I said he knew what I was saying and he agreed), it soon brought tears to my eyes and I was choked up hardly able to utter the wording. About half way through the person on the other side also begin to feel the spirit and he became choked up. There is no doubt in my mind that this great man is a chosen child of our Heavenly Father knows him and loves him. Sorry I can’t say more about the experience, but I hope you all can understand through the spirit and that each of us takes opportunity to attend the Temple whenever we can, because if he can do it, we can certainly do it.
There was also a special Madrid Spain mission reunion during the week. This coincides with the celebration of the Church being in Spain for 40 years. On Saturday the Temple received a phone call from one of the old Mission Presidents (President Steven Shallenberger) requesting a special session for the missionaries and their spouses. They came at 10:00 am (about 50) and we had a great session. I had recognized the name of the old president, but wasn’t sure until I saw him. We had served together in Uruguay-Paraguay as young missionaries, it was good to see him again and meet his wife. Just that morning he had spoken with our old Mission President (Gardner H. Russell) he was going to call him back and tell him that he had run into me in the Madrid Temple. It really is a small world in the Church!
On Friday, we invited the missionaries (Elders Sperry and Rands) for lunch. 
They are great missionaries and we had met Elder Sperry when he served in the office when we were obtaining our Residency Cards. Elder Sperry goes home at the end of the month.
They are great missionaries and we had met Elder Sperry when he served in the office when we were obtaining our Residency Cards. Elder Sperry goes home at the end of the month.On Sunday we were in Church when who should appear but Sharon’s cousin Jeanne McDaniel Walker (youngest daughter of Wayne McDaniel). She was there with her husband (Larry) and daughter (Tenisha).
Tenisha had served in the Madrid Mission but was only able to serve for 10 months due to severe feet problems that had come on during her mission. They had just completed a 14 day cruise in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, they were here for 4 days for her to show her parents her mission and then return home to be married in June. They also have twin sons serving in Peru missions. It had been a while since we had seen them but both Sharon and Jeanne recognized each other about the same time in Relief Society. We invited them to dinner and then we all went to Retiro Park in downtown Madrid and walked around. Here we saw the memorial that had been built to the victims of the terrorist attack at the Atocha Transportation Center in 2003. There are 191 trees representing each person killed in the attack (juniper or olive tree). It is a sobering memorial, but beautiful. We want each of you to know that we love our mission in the Madrid Temple. God does live and Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. We have a living Prophet on the earth today. Please know of our deep love for each of you, we feel of your prayers, support and love each and every day. Please take good care of yourselves and keep doing the things you know that you should be doing.
Love Mom & Dad / Nana & Papa / Elder y Hermana Shaw
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