The spirits of the crowd now reach a climax
at the finish of the bullfights. The loud
raucous crowd form disorderly behind the
different brass bands of the "Peñas"
in the middle of the arena and prepare
to be led out by the music, singing and
dancing behind whichever band they have
chosen to follow.
It´s certainly a sight to see, as
the ragged, wine-stained but happy horde
head out into the streets dancing behind
the slow-marching brass bands.
The
high-spirited crowd has been well nourished
by all their eating and drinking during
the bullfights and their excitement is
contagious when they hit the streets.
However, if you haven´t been through
the same experience in the stadium as
they have, you may feel a bit "cold"
about joining them as they move slowly
through the streets outside the ring.
They have been well-oiled by all that
has gone on during the fights, the noise,
the pushing, the sweating, the drinking,
the flour-fights; the whole experience
has set the tone for their exuberance
and if you have not been part of it, it
may be difficult to enter into the spirit
of the thing.
The "Peñas" march in
a disorded file towards the nearly Main
Square of the town. Here, they spread
out in different directions, each one
heading towards their own club, but on
a meandering route that could take several
hours to cover what is in fact a very
short distance It all depends on how much
they want to "party" in the
street.
The sight is worthing seeing as the wild,
ragged and drunken crowd
create
a din and exuberance and expend an incredible
amount of energy dancing and singing for several
hours. Many people have been soberly waiting
along the streets for the "Peñas"
to make their exit from the ring and many people,
even mothers with their young children join
in behind the marching bands despite the fact
that they have shared the same "spirits"
as the "Peñas" inside the ring.
