Day 13 - Brasilto Rodeo

Day 13
2-15-14

It was an easy, relaxing day, until we went to the local rodeo. To cut to the chase, Kyle did not ride a bull. But he did volunteer to go in the ring. I'm still not sure I understand exactly what these volunteers are doing...they all look like clowns to me! Kyle said they are there to taunt and distract the bull during the ride, help if the rider gets in trouble, and help guide the bull back to the gate after the rider falls off. Kyle managed to do all three of those things in his quick stint as a rodeo clown.

Kyle in the ring.

Before I tell you anything else about the rodeo, I must say that I felt really bad for the bulls. I kept trying to enjoy the experience - it was certainly a cultural one - but it was hard for me not to think about the bulls being treated so badly. So if you will lose sleep worrying about rodeo bulls, don't watch the videos (ahem Sharon).

The rodeo ring that we watched the men build over the last several days had a metal wall built up around it, so you had to pay to see the bull riding. They also built a "grand stand" sort of place for people to watch from - the expensive seats. The cheap seats, aren't even seats.  You just pay to stand behind the fence and watch - or you can sit on top of the fence. Kyle wanted us all watching from behind the fence because it would be the way most ticos watch the event - he thought we would get the most from the experience this way. This also allowed him to quickly volunteer. When the opportunity presented itself, he slid under the fence and the kids and I looked at each other and realized there wasn't anything we were going to do to stop him!

Here is a video of Kyle in the ring with the bull...

The last bull ride we watched, the rider fell off and his foot got caught in a rope. The bull drug him for somet time and the crowd was screaming and going crazy. Ryan was filiming. Tristan and I covered our eyes and I almost started crying. Right before we left for the rodeo Tristan said, "Mom, I don't want to see anyone die." So that was going through my mind. Tristan and I finally heard the crowd cheer and clap so we uncovered our eyes to see that the rider was okay. Here is a clip.

There were rides and food stands and people everywhere in this tiny little town. There were homeade games and a ring toss and a soft ball throw - and kids crying because they didn't win the paper airplane or stuffed animal. There were no rules when it came to riding the rides - no height requirement, no age requirement, no "no bumping" signs at the bumper cars. A man was riding a bumper car with his baby in his lap, one baby leg dangling out the side of the car.  The ride worker did ask the man to put his baby's leg inside the car.

Kyle and Tristan riding bumper cars.

There were no seat belts in the fast rides, just a rope (in some of the cars). Most rides didn't work completely. There was always someone fixing something. The helicopter ride was coming to an end and one of the helicopters stayed up, while all the others came down. The child in the up helicopter did not freak out and neither did the parent. Someone came along and used a tool and decompressed the air or something like that and the kid eventually came down. Not a single person reacted to the event and noone got out of line for the ride.