PERUVIAN BULLFIGHTING 1959 – A PHOTO FROM A LOYAL READER
This post will be very short. it is a follow up to my earlier post, about attending a bullfight, during my time in Peru. I see it as a vindication of my memory. The poster, advertising an upcoming bullfight, was sent to my most loyal reader, editor and critic. She, in turn, forwarded it to me, for old times sake, and for safekeeping in my archives. I love this photo. It was 19 years, before I attended the same event, in the same location, on the outskirts of Arequipa, Peru.
The poster describes an upcoming bull fight in the small village of Paucarpata, featuring the main contest between 2 famous bulls Chileno (a much disliked word in Peru, roughly meaning the Chilean) and Salaverryno (no particular meaning, but for sure he was not Chilean). The purse was 2000 soles, which in 1959 was worth maybe $200, not a small amount in those days.
There were 10 other matches on this day, along with a “splendid” Food Bazaar (or Kermesse). No mention of “beer”, but I would venture to guess, that a few bottles of Peruvian Pisco were on hand. In any event, admission was 4.00 soles for men, 3.00 soles for women and 2.00. This amounted to, only, a few cents each, per person. I would have loved to attend this with ol’ Bubbaloo, however, I would have been 10 and she, much, much younger. Enjoy the photo.
