The Rodeo in Durango, Colorado

"(...) the blue and red symbol of our country, the most beautiful flag that makes our hearts fill with joy (...). Let us also honour our armed forces, the true heroes, the fighters of freedom. They cannot make you happy but they are the ones that set us free and allow us to be able to make the choices that will eventually bring us happiness. They give us the freedom of speach and let's now use this freedom in the most important way with a pray. The freedom to pray, let us give a pray to our armed forces that fight for our freedom. Amen. (...) let's now rise for the most beautiful song ever written: our national anthem. Oh say can you see.....".

And hence the show began. For ten (10) minutes the official speaker of the PBR (Professional Bull Riding, I guess) read a carefully written speach with emotional references to the "fatherland, god and armed forces" trinity. I must say that we were caught unprepared for this. Although we knew that we are pretty much in the heart of conservative America and that the coyboy lifestyle is as traditional as it gets, we couldn't help being a little scared by all that. I couldn't help but wondering if a northern eastern american would feel the same as us but there appeared to be none in the grandstand.





Five minutes on to the show and all that was forgotten. The bulls here are mighty big (they weigh about 1000kg which is about twice as much as the ones we see in Portugal) and seem to be on steroids. The human team is composed of the cowboys, which will attempt to "ride" the big buggers for more than 8 seconds, the bullfighters (ridiculously dressed) that move away the bull when the cowboy gets down and a guy on a horse (couldn't get the name of him) which drives the bull back to the corral, lacing him if necessary. There is also a hoard of guys that open and close gates, distribute ropes and set up the bullrider on the bull and 4 amazons (women riders) that occasionally make a pass galloping in front of the grandstand waving goodbye in a spectacular (albeit pointless) fashion. In two hours we saw 7 qualifying rides (rides that last for more than 8 seconds), one broken colar bone, 5 bulls laced by the horse riding cowboy, about 8 spectacular amazon gallop riding (with a big smile and hand waving goodbye), loadsa kids running around in excitement and more than a few hot looking chicks (pardon... they are probably called babes or dolls down here). Oh, and, of course, plenty of mad bulls kicking about and guys flying around...




Dan and Brian (sitting behind us) were wonderful hosts, explaing us the rules and engaging in small talk conversation which was quite helpful in keeping Rita from falling a sleep while I wandered around to get the best camera angle for the shots.


Once again, and as always, the americans are very friendly, curious and well educated people (who said that they don't know where Portugal is?) that make trully excellent hosts. It's a real pleasure to be here and I am so looking forward to continue the "west-oh" trip.

The day was concluded with dinner at the town's best steakhouse where we had a combo (crab leg + lobster + sirloin steak) and yet another bourbon at the usual place, the Diamond Belle saloon.