La versión español está después de la versión inglés.
ONE AFTERNOON LAST week, I spent a few hours up on a hill overlooking the city. I thought I’d be able to catch one of our recent spectacular sunsets from up there, so I sat and waited, watching the sun move slowly — oh, so slowly — across the sky. The spectacular sunset didn’t materialize. So I finally headed back down before darkness set in. For company at the top, I had music on my iPhone, an old stone tower, and the Osborne bull, a 14-metre (46 ft) high, silhouetted bull, which began in 1956 as roadside advertising for the Osborne sherry company until 1994, when a law was passed banning roadside advertising of alcoholic beverages. By that time, the bull silhouette had become such a recognizable symbol of Spain that bigger bulls were installed without the advertising. There are 23 of these bulls in Andalucía alone and around 90 total in all of Spain. They’re not all defaced by graffiti.
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UNA TARDE DE la semana pasada, pasé unas horas en una colina con vistas a la ciudad. Pensé que sería capaz de ver una de nuestras recientes puestas de sol espectaculares desde allí, así que me senté y esperé, viendo el sol moverse lentamente, oh, muy lentamente, a través del cielo. La espectacular puesta de sol no se materializó esa noche. Así que finalmente volví a bajar antes de que comenzara la oscuridad. Para compañía en la cima, tenía música en mi iPhone, una vieja torre de piedra, y el toro Osborne, un toro silueteado de 14 metros de altura, que comenzó en 1956 como publicidad en carretera para la empresa de jerez Osborne hasta 1994, cuando se aprobó una ley que prohíbe la publicidad en carretera de bebidas alcohólicas. En ese momento, la silueta del toro se había convertido en un símbolo tan reconocible de España que se instalaron toros más grandes sin la publicidad. Hay 23 de estos toros solo en Andalucía y alrededor de 90 en total en toda España. No todos están desfigurados por el graffiti.
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Nice Bull, climb the hills, enjoy the views of the very pretty place.
David,
We see the bull from so many places down below. It’s fun to make the climb.
I love that bull, what a cool idea! And the views ….
Bob,
We’ve seen a number of the bulls on our travels. Always fun. And, yes, the view.
When your way up there, it looks as if your not near anything. Miles away, but then there is the town.
Mistress Maddie,
It’s a nice, nearby escape.
Quite the adventure up there!
The first photo indicates there must have been a LOT of recent rain?……thus the gully?
I like these ‘landmarks’ of sorts all over the countryside in Spain. I am betting people/tourists set out to see all of them they can.
Jim,
The gully is permanent. Not much rain recently although a big storm is coming in today. I’ve seen a number of these in Andalucía. That would be a fun driving trip… looking for the bull.
Balls intact, I see.
Debra,
Without the balls, would it still be a bull?
Sure is a whole lotta bull! (despite legs de-faced – or de-legged?)
Raybeard,
The graffiti makes me crazy. I’m tempted to take some black paint up there.
That top picture is kind of eerie. I love it! Graffiti has its place, and a bull’s legs ain’t it!
Deedles,
Nor a bull’s balls!
Well……., that’s more like art 🙂
Deedles,
Hmmm… Now that you mention it.
This reminds me of the Yule Goat in Sweden. The Yule Bull (Let’s agree to call him such) is made of iron so not likely to burn down.
Urspo:
But the Yule Goat is stunning!
Did you see in a recent entry Moose cousin came to me as a ghost ? Thought of Moose
Urspo
Yes I did! I’m pretty sure I commented, too.