BajaNomad

Corridas

dean miller - 8-12-2008 at 04:52 PM

Corridas

I was first introduced to the corridas on the other side of the border while a USAF officer in Texas - were else?
("If I had a a ranch in Texas and a home in hell I would sell my ranch and go home")

The very first corrida I attended featured the American female matadora Pat Mc McCormick...A joke to all and an embarrassment to the Americans in the stands. However I was hooked and with in a few short years I managed to attend corridas through out Mexico including the famous Plaza del Toros in Mexico DF.

After the Korean unpleasantness I returned to my beloved California and frequently attended Corridas in TJ. Initially at the down town Plaza del Toros, which disappeared with progress in the 1960s, and later the Plaza del Toro by the sea, where it still stands but now surrounded by homes and businesses

There was a bar in Garden Grove or near by called the "Brave Bull" which had as a symbol a matador performing a Paso alto (aka Paso peche.) The owner had a rather large following of corrida fans and during the season organized bus trips to the TJ corridas. Always a festive event and seldom missed.

Therefore;

Does the Brave Bull or similar establishment exist today?
Where?

Other that the "Ring by the sea" are there other rings in Baja?
Where?

Are there corrida fans on this forum?
(I suspect the answer is NO!)

jodiego - 8-12-2008 at 04:58 PM

No

Chiki Jai

tripledigitken - 8-12-2008 at 05:08 PM

Dean,

I can offer a suggestion of a place that has hosted many Bullfighters and their fans while dining on very good Spanish/Basque meals.

Chiki Jai in Tijuana...........on Revolucion across the street from the old Jai Alai palace.

Paella, Squid in its own ink, bistec milenasa all served with soup and blue cheese to spread on the great bread.

Jai Alai memorabilia, as well as Bullfight posters are on the walls. Has been in business since 1947. Great ambiance.

Give it a try.

Ken

dean miller - 8-13-2008 at 02:42 AM

Ken,

I was there many years ago after a Brave
Bull trip...What a museum of Corridas!

It should be a must see for all who visit TJ

I never stop or in any way visit TJ any more since we were in the middle of a mid day shoot out several years back...so you and yours can have my place at the bar.

Never the less I appreciate your post and knowing a relic from my distant past remains as a tribute to the corridas.

sdm

Barry A. - 8-13-2008 at 01:58 PM

I too attended many bull fights at the old downtown ring in TJ in the '50's, but never the ring by the sea-----I left San Diego by then.

I lived in El Centro for many years during the late 70's and 80's and often attended the "fights" at the Mexicali Bull ring-----and it was great, but not as big as the TJ bull ring, as I recall. Don't know it's status now.

Have not been to a "fight" for probably 25 years, tho.

Barry

tripledigitken - 8-13-2008 at 02:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by dean miller
Ken,

I was there many years ago after a Brave
Bull trip...What a museum of Corridas!

It should be a must see for all who visit TJ

I never stop or in any way visit TJ any more since we were in the middle of a mid day shoot out several years back...so you and yours can have my place at the bar.

Never the less I appreciate your post and knowing a relic from my distant past remains as a tribute to the corridas.

sdm


Glad I helped bring back some memories.

It's a shame that one can't feel comfortable enough to visit downtown TJ now. We used to go to TJ for dinner frequently and will again, just not as often as we used to.

I agree that Chiki Jai is a must see!

Ken

Oso - 8-13-2008 at 04:13 PM

Plaza Calafia in Mexicali is still in operation. I saw El Juli there a couple years ago.

There is a small cafe/bar in San Luis Rio Colorado whose owner is a dyed in the wool aficionado. It has an unusual name which for the life of me I can't remember just now and it's not in the SLRC yellow pages. It's also a little hard to find. It's in the back, inside of a store selling curios and artisanry, Maya something or other, one block behind Migracion at the border (turn right at the taxi stand) and half a block from the fence. The place is closed in the summer for lack of gringo buyers of curios and artisanry. A sign on the door says "We don't speak English but we promise not to laugh at your Spanish". If you can find it when it's open, they have an excellent queso fundido with mushrooms, good Baja wines as well as a Spanish Rioja. If the owner is in, he does speak English, sort of, and loves to talk about the Fiesta Brava.

Please do not speak for me.... o.k.!!

thebajarunner - 8-13-2008 at 04:53 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jodiego
No


I only attended one corrida, and that was on a hot Sunday afternoon in Mazatlan.

I was really struck by the richness of the experience, a true Mexican /Latin cultural immersion.

Have not taken the effort to go in Baja, and should certainly do so, and soon.

Vince - 8-14-2008 at 02:25 PM

We had lunch at the Chiki Jai about 2 month ago. It was as good as ever and really has not changed since the '50's.

Alex - 8-14-2008 at 09:56 PM

there will be one on the 31st at Playas, see you there!

woody with a view - 8-15-2008 at 01:09 PM

Quote:

Squid in its own ink


my Peruvian mother in law makes this and it is GOOD.

tripledigitken - 8-15-2008 at 02:03 PM

Woody,

You're a lucky man...............assuming you like to be around your mother in law.:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

Ken

woody with a view - 8-15-2008 at 02:15 PM

she lives in tempe, az. just far enough.....