El Toro Negro

If your travelling through Spain on the national roads you will come across many of these silhouetted black bulls situated in prominent positions. Originally they were erected as advertisements for Osborne, a well known sherry producer.

In 1994 the Spanish government brought out a ban on all billboard advertising near national roads but by this time the bulls had become a symbol of national identity.There was an outcry from the public with the result that the bulls reamained in place but without the associated advertising.

The irony for me is that this great animal and national symbol is still tortured, maimed and killed in huge arenas for the pleasure of a minority of the population. Thankfully the winds of change are upon us and a younger generation of Spaniards want no part of this. Bullfighting has already been banned in Catalonia and it no longer makes an appearance on national TV networks. Hopefully it's only a matter of time before it becomes history.

Note to CJ: Those clouds are for you mate!