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Hats & Flowers. Other female aficionados are frowned upon by the purists on the grounds that they are more interested in bullfighters than in bulls. One U.S. girl conducted her own tests in her own way to determine which matador was Numero Uno. All true bull bums obey a strict set of self-imposed rules: 1) Never arrive late and never leave until the last bull is dead. 2) Never smoke before the first bull is pic-ed. 3) Never drink before the third bull is killed (six bulls are fought in most corridas). Women fans throw flowers to their favorite matadors during the vuelta; men pass out either cigars or Cordova hats.
Bullfighters are keenly aware of their new and growing non-Spanish following. "I doubt that a major bullfight will ever again be conducted entirely in Spanish," said Matador Juan Garcia, known as Mondeño, as he rested after a fight in the Salamanca bullring. Like many other matadors, Mondeño is studying English so he can communicate with all his fans.