City Centre Turned Farm!

If someone was to mention sheep or cows passing through a place in Spain, Madrid would definitely not spring to mind. Quite definitely not the city centre anyway. But no surprises that Spain surpassed itself here!

For many, Sunday was Halloween, a day of ghouls, ghosts and trick or treat, pumpkins were the usual agriculturally related article. However for those frequenting the capital they had a surprise of a whole other genre. Madrid had quite literally become a farmyard.

A flock of 600 sheep, 4 herds of oxen, a dozen shepherds, horseback riders and 55 cows from around Spain made their annual pilgrimage through the city as part of an annual migration festival that takes place in Madrid, and is now celebrating its 16th year.

The route taken involved going via Madrid's Plaza Mayor, through Puerta del Sol and along Calle Alcalá and finally to Plaza de Cibeles. A final stage on the long journey from Cabeza del Buey in La Serena.

However, due to the security risks to both onlookers and the animals themselves, over 60 police officers were brought in to marshall the event and prevent traffic from entering the city centre as well as redirecting 30 bus lines, not bad for a Sunday afternoon stroll!