For those who have travelled around on Spain's highways, many of you will have come across the billboards with the figure of a black bull. I never did understand the significance of the billboard while I was in Spain. I had just assumed it was there to promote the importance of the bull in the Spanish culture.

Ironically while I was departing Madrid at the end of the Best of Spain & Portugal tour, I went into one of the duty-free store at Barajas Airport and came across a Portugese port wine that used the silhouette of a bull as its logo. I purchased it because the wind and bottle was a perfect souvenir to remind me of both countries.

Out of curiosity tonight, I was doing some research on the bottle of wine I had purchased to see if it was a winner. I came across the winery's official web site ... Grupo Osborne. It was on this web site that I realized that the many bull billboards that line along the highways of Spain were advertisement for this winery.

I know Vera has a picture of the billboard in one her albums. I thought this was an interesting fact for those who have or plan to visit Spain.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PatrickC,

DCP_0583_-_Resized.JPG (161 KB, 20 downloads) Highway Billboard

Hi Patrick,

an interesting contribution. We were told by our TD back in 1999 that the bull was a brand logo but I can't recall whether he told us what the product was. It's fascinating that this product is subtly yet effectively publicised throughout Spain.

I assume this topic will join a wealth of other interesting insights that you will include in your richly illustrated tour journal? Should I set up a space for the link to your journal in the Where are all the Tales? topic?

phil

Hi Phil & Patrick,
In fact the Spanish government banned all billboard advertising a few years ago. But the Spanish public protested the taking down of the bull logos advertising the wines. So the government relented and allowed the bull to remain minus any wording or overt reference to the product. So although the signs weren't originally planned as a subtle advertisement they are now what every advertiser craves - free, wide coverage commercials, and they are now a great symbol of Spain.

Ray K ... I was just looking at the Grupo Osborne again. There is a section on the site called "Save The Bull" that goes into great detail on what you touched on on your last post. I never would of guessed those billboards would have such a rich story behind them. Now that last minute souvenir bottle of "Osborne Port - 10 Years Old Tawny" even has more signficance than when I bought it at the duty-free store.

Patrick,

I endorse what Ray stated above. This is exactly what our TD told us during our recent Spain, Portugal and Morocco Tour.

Helen/Pauline ... Did our TD tell us about the story of the bull billboards in Spain? Or was I not paying attention as usual?

Don't tell me you were dozing Pat.

By the way, our TD told us he was the oldest TD with Insight. He was originally with the sister company and was part of the small group that started up Insight. 34 years as a TD with both companies.

Patrick, we were also told the same story by our TD, maybe you weren't paying attention! Did you like the tour and was it what you expected?
Dragon welcome back and how were your trips?
We really enjoyed the Best of Spain and Portugal, very interesting historically and Spain was a lot more mountainous and arid than I had expected. I liked the weather when we were there, not too hot but alas the 2 nights on the Costa del Sol was too cold and windy (but sunny) to swim for me. I don't think any of our group went in the water.

Marie

Hi Marie, Glad you had a good time and like you we realy enjoyed our trip. No swimming with our group at Costa del Sol either.

Realy liked Morocco. Particularly the Berber country areas. Egypt was like looking at images of the past whereas in Morocco it was like stepping through the looking glass and being back in the past. Fantastic.

Patrick, maybe you were having a bit of shut eye but yes, Henrique did mention it. If it wasn't Henrique, it must have been Helen because I heard it from someone on the tour.
By the way, I think Helen is still on her CR of Ireland trip.
Welcome back Dragon. Did you have a great time and who was your SP&M TD?