I believe that some people expressed a wish to come with me and endanger their limbs running away from bulls in Pamplona.
During July 6th - July 14th
Read all about it here
Update
Read all about my trip to St Fermin ( [What I Did In Spain ( other than sleeping )] or see the photos here. In brief, the festival is very hectic indeed. We did not get anywhere to stay in St Fermin it's self ( although our pre-planning never happened and we just kind of turned up in Pamplona on the Sunday ). We did camp about 40K away from Pamplona and you can easily get there by coach for a ridiculously cheap fare. These coaches run all night but do not leave from the same place they drop you off at. The one we caught back ( around midday ) left from the Coach Station.
Look after your wallets and valuables - members of my party didn't and were pick-pocketed at some point during the evening. Wander around lots and stop off in as many bars as you can. Try and follow the brass bands around, but do this early because they seem to disappear around 2-3AM ish.
If you want a rest or chill out from the hectic ( and progresivley more littered and stinking streets ) go to the ramparts, there is a kind of grassy area with some bars which is nice but it can get quite cold.
If you want to watch the Bulls turn up when they start to erect the fence ( I think this just after 5:30 AM ) and, very importantly, get on the right side of it ! I watched from the corner of Estefella ( there is a shop here open until 5:30 ish selling fags and food and stuff ) where there is a double fence. Many people thought "Ah Ha ! I'm not standing by the further back fence when I can sit on the one right by the run", people obviously also thought things like "Ho Ho ! I'll climb onto this balcony, shop front etc and get a great view. The police here will never be able to move me". This is all fine until 20mins before the run when hordes of police arrive and are very strict about everyone ( except runners )being behind the second fence and most definatley not hanging off balconies, shop fronts and other street furniture. The police will not hesitate to give any one who annoys them a good kicking and test their truncheons out on you - seriously do not mess !
The bull running lasts about 0.002 micro seconds so be alert ! Finally make sure you where the red and white outfit - everyone, absoloutley everyone else is and you will look silly if you aren't.
Comments
Running of the bulls
Balconies for the "Encierros"
The running of the bulls a day breaks dawn in the festival. This very first moment is placed by the most exciting and well known spectacle of the party: “The Running of the bullsâ€. It is no possible to understand and live this feeling to be here, the nearer the best, close to the bulls, close to the runners, just before, just after, just while; next a local person who has run that can help you to involve in the running of the bulls environment. We will translate into English.
Let’s get carried away with us , let’s go to our chosen balcony, located in a first floor at St Domingo street and you can find out and understand the meaning of our local tradition, in a traditional house in which you will have the opportunity to have a quiet breakfast, while the person who has knowm this filing explains you his experience. In addition, you can comment with him and watch the repeat of the race slower after watching online. We will be in charge of this attention for you.
From our balconies you can listen to the runners sing a homily to the image of San Fermin, which is placed, in a niche on the wall.
If you are interested in our proposal, please drop an e-mail lmagarde@hotmail.com in order to fix the price and check the available dates
Me !
I am going, and I will be going from Friday 4th July - Sunday 13th July.
I would also prefer to have a proper place to stay during my time there if possible. Let's get this plan in motion and book up some shit right now !
--
Death Or Glory. Yo Ho Ho.
Decisions Decisions
I know that you are all thinking of sleeping rough in pamplona but I would really like a bed in barcelona and the ones in hostels are filling up fast.
When are we going and who is coming?
No room at the inn.....
I've just been checking out the official san fermin website notice board it already looks like there aint nowhere to sleep a pillow and a tent may be required.
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BULLS
Demise of Glastonbury
Its looking quite likely that the Glastonbury Festival will be on again this year, costing around £100 again. However, this time it is quite likely that it will contain the added bonus of around 50-100 cctv camera's and a heavier police presence in and around the venue.
What with Mean Fiddler running it and insisting that REM, Stereophonics and Madonna are all headliners in order to maximise profits.
I cant see how this will not be completely against the spirit of the whole event, and put a total like downer on the whole thing.
Glasto Pantso
I think the anarchy of Spain is a much better bet.
Cool
This really does look like a fantastic place to go. Read the "Guide" on that website - the nightlife sounds first class and the people have the right idea.
I am roughly quoting:
"Most will sleep in and arise for a late breakfast between 3 and 4pm. The Tour De France is on around this time and many people like to watch this before packing their hampers and heading off the Bull Ring in the early afternoon at around 6:30pm"
6:30, in the early Afternoon ! This is my idea of heaven. Having watched the Bull Fight whilst eating from your extensive selection of food in the Hamper it's time for some supper in the town before the drinking begins. The drinking usually continues all night with the revellers being cleared off the street immediatley before the Bull Run in the morning. It seems like there are millions of bars & resteraunts open, everyone is out in the Town and wandering Brass Bands are in danger of moving into any area at any point to liven things up a bit, in the unlikely event that things are not lively enough already !
I really like the sound of this festival.
-- Death Or Glory. Yo Ho Ho.
or maybe
Surely you mean Death or Gory...
I also like the sound of getting up in the afternoon!
For those of us who don't speak spanish...
You can get a general idea of what they are saying here
Actually I have just noticed an "English" button on the web site which makes slightly more sense
These people must be crazy !
-- Death Or Glory. Yo Ho Ho.
Hemmingway
I have a cool picture of Ernest Hemmingway fighting will a bull in the ring at pamplona
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