Greetings from Pamplona, Spain!
Pamplona, Spain is a cute little city in Northern Spain. It is the capital of the Navarre community, and home to the San Fermin festival. Aka, the running of the bulls.
How We Got There
We arrived in Pamplona, Spain by a quick 1 hour train ride from San Sebastian. Leaving the train station we hailed a cab who took us to our first, and only hostel during our world excursion. It was hard to find places to stay here during the time of the festival, and we ended up finding a school that was renting out the dorms during the summer months. We had chosen the “family” style room so we didn’t have to share with anyone else. This is a great option for people traveling on a budget. It was clean, the beds were comfy, and we had our own private bathroom. We kept it pretty mellow this day because we knew we were in for an experience of a lifetime the next day. We needed all the rest we could get!
The Morning of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain
We woke up around 3 am to start getting ready. While there is no dress code for the event, the organizers encourage everyone to dress in the style of Spain’s Encierro Pamplona (Encierro means the bullrun). Dressed in our all white clothes, red scarf, and red sash, we were ready to go! Off we went to wait for the shuttle to take us over. It was still dark when we got there, and there were so many people there already. Everyone was dressed the same, and everyone was drinking. Were these people just getting started? Or had they been up all night and are continuing the party? Are they allowed to run while being so clearly intoxicated?! Man, I can’t wait to see this! Everywhere people were singing and cheering, practically skipping, and stumbling, towards the main event.
Learning the Rules of the Run
A few days prior, Seth found out that a group of his friends were also going to be here! What are the chances? We met up with them, found a spot to post up, and anxiously awaited for this thing to start. If you were running, you were led inside the wooden fence barrier to wait for further instructions. Because I was wearing a dress, I was not allowed to run. You are not allowed to carry anything in your hands or pockets, so I ended up being the designated crap holder for the group. I watched as security went through the crowds feeling everyone up, and making people put their phones and expensive cameras on the other side of the fence. It’s like a thief’s dream come true.
Running With the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain
There is such a buzz in the air. People hanging out of windows and jam packed onto balconies. A few minutes before it is supposed to start, an eerie silence takes over. Then all of a sudden “BOOM”, the rockets go off and you can hear the sound of hooves in the distance. People slowly starting to take off, but most waiting until the bulls are right there.
I could see Seth and his friends in the middle of the crowd, waiting for the first glimpse of horns, and knew the exact moment they saw them. I saw them start running, prayed they made it to the end, then watched as the bulls went by. Some running, some casually walking. You could feel the ground shaking. The majority of injuries I saw were from people trampling other people, or tripping over their own feet. I raced to the end in search of the group. I finally spotted them and noticed a few of them covered in blood. Panic. Thankfully it was just someone else’s. Lovely.
What Comes After the Race?
Afterward it is celebratory drinks for everyone! We noticed a lot of people heading towards some sort of stadium. Like I said before, we planned so much of this trip so quickly, that we had little time to really research every single place we went to. So when one of our friends explained to us what was happening, and about the bullfighting ring inside, me and Seth had to get out of there. We are huge animal lovers, and if we had any idea that they publicly killed these animals after this run, we never would have come. I understand this is a very historic event, and they highly respect these animals, but why not just let them run with the human population then get a treat or something!? Wishful thinking.
All in all, I am glad we got to experience this. It was such an adrenaline rush, and to see everyone united is truly a beautiful thing. I just wish it ended differently! I’m very grateful for this experience. Every culture has a light and a dark side, and it was exciting getting to see both sides of Pamplona, Spain. This is what this trip is about. Getting out of my comfort zone. Seeing the good and the bad. Learning about the world through touch and sight, not reading about it through a boring textbook. We are on the search for a better understanding of the world we live in, and a way we can make a difference.
Up next..la piece de resistance. Paris!
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