Running With The Bulls

Red, White and Wow! Thousands of people dressed the same (white with red neckties) flooded the streets of Pamplona when we arrived from Madrid. I assume the hype wasn´t for us. We made our way through the city looking for a place to stash our bags. The common place to sleep here is the park - although there isn´t much sleeping going on this week in Pamplona. We lucked out and found a hostel with a vacant room, so we dropped our bags and went looking for some white and red to match with the rest of the festival goers.

The running of the bulls is the major attraction of the Festival of San Fermin here in Pamplona. It lasts for one week starting on a Thursday and doesn't seem to stop till the following Thursday. We arrived on Tuesday so we are right in the middle of the festival.

We came back to the hostel to sleep at around 2am and prayed that we would wake up for the bull run at 6. It was a struggle to get out of bed but we managed - the run took place a short distance from our hostel and we found the best spot - Devil´s Turn - by following some red and white. Our exact location was a little less exciting as Sharmin had to peer through the legs (and butts) of two guys from Miami. It was a tight spot, and with everyone clamoring for a view, one that had to be protected.

Ok so I know the burning question is did Aamir run like he said he would...... Well by some unfortunate coincidence, Aamir chose not to bring his running shoes on the trip and did not feel it appropriate to bleed all over his new Birkenstocks so the answer is no he did not run. But after seeing the run I don't think it would have been wise to partake in the crazy tradition that has gotten so much attention.

Since we had a pretty good spot, it was clear to see the terrified runners trying desperately to escape the horns of the pissed off bulls. It was pretty obvious when the bulls were getting close because there was a mad rush to go over, under or between the fences to get out of the way! We saw a couple of war wounds being cleaned up on the way to the bull ring and they didn't look fun.

At the bull ring the runners and some lucky bystanders were allowed to enter the ring to ¨play¨ with the baby bulls. Now these baby bulls are not small they are still quite big and very fast. The only precaution taken is the horns are covered with a rubber tip to prevent any broken skin. Again we were not in the ring but in the stands watching. It looked like fun until people started flying in the air and then landing on the dirt under the hoof of an angry bull. There were a few stunt men who would jump the length of the bull every so often (head to tail) but for the most part people were just trying to stay out of the way. There were mostly guys in the bull ring but one of the few girls who ventured into the ring got a surprise ¨tap¨ from a bull and had to be carried - rather quickly - out of the ring! The bulls like to attack more than once and once you´re down you become an easy target till the bull gets distracted by another victim.

The whole event was rather exciting even though the bull run itself was really short. What we saw was 5 seconds out of 2.5 minutes. But it was worth it. Now its time to relax a little in Sunny San Sebastian!