¡San Fermin!

Since there are some of you out there who should not be reading this entry, I´m going to rate this entry RB (that is: Restricted due to Bullish content). What this rating means is that anyone under the age of, say, 15, those who do not wish to see photos of the running of the bulls, and all mothers are strictly prohibited from viewing this entry and the photos contained herein.

On a more serious note, I have posted pictures of the running of the bulls and a couple from the bull fight that we went to in Pamplona. If you don´t think you want to see that, please use the ¨Back¨ button on your browser.

*ahem* I remind you that all mothers should no longer be viewing this entry.

So we got up early yesterday and left Barcelona on a 7am train bound for Pamplona and the Festival of San Fermin. We got into town shortly before 1, found our hotel, and then returned to the city to buy our outfits and take in the spectacle. Around 5:30, we headed to the Plaza de Toros and managed to get some tickets at face value (thanks to the World Cup finals, we think). The bull fight started at 6:30 and lasted until almost 9. It was a bit gory and not something I would go to every night for a week like some of the locals, but it was definitely a cultural experience I´m glad I saw. After the bull fight, we went and had dinner and then headed back to the hotel.

After a wonderful 3 hours of sleep, we were back up and getting ready to head back to the main part of town. By 5:30, we were on the route. Around that time, my dad and brother (the one with the arm cast for his broken wrist) headed to their balcony to watch the run. I walked the route a couple times and found my starting spot... only to be kicked out by the police because I was in an ¨invalid¨ starting point. That just meant I had to start further back that I planned, but oh well. (This is the abreviated version of the run... for the full verison, ask me next time you see me... ) The run started promptly at 8, with the 6 bulls released from the pen about 300 meters from where I was (the whole run is only 800ish meters long). I must say, the waiting, knowing that the bulls were coming, was definitely the most nerve racking part. Once I started running, I made it about 100-150 meters before the bulls were too close for comfort and then I found a nice piece of fence to jump up on. All in all, I would say it was a quite successful run. No real injuries to report and I now can say that I have run with the bulls. :)

After the run, we wandered the streets for a couple hours and then headed back to the hotel fo a few hours of sleep. We got on a 5 PM train back to Barcelona where we will be for the next day and a half. On Wednesday, my dad and brother will head back to the states and I´ll head up to London for a few days before going out to Oxford.

Anyway- it´s already 2am and I have a full day of seeing Barcelona ahead. I hope you all enjoy the pictures!

---

---