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We left London at 11am on the 3rd and headed to Dover for the boat ride to Calais. Once we reached Calais we had another 18 hours on the bus travelling through France to Spain. It really was a LONG bus trip and one which I am not too keen to repeat in the near future. When we arrived at the Estella campgrounds I was straight to bed to have a few hours sleep.
Estella
Estella is a cute little Spanish village about 30 kms out of Pamplona (where the San Fermin Festival takes place). Alli and I spent the afternoon exploring the town (trying to get directions from the locals in very bad Spanish was quite amusing). We headed back to camp that afternoon and had a few drinks with all of the others on the tour (approx. 1000 people) at the campground bar.
The campgrounds were really good and definitely catered for this type of event; there was massive bar, little shop, two pools, clean facilities and loads of space. Thankfully I was in dorm style accommodation and not tents. My dorm had 3 girls and 13 boys so this was quite entertaining, it also became
known as the party dorm which resulted in me getting very little sleep over the week (and it wasn't necessarily because I was partying but rather it was too noisy to sleep - although at times I figured it was better just to join them rather than even attempting sleep).
San Sebastian
We went to San Sebastian for the day. It is a very popular tourist destination for the rich and famous and I can see why. The awesome tapas bars were a personal favourite of mine, as was lying around on the beach for a few hours (it was so nice to see the sun again). This evening we headed back to camp for the famous pre Pamps pool party - a very big night was had by all!!
San Fermin - Opening Ceremony
WOW - where do I start with this. I had no real expectations of today but was very pleasantly surprised. We got up, dressed in our 'essential uniform' of white pants, white shirt, red sash and red bandana and then took the shuttle bus into the heart of Pamplona at about 9.00am in readiness for the opening ceremony. We anxiously made our way
through the streets getting our bearings and stocking up on Sangria and Champagne and then headed down into the mass of people that had gathered in the town square in front of the mayor's building. It was still only about 10.00am. What happens in here is truly an experience. People continue to mass into the square as the crowd sways. As each new person enters the square the crowds begin to chant "you're to clean" and drinks are sprayed everywhere by everyone; champagne, sangria and shaving cream. No-one escapes clean. God know's why the tradition is white clothing when it gets so filthy, smelly and sticky. By now the ground is covered in broken bottles and glass and there is no room to move. You are quite literally swaying as more and more people attempt to enter the square (it was at this point that I started feeling a bit scared - a few more drinks soon fixed this feeling though). At 12pm the mayor walks out onto his balcony welcoming everyone and a canon is fired to officially open the festival. Everyone cheers and waves their red bandanas in the air. It truly is a sight to see thousands
of people in such a crowded space all waving their bandanas in a sea of red and white (actually a shade of pink due to the sangria that has been sprayed everywhere).
People start dispersing shortly afterwards to continue their partying at one of the many local bars. We made our way through the streets to the Mussel Bar. Many years ago a tradition was born by Aussie and Kiwis of jumping off the fountain outside the bar. These crazy idiots ply themselves with alcohol, climb to the top and then jump off the hope that the drunked crowd below will catch them (only an Aussie or Kiwi would think this is a good idea!!). It is the type of thing that attracts your morbid fascination and left me standing there watching for over an hour. I watched one guy hesitate and he ended up going down feet first; apparently he ended up with two broken legs. They say that more injuries/deaths have occured due to the jumping from the fountain than those that have occured due to the bull run.
All in all it was a fantastic day and I really can't put in to words the
atmosphere. I will be going back for more next year!!!
Running of the Bulls
We had a very early rise (5.45am) on the 7th so that we can once again be shuttled in to Pamplona for the first bull run. I went to the Plaza de Toros which is the arena that all of the runners and bulls run in to at the end of the run (unfortunately there is nowhere to watch the run on the streets - unless you know someone who owns a house with a balcony). At 8am a gun goes off and the bulls are released from a pen on one side of old Pamplona and it takes only a few minutes for them to charge the 800 metre course through the narrow cobblestone streets into the arena. The number of runners was amazing and watching the bulls run in to the arena and the matadors guiding them out was just awesome. After all of the bulls that are on the run (I think there are about 12 in total) are back they send out 'fresh' bulls in to the crowd of runners. I must admit that I spent the whole time cringing
or with my eyes closed as the bulls charged at people.
Quite a few people on our tour (in fact, most of the guys) attempted to do the run. I say attempt because apparently so many people turn up to do it that the police have to push people away. The police are in full on riot gear and have the batons out ready to attack due to the number of disappointed people that try and break through the human barrier that they form. About half of the people that tried to get on the run were able to and all say that it was an amazing experience (I have never heard so many blokey blokes admitting that they were sh*tting themselves).
The San Fermin Festival was fantastic and I would recommend it to anyone!!!
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Carol
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Those guys jumping off the fountain are CRAZY!!!! I didn't realise it was so high. I think you'd have to be as crazy to catch them too; especially catching the naked ones.