San Fermin Part 2

Testis the bull is the official mascot.  Notice he has some big ones.  He was all over town and on TV with his own show about the days festivities.  We saw our selves on local TV twice.
After we got pushed out the first day we tried to run and I got thrown out the second day, the thrid day was the charm and I got to run as well as my mates.  I got separated in the from Justin and Jim before the bulls were released.  When the rocket went off to signify the bulls were out of the gate the crowd started moving down the street at a light pace.  I got pushed around the corner from Town Hall Plaza and moved against the wall.  The bulls were on me at the 57 second mark (from the official video).  I was 5 feet from them as they ran by and started running after them.  I could not catch them and 3/4 of the way up the Estafata I had to stop and catch my breath.  I was sucking wind.  As the second group of bulls came by I ran out and touched the back end of the bull and ran behind them to the arena.  The gate into the arena closed soon after the last bull went through so I just missed getting into the ring for that fun.  WOW.  That was fun.

I finally got to run on the day we leave.  Yeah.  What a relief, mission accomplished.
We got something to eat and spent some time before our bus left getting the last wiff of Pamplona.  The festival would continue on till the 14th.

There were some crazy people here.  The Frenchmen with the sock ears was trying to get Jim to draw a picture of them.  They tried everything they could but Jim held his ground.  He was drawing for pleasure not money.  He could have made enough to pay for his trip. 
The Robert Deniro look alike walked around screaming something about San Fermin for days.  We saw him in the run and he tried to get out of the course as the bulls were on their way, but the security would not let him out till they went by. 
The protozoa heads seemed to be having fun.  There were bands cruising around town, up and down the streets with support crews carrying coolers full of beverages. 
Pamplona was a beautiful town full of nice parks, fountains, art and statues.  The Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage goes through here and you should take a look at that.  It is a 30 day hike that varies in length depending on where you start.  Watch the movie "The Way" to learn about the trek.
Do not forget to go to the Pastas Caseras BEATRIZ bakery before you leave.  I gorged myself on the best little pastry shop in town.  It was awesome.
Well back to Morocco.  I have work to do.  Ramadan starts August 1st.

Running With the Bull-July 6th to July 14th-San Fermin-Part 1

The first day is opening day (July 6) and the event starts with the proper clothing.  White shirt, white pants, red scarf, red sash and red hat.  I did not wear the red hat but it will make a nice gift for my children.    You are suppose to wear these cloths, uniform, for the entire time you are at the San Fermin.  The opening ceremony starts with thousands of people jammed into the plaza in front of town hall.  Everyone dressed in their whites, drinking sangria and spraying, pouring, throwing it all over each other.  Initiation into the festival is when you are soaked in sangria, dripping off your hair and turning your whites, purple. What fun.

From then on it was pure entertainment with music, dancing, eating, drinking, bull running, bull fights, parades, fireworks that went on 24 hours a day for the entire festival.  Old man that I am, I did not partake in any of these exhilarating events and spent most of my time napping and observing those foolish people doing crazy things.  SANFERMIN.com is the official website.

I met very interesting people. Bullchit and I went over the fine points of horn vs rump action during the festival.  He helped me decide how to run.   I had  very good discussion with Ernest Hemingway and let him know what I thought about "The Sun Also Rises".  I introduced him to some of my friends.  They were impressed I knew Hemingway personally. 

The food and beer varied from good to excellent and cheap to expensive.  We drank 1 euro beers and 12 euro beers.  The sangria was tasty but I am not sure if it should be considered a fashion accessory or beverage.

Did not make it on the run the first day.  Justin took pictures of us but we were over the cut off line at the Calle de Estafeta and the police came by in a big line and pushed thousands of us down the street out of the course. We were packed so tight in the Estafata that you could lift your feet off the ground and your would not fall down.  People were climbing drain pipes on the side of the street to get out of the crush.  Minyana, tomorrow we will run.  Inshallah.