More thoughts about the CHUPINAXCO!

We need to emphasize again that if you are bothered by huge crowds, it will be best for you to STAY OUT of this CHUPINAXCO activity!  There are only about 2500 sq. meters of ground space in the Town Hall Square (called the Plaza Consistorial), and there are an estimated 13,000 very wild revelers pushing their way into the Square, all at the same time!  In simpler terms, there are about 5 to 6 persons crushed into EACH sq. meter of ground space! 

Also, because of these unforgiving crowds, and because of the fact that once you get into the Square, you cannot get out....we caution you about bringing valuables into the Square with you!!  Do NOT bring cash, passports, wallets, jewelry, watches, hotel/room keys, etc into this crowded madness of the CHUPINAXCO, as professional pickpockets love this event, too!

Being all this as it may be, we do love the CHUPINAXCO!!......so much fun to celebrate the opening ceremonies with our family and friends from Pamplona!  If you are serious about watching this spectacle from a safe location, we encourage you to write to us at maria@bullbalcony.com  We have a very limited number of balcony places remaining for the 2011 CHUPINAXCO!  We'll see you there, at 12 noon, July 6th!!

Is there an INTERNET Café in the old city, Pamplona??

The one and only Internet café in the old city, Pamplona, is the "Kuria Net", located at Calle Curia, # 15, in the heart of the fiesta.  This internet café usually opens by about 10:30am, daily, depending on the late night hours of the employees who work there!  This past San Fermín fiesta, 2010, it was open by about 11am, each morning, at the latest.  "Kuria Net" is usually open until about 11pm, each night.

What about CAMERAS at the CHUPINAXCO ceremonies on July 6th??!!

If you insist on bringing a camera into this madness of the CHUPINAXCO, we suggest that you wrap your camera completely in a waterproof bag. Or, we suggest that you bring a waterproof camera, due to the huge amounts of champagne, wine, mustard, mayonnaise, eggs, or other colorful condiments and refreshments that participants throw upon each other! We suggest that you do NOT bring your favorite, expensive digital camera into these crowds - your camera will either be ruined with the above mentioned champagne, wines, etc...or, the professional pickpockets may very well add your camera to their collections of San Fermín contraband! See pictures here, which show the density of the crowds that gather for the chupinaxco. Watch this video for more information: http://www.sanfermin.com/index.php/en/la-fiesta/txupinazo More info on what to expect at the CHUPINAXCO will follow in another post.

"Viva" and "Gora" - What's the Difference?

"Viva" and "Gora" both mean "Long live..."
"Viva" is the Spanish word, and "Gora" is its Basque translation! 

Viva San Fermín!  Gora San Fermín!