What about CAMERAS at the CHUPINAXCO opening 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, mustard, etc...or, the professional pickpockets may very well add your camera to their collections of San Fermín contraband! More info on what to expect at the CHUPINAXCO will follow in another post.

Are the BULLRUNS really dangerous?

Now that the sanfermines, 2010, are rapidly trampling upon us, many of you have written to us in the past weeks, inquiring about our own opinions about running with the bulls in Pamplona. Many of you have asked if the bullruns are really dangerous??!! We can tell you from the experiences of many of our Pamplona friends and family: THE BULLRUNS IN PAMPLONA ARE NOT REALLY DANGEROUS.....THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DANGEROUS! Included here are two photos that tell the story quite well, results of the bullrun of July 12, 2007.

5th STEP of the SAN FERMIN ladder!

Just a quick note to remind all of you that today marks another milestone on the way to the sanfermines, 2009! Yes, today is the 5th day of the 5th month! We are getting closer and closer to our long-awaited San Fermín fiestas, and the official countdown is well under way! In honor of what the sanfermines stand for, there are some things that you can do, in order to get ready for the greatest fiesta on the planet! First, call your work place, and tell them that you are calling in "well", and that you will feel "even better" today when you eat some churros for breakfast and sip sangria with your tortilla for lunch! Go out and throw sangria on your friends and on lots of unsuspecting people you don't even know! Next, take your kid's drums outside and walk up and down your neighborhood streets, beating the drums until you wake up as many tired neighbors as possible! Throw more sangria on even more friends and unsuspecting passers-by! Go out and dance the "jota" in any public place - we did this at our local grocery store last week! - great fun to watch the reaction of the store's customers! Also, stay up all night tonight, to get in practice for the real thing! Repeat all suggestions above, until you collapse from fatigue, and then get up and do it all over again! Yes, today, we are on the 5th Step of the San Fermín ladder....Now, go out and have a blast!

What are churros, and where do we get them?

Churros - sometimes called "Spanish doughnuts" - are a deep fried pastry that is popular throughout Spain. This pastry is usually thin and straight or knotted in shape, and served with lots of sugar sprinkled on top, and, very often, churros are served with thick, hot chocolate. Churros are usually eaten for breakfast, but during the sanfermines in Pamplona, you will find several vendors preparing churros at the Parque de la Taconera, all day and all night long.... One of our favorite places for "chocolate" and "churros" in the old city is at c/ Mañueta, # 8. This "churrería" is famous in all of Navarra as having the absolutely best recipe for making this sweet pastry! This same family has owned this business for the past 150+ years, and this "churrería" opens only during very special dates in the year.....the sanfermines, included among these special dates! This "churrería" is usually open about 6:30am, through about 10:00am, each date of the fiestas. It becomes impossible to access this street during the time of the bullruns (6:00am til about 8:15am), as the crowds make passage to c/ Mañueta almost impossible......but, this is a great destination after the encierro.....

How do we prepare for the BULLFIGHTS?

If you have RESERVED seats in the SHADE side of the bullring, we suggest that you read our favorite book about the San Fermín fiestas: PAMPLONA: Running the Bulls, Bars and Barrios in Fiesta de San Fermín, written by the absolute authority on the fiestas, Ray Mouton....and, available at www.amazon.com This book describes all aspects of the bullfights and is a must-read for rookies to the sanfermines! Mr. Mouton writes passionately about the bullfights, and he will instruct you on what to expect, what not to expect, and how to appreciate this age-old tradition..... If you plan to sit in the "SOL" ("sun") side of the bullring, where the rowdy social clubs, called peñas, take over the stands: In order to prepare you for your bullfighting experience.... First, dress in a clean white shirt and white pants, the traditional clothing for the sanfermines....Then, go to any spectator sporting event, as a basketball or baseball game, and bring a boom-box with your favorite CD....be sure the music you choose is fast-paced and perfect for dancing....Next, crank up the volume to the highest level possible, so that all the spectators sitting near you at the sporting event are totally distracted and become more interested in your music, than in the sport that they think they came to see! Also, bring a bucket filled with sangria, and lots of soggy fruit pieces, especially oranges, peaches, pears and apples. Next, ask a stranger at the game to take cups of this sangria mixture and throw it on you, when you are least expecting a shower.....Keep doing this until your hair is drenched and you are covered with sangria and your clothing is stained pink....Next, take a bag of sugar and/or flour and have anyone throw the sugar and flour onto your wet hair and clothing....Keep doing this until you are sticky and feel gross! ...Now, you will have a small idea of what it is like to sit at the bullfights in the "SOL" side of the bullring, with the peñas....what a fiesta! Here are two videos that tell the story of the peñas at the bullfights at the sanfermines .....Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-fuyhJvbhg&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6NHN2AmBNw&feature=related

4th STEP of the SAN FERMIN Stairway!

Once again, we are happy to announce that we have arrived to yet another step, along the San Fermín ladder - today is the 4th day of the 4th month!! Go out and celebrate with sangria; go dance the "jota"; stay up all night and get your body conditioned for the sanfermines!! Yes, we are well on our way to euphoria, 2009! VIVA SAN FERMIN! GORA SAN FERMIN!

What is the "Pobre de mí" - and when does it happen?

The "Pobre de mí" - which translates to "Poor me!" - is the official closing ceremony of San Fermín, which takes place at the Town Hall, beginning promptly at midnight on the July 14th! After 204 hours of serious partying, it is now time to say "Adiós!" to the sanfermines of this year, and to accept the fact that life now, somehow, has to return to normal! This "Pobre de mí" ceremony lasts about 30 minutes - with unforgettable fireworks lighting up the skies and with candles held by the revelers lighting up the Town Hall Square…..and, of course, there is lots of singing by the crowds! The melancholy hymn reminds us that the fiestas are indeed over until next July: "Pobre de mí, Pobre de mí, que se han acabado las fiestas de San Fermín." (Poor me, poor me, the fiestas of San Fermín are now over). The mayor of Pamplona addresses the citizens of the world, to remind us that although the San Fermín fiestas have ended for this year, we have just 355 days until the "chupinaxco" rocket fires again next July 6th, at 12 noon, at the same Town Hall Square, welcoming the fiestas of the next year! YA FALTA MENOS! If your travel schedule is flexible enough to include this colorful and very traditional closing ceremony, we highly recommend that you plan to be in Pamplona for the night of July 14th! Here are two videos which describe the closing ceremony, called the "Pobre de mí!" Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tlBepSeYls&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kETisFeAzE&NR=1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcEU18thsds&feature=related

What are the Peñas - and what do they do?

The Peñas are the ultimate display of wild party atmosphere throughout the old city of Pamplona, and throughout the San Fermín fiesta! The peñas, quite simply, are local social clubs that meet throughout the year for whatever reason they need, in order to throw a party! However, their main social event is the San Fermín fiesta, when members of each peña dress in their particular colors and carry their special banner - designed especially for the San Fermín fiesta! The peñas are known for their unending, 24/7, happy music and wild dancing - not only in the streets of the fiesta, but especially during the bullfights as well! Here is a link which describes clearly the role of the peñas at a bullfight, during the sanfermines, in Pamplona! Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6NHN2AmBNw

Should we rent BALCONY places, in order to watch the BULLRUNS??

Many of you have been asking the question: Is it really necessary to rent balcony places in order to see the bullruns?? We can tell you from our own experiences from many years ago, that YES!! - If you plan to see the bullruns, then you must be on a balcony along the route - watching the bullrun from the elevation and safety of a balcony is really the only predictable way to witness this "Running of the Bulls" phenomenon! The bullrun is only 825 meters in length, and it has been estimated that there are only about 800 balcony places for rent each day! There are an estimated 250,000 people in Pamplona - both residents and tourists - on any given date of the fiestas....With so few areas along the route which have barricades for watching the bullruns, you really need to rent balcony places, if you are serious about watching this world-famous event! Do NOT delay!! Send an email to maria@bullbalcony.com right away! Balconies in Pamplona are filling up very quickly now - the sanfermines are just 4 months away! Here is a picture of tourists who did NOT have balcony reservations with us!

Which book do you recommend, in order to prepare for the SAN FERMIN fiestas?

We do recommend that you read all about the SAN FERMIN fiestas before you head to Pamplona! You will better understand the deep history and pageantry that surround the celebrations, and you will learn about so many of the traditions that encompass the sanfermines. We highly recommend the book, PAMPLONA, Running the Bulls, Bars and Barrios en Fiesta de San Fermín, written by Ray Mouton, and available at www.amazon.com Mr. Mouton's description of the sanfermines is the next best thing to being at the fiestas! We recommend that you read this fabulous book at least once before heading to Pamplona and at least once, upon your return. Treat yourself to a copy! Enjoy!

THIRD STEP of the SAN FERMIN ladder!

Today is March 3rd, and this means that we have officially climbed to the THIRD STEP of the San Fermín Stairway! First of January, 2nd of February, 3rd of March.....today is the perfect excuse to enjoy some chilled sangria, and to remember that the sanfermines, 2009, are rapidly approaching!! Saludos!

Are the BULLRUNS really dangerous??

Now that the sanfermines, 2009, are rapidly trampling upon us, many of you have written to us in the past weeks, inquiring about our own opinions about running with the bulls in Pamplona. Many of you have asked if the bullruns are really dangerous??!! We can tell you from the experiences of many of our Pamplona friends and family: THE BULLRUNS IN PAMPLONA ARE NOT REALLY DANGEROUS.....THEY ARE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DANGEROUS! Included here are two photos that tell the story quite well, results of the bullrun of July 12, 2007.