| GREAT NEWS! We will celebrate HEMINGWAY DAY at the sanfermines, 2009, on July 9th. This date will commemorate this famous author, who helped to make the San Fermín fiesta famous throughout the world! This year, 2009, marks Hemingway's last visit to Pamplona 50 years ago! Viva San Fermín! |
BULLRUNS begin promptly at 8am, each morning of the fiestas - July 7th, through, and including, the 14th. A rocket blast at 8am, sharp, tells runners and spectators that the gates have been opened, and the bulls are on their way! |
The Encierrillo refers to the event in which the bulls and the lead oxen are led from the Gas Corrals to the corrals of Santo Domingo, where the bulls spend their last night. The word Encierrillo refers to the "short Running of the Bulls" and involves about 400 meters of nocturnal bull-running, without any lights, except the usual street lamps. This event always takes place after nightfall, although there is no fixed time - you can expect that it will take place some time around 10:00pm. The ambience of this "short Running of the Bulls" is tranquil, and the running takes place in silence. Tickets to this event are very limited and very difficult to obtain. If you are interested in attending one of these nightly Encierrillos during the San Fermín fiestas, please email us right away, so we may make a reservation for your group. We will do our very best to obtain tickets for you......Here's a video link, to give you an idea of what to expect, if you are lucky enough to acquire tickets: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTeN4qaCkac |
Yes, each morning of the bullruns, the city of Pamplona mobilizes more than 100+ volunteers to take care of any injuries sustained from the bulls and/or the other runners themselves. These medical volunteers are specially trained to care for bullrun related injuries, and they are spread out along the "Running of the Bulls" route. There are more than a dozen first-aid posts and four medical posts that are activated each morning of the bullruns. Pamplona also coordinates extra ambulances in the old city, and they hire additional staff at local Emergency Departments in Pamplona hospitals to care for any injuries related to the sanfermines, whether or not these injuries are directly related to the actual bullrun event. Color codes have been established during the bullrun hours - red, green and yellow - to designate the urgency of the case and to distinguish the particular hospital to which the injured will be taken. If you are a bullrunner, or if you love a bullrunner, don't worry! -Pamplona's ambulances are able to transport the injured to nearby hospitals within just a few minutes! |
If you are planning to head to Pamplona on the rails, we suggest that you go immediately to http://www.renfe.com/, in order to secure a train seat! The train schedules for the first and second weeks of July have already been posted...and, many seats have already been reserved! Do NOT delay! Trains, like accommodations, book up very quickly for the sanfermines! Enjoy! |
