BEWARE! TRAGEDY in the BULLRING - July 7, 2006

Many of you have written that you are NOT convinced that "so many" serious injuries happen along the bullrun, or in the Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Pamplona.    Here is the account of one young man, whose  story may well convince you that running with bulls, or even "just" running from the "vaquillas" in the bullring, can be a life-altering experience, with permanent, life-damaging consequences: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/07/world/main1783668.shtml

 

Are the BULLRUNS really dangerous?

Now that the sanfermines, 2013, 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 -  Any questions?

NUDE protests in Pamplona - July 5th!

Many of you have written to us, asking about the nude protests that have been taking place in Pamplona each July 5th, for the past 10+ years!  This non-violent event in Pamplona has grown into a protest of about 2000 naked, or at least semi-naked, PETA members - all of whom are true animal lovers and much concerned about the treatment of the bulls, during the San Fermín fiestas.  Most of these kindhearted adults wear not much more than their red scarves and tiny bullhorns on their heads, and, consequently, they are quite successful in gaining lots of attention and international news coverage for their cause! The exact time and route of the protests are usually unknown to spectators - and even to the participants, as well!  But, you can be sure that the protests will take place on July 5th - sometime in the late morning through the afternoon hours, in the old city, Pamplona! 

Rumors ran rampant this past July, 2012, that the nude protesters were not going to come to Pamplona on July 5th, so as not to draw more curious tourists and money to the San Fermín fiestas. However, rest assured, there were indeed hundreds of nude PETA participants, scattered throughout the Plaza Consistorial, aka the Town Hall Square - and, yes, lots of photographers did show up to record the events in high definition!

For more information, and to pre-register as a nude participant, check out: http://www.runningofthenudes.com/

HOW CAN WE PREPARE OURSELVES for RUNNING with the BULLS in PAMPLONA?

Many of you have asked us for suggestions as to how to run with the wild bulls in Pamplona...

If you do plan to run with a pack of six, wild, angry, and frightened bulls, we suggest that you do yourself, and those who love you, a real favor:

Read and study the very important information about "Running with the Bulls" at this great website: http://www.partyearth.com/cities/pamplona.

Viva San Fermin!

 

WHAT is the SIGNIFICANCE of the FOUR ROCKETS that go off, EACH MORNING of the BULLRUNS?

There are four rockets that you will hear, and the safety of the people running with the bulls depends on the correct and prompt firing of these rockets.

The first rocket is lit at 8:00am, sharp, signaling that the gates have been opened at the corral on Calle de Santo Domingo where the bulls just spent their last night. 

The second rocket signifies that all the bulls have left the corral and are now loose on the streets. 

The third rocket is fired to tell the runners that all the bulls have arrived to the bullring. 

The fourth and final rocket is set off when all the bulls are inside the bullring's corral.

Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvsvQDX_hQg

The bulls are released each morning of the bullruns – July 7^th, through, and including, the 14^th – at 8:00am, sharp.

 Viva San Fermin!