Some FUN FACTS and NOT-SO-FUN FACTS about the CHUPINAXCO Opening Ceremonies - 12 Noon - July 6th:

The CHUPINAXCO takes place at 12 noon, on July 6th, at the Town Hall, in the old city, Pamplona.  However, because this is such a monumental event in the SAN FERMIN festival, you can expect that all nearby side streets are also packed with building-to-building-to-building revelers, all with varying degrees of wildly elevated BACs (Blood Alcohol Content).   The Town Hall Square (known as the Plaza Consistorial) measures about 2500 sq. meters in size...so, you cannot even imagine how crowded the square becomes when the estimated 13,000+ revelers attempt to take their spots in the celebration!  This means that about 5 to 6 persons are jammed into each square meter of ground space! You must wear sturdy closed-toe shoes!  Don't even think of wearing sandals!! There is broken glass all over the ground - so, especially if you want to run with the bulls, be very careful that you don't end up needing stitches in your foot, or feet!! The Town Hall Square, during the CHUPINAXCO ceremony, is NOT a place for children or older people!  Once you get into the unforgiving crowds at the Town Hall, you CANNOT get out, until the event is over and the revelers leave the Square. Women and young girls report roaming hands on private body parts - unfortunately, due to the huge crowds, they cannot escape the ordeal until the crowds disperse - about one hour later!  During the celebrations, you can expect that there is a lot of very dangerous pushing and shoving, called "surging" by the locals. It gets very hot in the Town Hall Square, not only from the warm daily temperatures, but also from the body heat generated by the huge crowds packed into this small area! You can expect that it becomes very difficult to breathe, especially if you are a shorter person!  For the CHUPINAXCO, it is best to make reservations on a balcony in order to witness this spectacular event...and to be safe, at the same time!!  We have a very limited number of balcony places for the upcoming Chupinaxco, on July 6th.  If you have not done so already, we strongly advise you to contact us right away, in order to secure a balcony for you and your group!

Can a small "vaquilla" do harm in the bullring?

"OUCH!"   Any questions??!

Some FUN FACTS and NOT-SO-FUN FACTS about the CHUPINAXCO Opening Ceremonies - 12 Noon - July 6th:

The CHUPINAXCO takes place at 12 noon, on July 6th, at the Town Hall, in the old city, Pamplona.  However, because this is such a monumental event in the SAN FERMIN festival, you can expect that all nearby side streets are also packed with building-to-building-to-building revelers, all with varying degrees of wildly elevated BACs (Blood Alcohol Content).   The Town Hall Square (known as the Plaza Consistorial) measures about 2500 sq. meters in size...so, you cannot even imagine how crowded the square becomes when the estimated 13,000+ revelers attempt to take their spots in the celebration!  This means that about 5 to 6 persons are jammed into each square meter of ground space! You must wear sturdy closed-toe shoes!  Don't even think of wearing sandals!! There is broken glass all over the ground - so, especially if you want to run with the bulls, be very careful that you don't end up needing stitches in your foot, or feet!! The Town Hall Square, during the CHUPINAXCO ceremony, is NOT a place for children or older people!  Once you get into the unforgiving crowds at the Town Hall, you CANNOT get out, until the event is over and the revelers leave the Square. Women and young girls report roaming hands on private body parts - unfortunately, due to the huge crowds, they cannot escape the ordeal until the crowds disperse - about one hour later!  During the celebrations, you can expect that there is a lot of very dangerous pushing and shoving, called "surging" by the locals. It gets very hot in the Town Hall Square, not only from the warm daily temperatures, but also from the body heat generated by the huge crowds packed into this small area! You can expect that it becomes very difficult to breathe, especially if you are a shorter person!  For the CHUPINAXCO, it is best to make reservations on a balcony in order to witness this spectacular event...and to be safe, at the same time!!  We have a very limited number of balcony places for the upcoming Chupinaxco, on July 6th.  If you have not done so already, we strongly advise you to contact us right away, in order to secure a balcony for you and your group!  More FUN and NOT-SO-FUN FACTS about the CHUPINAXCO will follow in Part 2.

Has any runner died recently during the bullruns in Pamplona?

Check out this video, which will clarify for you the dangers of running with a pack of six, wild, angry, frightened bulls through the cobblestone streets in Pamplona:  http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Spanish-Man-Killed-in-Running-of-the-Bulls-in-Pamplona/Video/200907215335419?lpos=World%20News_11&lid=VIDEO_1964772_Man%20Killed%20In%20Pamplona%20Bull%20Run&videoCategory=World%20News

TIPS for RUNNING WITH WILD BULLS in PAMPLONA! Part 1

The first question I get asked about running with the bulls is, do you have to "sign up" ahead of time to run? The simple answer is "no" - you do not "sign up" for the run, but there are definite rules that runners need to follow. Here are the basics: During the Festival, the bulls run every morning from July 7 - July 14, inclusive. This is done in order to move the bulls from the corral at the edge of the old city to the bullring where they will fight that night. Since there is a bullfight every night of the San Fermines, then there is a bullrun every morning. Each morning, the police allow anyone interested in running to enter into the Plaza Consistorial, or Town Hall Square, in front of the Town Hall, aka "Ayuntamiento". This is the only place that runners can gather before the run. All the rest of the unknowledgeable tourists spread themselves up and down the route of the bullrun and are very sadly disappointed when the police force them from the streets before the bullrun begins. Please note that at about 5:30am, revelers are forced from the street so that the city can clean the streets before the bullrun begins. This is done more for the safety and security of the bulls than it is for the runners. The city pays big dollars for these fighting bulls, and they do not want any bull to get injured during the run. If a bull were injured during the run, then that bull would not be eligible for a fight that night. Next, we will explore what happens once all the runners gather in the Town Hall Square. Stay tuned for Part 2.

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, 2010, are rapidly approaching!! VIVA SAN FERMIN!

How do we make TRAIN RESERVATIONS to Pamplona?

The website www.renfe.com is Spain's train schedule site......However, please know that the train schedules are NOT posted until 61 days prior to the departure date. For example, if you want to buy train tickets for a Madrid to Pamplona trip on July 5th, check with the www.renfe.com website on May 5th...Trains in Spain are very punctual, clean and quite economical. Enjoy!

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.

What are churros, and where do we get them?

Churros - sometimes called "Spanish doughnuts" - are a deep fried pastry that is very 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, Pamplona, 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.....

Should we reserve BALCONY places for watching 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 already filling up for the sanfermines, 2010 - the sanfermines are just 7 months away! Here is a picture of tourists who did NOT have balcony reservations with us!

July 9th is HEMINGWAY DAY in PAMPLONA!

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!

What time do the BULLRUNS begin?

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!

What are the ENCIERRILLOS? - HOW do we get tickets to the ENCIERRILLOS??

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

Are there MEDICAL staff on duty during the BULLRUNS in PAMPLONA?

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!

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.....

When do the BULLFIGHTS begin in Pamplona?

Bullfights begin each evening of the sanfermines at 6:30pm, sharp. Bullfights are held every day of the fiestas, from July 7th through, and including, the 14th. There are tickets sold for RESERVED seats in the SHADE ("sombra")....and, NON-reserved seats in the SUN ("sol")....Read previous posting in this Blog, to learn about the difference in these seating possibilities. Enjoy!

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