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 takes place in the night, although there is no fixed time - you can expect that it will take place some time around 10 o'clock, in the night.  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

What about PARKING during the sanfermines??

Many of you have been asking about where to park a vehicle during the very crowded dates of the sanfermines -

If you plan to bring a car to Pamplona, please know that all streets in the old city are blocked to traffic, during the fiesta dates of July 5th, through and including, the 14th. Parking is sometimes available at the airport; along the perimeter of the Parque de la Taconera (see photos above); and in the residential area called "Rochapea", across the Río Arga from the old city, and about a 15 minute walk to the fiesta. Here is the link for where the Rochapea area is located: http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLJ_enUS311US311&q=rochapea+pamplona+spain Please be aware that leaving a car for several days, or even overnight, may be risky.

Are the BULLRUNS really dangerous?

Now that the sanfermines, 2018, 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??!

Which BUS do we take from the PAMPLONA train station to the OLD CITY??

Many of you have been asking a very common question:  From the train station, which public bus is best for transport to the old city, Pamplona?  The only bus from the RENFE train station in Pamplona, to the old city, where the sanfermines take place, is the Bus # 9.....You will see the bus-stop just outside the main entrance/exit of the train station....and, you can expect a short 10-15 minute bus trip into the old city, depending on San Fermín traffic!

HOW to RUN with the BULLS in PAMPLONA - Part 2

So, you have decided to "run with the bulls" in Pamplona, and you now know that you do not need to "sign up", per our last post on this topic. So far, so good. Here is what you can expect next: Since you read the last post, you know that all runners gather in the Town Hall Square, the "ayuntamiento", at least an hour before the run. Thus, you are now packed into a small area between the wooden barricades with about 3,000+ other runners. There is so little room that everyone is standing up as there is nowhere to sit down. In addition to the Spanish and Basque languages, you will hear conversations of all types going on around you, in just about every language. At this point, everyone is calm but there is a nervous edge to the chilly air. You can feel the rising anticipation underneath the calm at this point. Don't be surprised to see policemen, at this point, wandering through the streets and scoping out the crowd. They are looking for unsuitable runners. As I mentioned in the last post, while this is insanity and all hell is about to break lose in an hour, it is organized insanity and there are rules. If you appear drunk, the police will eject you immediately. (One friend of ours was even ejected, just before the bullrun started, for wearing a shirt that had been seriously stained with sangria while sitting with the social clubs - called the 'peñas' - during the bullfights the evening before! Apparently, the police has assumed that he had been drinking during the night, and, so, they threw him off the bullrun route!) The police are also looking for people carrying cameras or wearing 'helmet' cams on their hats. If they find that you have either, you will be ejected without question. If you have open-toed shoes or other inappropriate dress, you will be ejected immediately. If you are ejected, it is suggested that you not put up a fight or make any dispute with the police - they are very serious about their jobs and will not listen to any appeal. They probably won't understand your language, anyway! If you are selected for rejection, you are rejected - it is just that simple. Remember, these animals are their prized bulls that the city pays handsomely for, and their priority is the safety of these bulls from the corral to the Plaza de Toros. Next, we will talk about the last few minutes before the event begins.