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Running with the Bulls in Pamplona
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For one week each year in early July, the sleepy mountain town of
 Pamplona,
Spain, hosts one of the biggest parties in Europe. As the headline
attraction of the Fiesta de San Fermin, the Running of the Bulls draws over
half a million revelers from all over the world. Each morning of the
festival at 8am, the bulls gallop from their pens through the streets of
downtown Pamplona and into the bullring, the Plaza de Toros, a half-mile
away. Though most merely watch and cheer, some hardy souls choose to run
with the bulls, weaving and dodging to avoid being gored or trampled by the
1500 lb. beasts. Whether you consider those who run to be brave or foolish,
you can't help but appreciate the energy and spectacle of this unique event.
With everyone clad in white with red bandanas tied around their necks, a
sense of unity and excitement permeates the crowd. Each evening many attend
the bullfight (the stadium box office sells tickets to visitors on the night
before each fight), and afterwards the party in the streets and bars of
Pamplona lasts all night long -- and then some.
The Fiesta de San Fermin usually begins on July 6th and lasts until July
14th.
Hotel rooms must be reserved months in advance and are usually quite
expensive; many young visitors choose to sleep in city parks, but thieves
can be abundant and aggressive. |
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http://www.frommers.com |
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