Today we went to Pamplona to the San Fermin festival where they have the running of the bulls. Basically everyone wears red, and white, gets completely drunk, and runs with the bulls and get their butt's torn up! But I'll explain a little bit more into detail. First of all we left our dorms at 4:50am this morning! Mind you that's only 11:50pm back home, so I was up at 4am! Yikes! On the drive to Pamplona we all basically slept while freezing from the AC but I woke up to the sunrise coming up over the mountains. It was the most amazing thing I have seen since I have been here. Then we are informed that we must sign a contract saying no drinking, no running with the bulls, no picking fights etc. Which makes total sense. We arrived in Pamplona at about 7am where we got off the bus and were introduced into a large mass of people. We totally stuck out, and we were being taunted by other Spaniards, calling us "toury's." But it was interesting. Imagine the day after the Taste of Chicago, or after a music festival. There were glasses, broken wine bottles, the smell of puke and urine. Not a good first impression of Pamplona. All the bars were rocking out, serving beer and wine, and at 7am! We weren't allowed to watch the running from the streets, so we went to the bull ring and that's where they bring the bulls in after they run through the calles or streets. They had screens so we could watch. Then all of the sudden a large mass of people come running in, and then they appeared the bulls! It was quite entertaining, and sort of exciting. These people are really nuts to be doing this. So after the bulls run through the ring, they go into the pen. Then people kneel down and sort of form a pyramid where the bull comes out of. When they release the bull they pretty much get stepped on while he rams out of the pen. Then the people who are in the ring, taunt the bull by patting him on the butt. He does not like this! We saw so many people get rammed by the bull. He was literally scooping them up by the horns and throwing them. One guy lost his shirt and it got stuck on the bulls horns! Later we saw him walking around with two large gashes on his back from the horns. They repeat this process several times, then it is over. After the bull ring, my friends and I walked around, bought some souvenirs and took some pictures. We ran into a lot of characters! People were completely wasted, coming up and talking to you. People in their white clothes covered in wine, and sangria. It was quite the sight to see. Then we had the most amazing breakfast, churros con chocolate! Probably not the best thing to eat for breakfast but when in Spain... All in all it was pretty cool to experience. I really wish my brother and dad could have been there. They would have loved it! Maybe one day we'll go as a family.
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