If there is one country that I really love spending time in then it has got to be Spain. This country, on the south western party of Europe, was the second most visited country in the world a few years back, so I know I am not alone for my love of the country. Spain has got everything I want in a vacation destination, a warm climate, beaches, entertainment hot spots, nightlife and exciting festivals.
Spain is home to one of the biggest and most famous festivals throughout the world - the Running of the Bulls held in Pamplona. The Running of the Bulls is part of the Sam Fermin Festival, which is on in July each year.
I wasn't really sure before going to the Pamplona Running of the Bulls whether I would have the guts to actually run, but I thought I would look first and make my decision later. Nevertheless, it is something that I've always watched on TV and thought "This looks crazy!". Well once I made my mind up to go, I guess there was no going back, so when we booked the trip for the whole San Fermin festival between July 6 and July 14 I knew I would have to give it ago.
Almost every town and city across Spain holds a Bull Run festival each year. But there is only one world renowned Running of the Bulls and that occurs in Pamplona. I had a look at accommodation options during the San Fermin Festival and found that accommodation during this time can be really expensive. If you want to do things on a bit of a budget then I suggest you look at camping as there is quite a few tour operators that do Pamplona camping tours. The Pamplona tour companies plan everything for you, including transport, a place to sleep and quite often breakfast. A number of tour companies also have hotel tours and as I wasn't on a budget we booked into a hotel known as Gran Hotel La Perla. This hotel had a great location with a balcony that looked over the road where the running of the bulls occurred each morning.
The first time I watched the Pamplona Bull Run from my balcony I was totally blown away. Like I am thinking? "Are you insane?". I had thoughts about whether or not I wanted to actually go through with it and run with the bulls the next morning. I agonised all day. One of the my friends said "Do it!". The other one said "What are you, Stupid or something?" So....did I???
Anyway, there is heaps to do in Pamplona during San Fermin other than the Bull Run and parties start during the day go on throughout the night. There are lots of trendy little bars and restaurants for you to catch a bite during the Pamplona San Fermin Festival but tapas is perfect for snacks to keep you going any time during the day. Nobody can predict how events will turn out and this is the spice of the entire event. The running of the bulls takes place every day with each race lasting about three minutes and starts at 8am in the morning. There is different sorts of parades going on all throughout the day and fireworks happen every night around 11pm.
The answer I have to give when people ask me "So, did you actually run?" Is a blunt "Nope"! To be truthful I was horrified that people in the running of the bulls would simply just run over the top of people who had fallen in front of them and that really got me a scared. OK, yes I'm a chicken, but you should see the casualty report on TV when they do the run, some people were getting seriously hurt and not just from the hits from the bull! Just because I didn't run with the bulls doesn't mean I didn't have a fantastic time in Pamplona for San Fermin, as we still stayed the full seven days and enjoyed other parts of the festival immensely.
I have briefly visited Pamplona outside of San Fermin and it is a completely different place. You really need to be in Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls to appreciate the atmosphere and experience what is pretty much a uniquely Spanish experience
Spain is home to one of the biggest and most famous festivals throughout the world - the Running of the Bulls held in Pamplona. The Running of the Bulls is part of the Sam Fermin Festival, which is on in July each year.
I wasn't really sure before going to the Pamplona Running of the Bulls whether I would have the guts to actually run, but I thought I would look first and make my decision later. Nevertheless, it is something that I've always watched on TV and thought "This looks crazy!". Well once I made my mind up to go, I guess there was no going back, so when we booked the trip for the whole San Fermin festival between July 6 and July 14 I knew I would have to give it ago.
Almost every town and city across Spain holds a Bull Run festival each year. But there is only one world renowned Running of the Bulls and that occurs in Pamplona. I had a look at accommodation options during the San Fermin Festival and found that accommodation during this time can be really expensive. If you want to do things on a bit of a budget then I suggest you look at camping as there is quite a few tour operators that do Pamplona camping tours. The Pamplona tour companies plan everything for you, including transport, a place to sleep and quite often breakfast. A number of tour companies also have hotel tours and as I wasn't on a budget we booked into a hotel known as Gran Hotel La Perla. This hotel had a great location with a balcony that looked over the road where the running of the bulls occurred each morning.
The first time I watched the Pamplona Bull Run from my balcony I was totally blown away. Like I am thinking? "Are you insane?". I had thoughts about whether or not I wanted to actually go through with it and run with the bulls the next morning. I agonised all day. One of the my friends said "Do it!". The other one said "What are you, Stupid or something?" So....did I???
Anyway, there is heaps to do in Pamplona during San Fermin other than the Bull Run and parties start during the day go on throughout the night. There are lots of trendy little bars and restaurants for you to catch a bite during the Pamplona San Fermin Festival but tapas is perfect for snacks to keep you going any time during the day. Nobody can predict how events will turn out and this is the spice of the entire event. The running of the bulls takes place every day with each race lasting about three minutes and starts at 8am in the morning. There is different sorts of parades going on all throughout the day and fireworks happen every night around 11pm.
The answer I have to give when people ask me "So, did you actually run?" Is a blunt "Nope"! To be truthful I was horrified that people in the running of the bulls would simply just run over the top of people who had fallen in front of them and that really got me a scared. OK, yes I'm a chicken, but you should see the casualty report on TV when they do the run, some people were getting seriously hurt and not just from the hits from the bull! Just because I didn't run with the bulls doesn't mean I didn't have a fantastic time in Pamplona for San Fermin, as we still stayed the full seven days and enjoyed other parts of the festival immensely.
I have briefly visited Pamplona outside of San Fermin and it is a completely different place. You really need to be in Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls to appreciate the atmosphere and experience what is pretty much a uniquely Spanish experience
About the Author:
For an extensive array of information and advice for the Pamplona Running of the Bulls, including travel options, travel tips, party spots and other activities you should contact the events and festival travel specialists, FOMO Travel.
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