St Fermin in Pamplona...
Another adventure, another story, as my fabulous week in Spain came to an ultimate climax and left a day that will echo forever in my short history. "Papi" Hemingway wouold have been proud of me I am sure. I could picture him standing in the crwod cheering me on...as I live out another one of my lifelong goals...to run with the bulls in Pamplona on St Fermin...
...but let me start at the beginning.
We planned the week well to make sure that pamplona would be the last part of the action plan. The last night of St Fermin - the Friday night, partying through the night to see the sun rise and the bulls run at the break of dawn. The stage was set for the "grande finale"and preparations were made. I volunteered to be the designated driver to make sure my friends have the best time ever without the hassle the next morning of struggling to find their way home. But I think for someone that drank "PowerAde" the whole night, I was probably the one that had the most energy and the most fun on top of that. Felt funny to be the only sober person in a crwod of thousands of people, but felt great at the same time. I partied like a rock star and I will have to find out from "PowerAde" what they put in their drinks cause it surely works like a charm...
...Seeing that it was about an hour´s drive from home, we hit Panmplona just after midnight. The streets were packed with the stench of beer and the atmosphere of adventure, danger and off course "fiesta" were everywhere. I have never seen or experienced such a mess or vibe and have to say that even though a lot of people around me is not my favourite party trick, this was simply epic.
The time went by way to fast and the sun rose through the cloud cover. My friends did not want me to run so I lost them in the crowds of people to make my way to the start. I had no idea what to expect and I have only seen the clips and videos of people being run over and thrown by the bulls. Seeing that you don´t run the whole way, I found a spot about five hundred meters from the "finish line" - the arena. A gruelling uphill to the finish. I was seriously nervous and as the hooves and the clatter came up the cobble stone road, I knew my hour had come. It was now or never. I said to myself to wait till I see the first bull and then cut my way to the arena. I was running with one eye forward and one eye behind me to make sure I avoid the mob in front of me plus the bulls behind me. I was lucky to avoid the one but not the other. The only battle scar I have to show was picked up while being tripped over by the mob in front of me as I fell over what must have been at least ten others trying to get out of the way of the bulls. With this it was over and I had to chase behind the bulls into the arena.
Once in the arena they released the bulls, one at a time. Here you have the chance with hundreds of other successful runners to get another look at the bulls as they charge around the arena to see if they (the bulls) can get another chance of making their mark....on the runners. It was here that I took my chances and got to touch the horn of the first bull they released. Another milestone for me...the second and the third bull was way to excited and energetic for my tired body and my tank of PowerAde was starting to run on empty. Seeing that I had nothing left to prove to myself, I jump over the rails andleft the arena to find my friends.
A fitting end to an exciting and unforgettable night was catching up with my friends at the statue of "Papi" Hemingway. Hugging the big fellow in a triumphant manner was my way of saying yet again...."At least I can say - I´ve lived!"
Another adventure, another story, as my fabulous week in Spain came to an ultimate climax and left a day that will echo forever in my short history. "Papi" Hemingway wouold have been proud of me I am sure. I could picture him standing in the crwod cheering me on...as I live out another one of my lifelong goals...to run with the bulls in Pamplona on St Fermin...
...but let me start at the beginning.
We planned the week well to make sure that pamplona would be the last part of the action plan. The last night of St Fermin - the Friday night, partying through the night to see the sun rise and the bulls run at the break of dawn. The stage was set for the "grande finale"and preparations were made. I volunteered to be the designated driver to make sure my friends have the best time ever without the hassle the next morning of struggling to find their way home. But I think for someone that drank "PowerAde" the whole night, I was probably the one that had the most energy and the most fun on top of that. Felt funny to be the only sober person in a crwod of thousands of people, but felt great at the same time. I partied like a rock star and I will have to find out from "PowerAde" what they put in their drinks cause it surely works like a charm...
...Seeing that it was about an hour´s drive from home, we hit Panmplona just after midnight. The streets were packed with the stench of beer and the atmosphere of adventure, danger and off course "fiesta" were everywhere. I have never seen or experienced such a mess or vibe and have to say that even though a lot of people around me is not my favourite party trick, this was simply epic.
The time went by way to fast and the sun rose through the cloud cover. My friends did not want me to run so I lost them in the crowds of people to make my way to the start. I had no idea what to expect and I have only seen the clips and videos of people being run over and thrown by the bulls. Seeing that you don´t run the whole way, I found a spot about five hundred meters from the "finish line" - the arena. A gruelling uphill to the finish. I was seriously nervous and as the hooves and the clatter came up the cobble stone road, I knew my hour had come. It was now or never. I said to myself to wait till I see the first bull and then cut my way to the arena. I was running with one eye forward and one eye behind me to make sure I avoid the mob in front of me plus the bulls behind me. I was lucky to avoid the one but not the other. The only battle scar I have to show was picked up while being tripped over by the mob in front of me as I fell over what must have been at least ten others trying to get out of the way of the bulls. With this it was over and I had to chase behind the bulls into the arena.
Once in the arena they released the bulls, one at a time. Here you have the chance with hundreds of other successful runners to get another look at the bulls as they charge around the arena to see if they (the bulls) can get another chance of making their mark....on the runners. It was here that I took my chances and got to touch the horn of the first bull they released. Another milestone for me...the second and the third bull was way to excited and energetic for my tired body and my tank of PowerAde was starting to run on empty. Seeing that I had nothing left to prove to myself, I jump over the rails andleft the arena to find my friends.
A fitting end to an exciting and unforgettable night was catching up with my friends at the statue of "Papi" Hemingway. Hugging the big fellow in a triumphant manner was my way of saying yet again...."At least I can say - I´ve lived!"
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