Hola from Pamplona... day one!

We arrive in Pamps around 8am and our hotel gets us check in early... Score!! We get our white gear, red sashes and neck ties on and head off for the opening ceremony of San Fermin (running with the bulls) we meet some local girls on the bus which I would only describe as Spain's version of a Bogan but they were funny, chanting, singing etc... They direct us in the right direction.. We wander towards the square making a pit stop along the way for some sangria (2litres each) and champagne to spray at the opening..

We wait in the square and there is singing and chanting and it is full with ppl dressed in white.. Everyone is chanting and the balconies around are filled with people looking down on the square.. It hits midday and everyone puts their neck ties in the air and then bang it's on ppl are singing, cheering, pouring drinks all over each other.. Our once white tops are now a lovely shade of sangria.. We are soaked!!

Everyone leaves the square for the side streets surrounding, crawling into every bar they can find or shop to stock up on booze and dance and drink in the streets.. We hang around the edge of the square where we run into the kids from San Sebastian we party with them on and off for a lot of the day... after a bit we head into the streets where there is this monument that people climb and jump off into the crowd.. It is like stage diving on crack... one of the guys from san seb did it.. Insanity.. There was an incident with an Australian who fell through the ppl's arms and an ambulance had to be called... typically Australian to go that little bit overboard.. This however didn't deter ppl from continuing to jump.. after a bit we wandered from bar to bar, street to street drinking, dancing and partying the day away... we wander back to the square in the late afternoon.. Mind you sun is still high in the sky, where we sit on the grass with the san seb group listen to bands that are playing and chat with some pretty cool chicks.. By this stage we had lost Elley and shifty but have gained Sarah's housemate Marissa. We get up and dance to the bands and on the way back from the bathroom I hear someone shout out... Jessi.. I turn around and there are 2 of my clients... small small world.. The third one comes and we spend the night wandering the streets and partying with the boys... opening ceremony.... insane!!

Day 2.. It's an early rise and a shower is prob the best invention ever as I am purple and sticky from all the sangria.. We get ready and make our way down to the arena to watch the first bull run of the festival.. The san seb guys and my clients are all running- again insanity.. We get our tickets to the arena and head in.. Find prime position. The atmosphere is out of control as they have 2 big screens showing highlights from previous years (which Sarah and I thought was the actual run and got really into it, until we realised it was just highlights then hid as we looked like dickheads) the place was packed with people still in red and white and the Mexican wave was going as people sung, chanted and clapped the minutes down to the start of the run.

They cross to the bulls on the big screens that are in what would be like a waiting room thing.. Then they cross over to the streets where you see the hordes of people lining up.. All the tourist (crazy aussies) have to start after death corner and they cross to them stretching and getting ready... it's now 8am and they flick to flare/gun that was lit up ready to start the run then BANG!!! It was on.. The bulls are our and the Spaniards and tourist are running there little hearts out... there is some absolute carnage along the way as ppl get trampled.. The first lot of running make their way into the arena where they are greeted with cheers from some of the crowd and hurled things at by others.. These are mainly the tourists as they get a massive head start.. Then comes the Spaniards and the bulls... there are hundreds of ppl in the arena now and the bulls run through and keep going out the other end... more and more ppl are piling in and they are celebrating their survival.. Little did they know that there is a second bunch of bulls to come through.. This bunch catch many by surprise are more people are still piling into the arena.. They are a few ppl thrown through the air as the bulls move through the arena.. This happens a few more times before all the bulls are through and the last lot of runners fill into the arena and they lock the gates... everyone is jumping around cheering and watching the replays on the big screen when bang!!! They sneakily let out a bull and he takes the un suspecting revellers out! We all cheer from the sidelines... this keeps happening as we watch some serious carnage take place .. I like to think the bulls get the last laugh. Although one bull did take a fall on the run to the arena.. we all stood silent watching the screen waiting for him to get back up and when he did the stadium started roaring with cheer... we think he may have been later put down if Elley and shiftys translation of the news is correct... we are hoping not though.. We leave the arena and make our way back to the hotel where we shower again and pack up to head off for Bilbao to get our flight to Italy..

The Bus to Bilbao is a couple of hours and we sleep most the way, we arrive store our bags and go explore.. There's not much to see so we head to the airport where we are now waiting for our 9pm flight.

San Fermin and Pamplona- DONE!!! Insane 24 hours.. And word of advice if you ever do it.. Where closed shoes and eat! Next stop Florence!