10 May - A Day in Pamplona

Today, after the first 4 days of walking, we are taking the day off in Pamplona.  We slept in, had a quick breakfast in the hotel, did some laundry, then went for a tour of the town.   The highlights today are Pamplona Cathedral, the City Hall where we see the large crowds during the Festival of San Fermin, the Running of the Bulls along La Estafada, the Pamplona Bull Ring, and the life on Plaza Castille.   Here are some pics of the day:

Pamplona is located just across the border from France.   We have walked for 4 days to reach Pamplona. We are staying in the 4-star Pamplona Cathedral, just inside the city gate next to the Cathedral.

A view of Pamplona to the West from our hotel.   Also a view of the street below, just inside the city wall.

The front view of Pamplona Cathedral.

The painting of the last supper.

City Hall before and during the San Fermin festival.

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The Estafeta, normally a busy city street, is the pathway of the Bull Run that occurs each day in Pamplona for 7 days in early July.  The Bulls follow the path of the Estafada, early in the morning, from pens at the edge of city to the Bull Ring.   It is only a few blocks, the entire run is completed in less than 3 minutes.  

The origin of the Bull Run goes back to medievel times.  The bulls used to be driven through the streets at dawn from outside the city walls to the public square that served as a bull ring.  Many young men from Pamplona became accustomed to running in front of the bulls, a practice that was repeatedly banned by the authorities but continued to attract large numbers of followers until finally it ended up turning into a long standing tradition.   The Bull Run is now the main event of the San Fermin Festival.  It is held from 7th to 14th July every morning at 8 am.

Many men (and a few women) run with the bulls, some returning every year, to test their mettle.   The white dress and the red scarf are the traditional colors of the San Fermin festival, symbolizing the purity and the blood of Christ.

Each day there are six bulls that run with six steers (see the tan colored steers) from pens outside the city to the bull ring.   The steers serve as companions to the bulls as they await the bullfight.  Injuries are frequent, often by trampling as you see in this picture.

The entrance to the bull ring is marked by a statue honoring Ernest Hemingway who was a great fan of the bullfights and wrote extensively about them in his novels.   Don Ernesto (as the matadors called him) was a friend to many of the matadors and their families.

Here is the Pamplona bullring and the entrance used by the bulls (and also the people).

Lisa and Chris survey the bull ring.

Mike checking out the sandy surface of the bull ring, very important to the matador's footing.

Mike practicing a few moves.  It's got to be exciting when the bull storms into the ring.

Every now and then the bull wins.  This is the dangerous part of being a matador.

What a fun day in Pamplona.   Lisa, Judi and Chris enjoying a little lunch.

We end the day with Tapas

And gelato.   What a great day off in Pamplona.  We may return on day for the Running of the Bulls.  More tomorrow.   Buen Camino!