Four Nobel Prizes in Literature

They followed the trail of Ernest Hemingway, Miguel Angel Asturias of Guatemala (1968) Nobel Prize for Literature; Derek Walcott, West Indian (1954); Mario Vargas Llosa (2005).

I even venture to include in this section the playwright and screenwriter Arthur Miller, Prince of Viana Prize for Literature in 2002.

Edward Kennedy

The San Fermin festival have had a great impact on big leaders of the world of politics and American business. Although their trips used to be "incognito" there are several records of Edward Kennedy visiting San Fermín in 1962.

(according to private photo Carmentxu Ocariz published in recent dates in a local newspaper and Caroline Kennedy (daughter of John F. Kennedy) in 1972, as with many other young Americans, whose experiences are so well described by writer James A Michener in "The drifters".

Around the same dates, as you can appreciate in the picture, his brother JFK visited Mexico in the mid of a great popular clamour. He was received by the then President of Mexico at that time, Mr. Adolfo López Mateos.

1962, July 13

Orson Welles

Orson Welles, with two Oscars and numerous other awards as a screenwriter and film director visited Pamplona, ​​San Fermin, three times., 1955, 1961 and 1966.

 In the photograph can be seen smoking a cigar while attending an evening bullfight. In the early 2009, the American Film Institute proclaimed that the film Citizen Kane, directed by Orson Welles in 1941, was the best film of American Cinema.

In the 60´s during his visit to San Fermin Festival, we don´t know if it was a consequence of the economic problems he was under because of his films shootings or if he was just forgetful but the truth is that during the last time he stayed at the La Perla´s Hotel in Pamplona, nowadays the only 5-star in the City, he left without paying their bill. 

Obviously the hotel didn´t claim.

Henry Ford II

In 1987, the motor car magnate, Henry Ford II the grandson of the founder of Ford Car Industry flew to Pamplona to assist the San Fermin Festival from Houston in his private plane, nothing less than a Boeing 727.

Darril F. Zanuck

The great Darril F. Zanuck visited San Fermin Festival in Pamplona in 1963. One of the main producers during the golden age of Hollywood and founder of the Twenty Century Fox. 

He came back in 1964 with the actress Irina Demick who at that time was the female main character of " The longest Day", a huge film about the Normandy landing

Dennis Rodman

The first running of the bulls on San Fermin festival 2009 had an unexpected runner. Dennis Rodman was noted not only because of his height stood out from the crowd but his tattoos, piercings, rings, chains and a black cap made him extremely noticeable. He decided to wait the bulls at the final stretch of the Santo Domingo Hill, ran few meters very close to the bulls and then decided to turn away followed by several runners running the same part of the chosen itinerary of Running of the Bulls.

He arrived in Pamplona accompanying Ray Sabbatini who last year unfortunately, was diagnosed with multiple scleroris. Their goal: Raise money for a foundation that fights this disease and they were sponsored by Golden Palace Casino.

The famous NBA ex-player said he had been frightened and had not felt such strong emotions even when winning at the NBA´s. He said he had fulfilled a dream and declined to say goodbye to Pamplona because as stated, he will return!

Pedro Armestre

On July 7 takes place the first Bull Run Pamplona. The photographer Pedro Armestre created last year´s “San Femin Greatest Picture” under a very special & warm light illuminating  the Running of the Bulls and taking the advantage of having the overlooking perspective from a rent balcony situated in Mercaderes St overlooking Estafeta St.

In social networks it was published as "possibly the best photo of San Fermín in this century" ..

The photograph was born in the photographer´s (works for AFP agency) three years ago. He had forgotten his backpack on the street (where the international journalists have granted to stay) and a young lady located on the same curve that where our balconies are situated, the curve of Mercaderes St with Estafeta St. on the famous Dead Man Corner saw his backpack, went to the street to pick it up and bring it to him. From that moment on, he decided he had to find his way to rent a balcony in our corner. He express himself clearly: "Since this happened I had the photograph in my head: 'I have to get that balcony' ... and for the result, we are happy to say that he did.

Hemingway´s Rute in Pamplona

Plaza del Castillo: Bar Txoko, Iruña Café and Hotel La Perla. Nowadays the unique 5 stars hotel in Pamplona. After receiving the Nobel Prize he used to stay in this hotel (it was a hostel at that time) as its balconies overlook the street Estafeta, one of the main streets in the Running of the Bulls itinerary. Their balconies are in the same height as ours. You can access the hotel restaurant through Estafeta  St but during the San Fermin Festival you have to enter through Plaza Castillo, where the main entrance to the Hotel is located (The restaurant chef is Alex Múgica).

Café Iruña. Plaza del Castillo

Paseo de Sarasate: Hemingway used to eat the restaurant "The Potxolas"; but unfortunately doesn´t exist anymore. In its place nowadays you will find one of the nicest places in Pamplona to have hot chocolate with “churros” . Other popular place where you can find them is in Estafeta St, close to the Dead Man Corner where our balconies are located.  

Avenida San Ignacio: Hotel Yoldi. Remains exactly as in the old times. Is one of the main headquarters of the matadors that attend the bullfight ring every afternoon.  

Eslava Street # 5: Is a really old hostel and very economic. He used to stay there is his early years attending the San Fermin Festival when his financial resources were scarce.

More details about Hemingway

Hemingway's presence in the San Fermin was almost constant in the first decades of the twentieth century. He didn´t miss any running of the bulls during the following years: 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1929 and 1931. After the interruption of the Spanish Civil War, in which he participated actively in favour of the Spanish Republic, and World War II, he returned in two new opportunities 1953 and 1959. Hemingway while he was in the San Fermin Festival he never acted as a distant observer, the Nobel laureate lived the fiestas, was immersed all the way through, as befitted his passionate and intensely vital temperament. He participated not only on the Running of the Bulls, attended all the Bullfights but he mixed with all the local people and enjoyed the authentic feeling of this amazing party.

In 1960 he did not feel strong enough to go to Pamplona and he decided to cancel his reservations. He did the same in 1961. He was buried on 7 July, San Fermin Day of that year, the day of San Fermin, shortly after the Opening Ceremony took place.

www.sanferminbalconies.com

Mr. John Kerry

Mr. Alan Solomont, the american embassador in Spain, has revealed that his old friend, Mr. John Kerry, the  United States Goberment Secretary runned in front of the bulls in the Running of the bulls in San Fermin.

Homer Simpson and San Fermin Festival

The Simpson have dedicated a short film to San Fermin Festival in Pamplona. They encounter different surprises while running with the bulls. We should have told them that we still have spaces on our rent balconies in the Dead Man Corner? Click on this link to watch some scenes

http://www.eitb.com/es/videos/detalle/2133178/video-los-simpson-corren-encierro-san-fermin/

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Famous Character in Pamplona

Many famous influenced by the passion with which Hemingway enjoyed the holidays and how well reflected in his stories decided to experience the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona. In 1956 the film version of "Fiesta" by director Henry King was filmed with a cast of famous actors formed by Ava Gardner, Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power. During those years, many of the American film industry stars visited Pamplona. Some of them where the director and actor Orson Welles, Ava Gardner and Deborah Kerr, the actor Charlton Heston, the playwright Arthur Miller with his wife, the Austrian photographer Inger Morath.

 In more recent years, the personalities coming to Pamplona to discover the San Fermin Fiesta have been the granddaughter of writer Margeaux Hemingway, Alfredo Bryce Echenique, the West Indian Literature Nobel Derek Walcott and the famous film director Spike Lee. Other famous and distinguish visitors not coming from the Film Industry have been Matt Carney, who became a great bull runner with his friend and teacher, Jerome Echagiie; Alice , Joe Disler, David Black, (he came 40 times on a row); Ray Morton and a young Bill Clinton. The writer James Michener takes a look at his book "The Drifters" stating their presence during different San Fermin editions.

Hemingway and Navarre

The history books state that from 1086 to 1860, the rooms of the cathedral complex - the cathedral itself, cloister, the chapel of Arnaldo Barbazán, refectory, kitchen and cillería (an area used as a pantry and storeroom) - were used by the cathedral clergy (canons) for their community life. 

It would be tedious to mention all the different modifications the museum has undergone, although special mention should be made of the most recent transformation carried out in 1996. The main aim of the cathedral chapter is to preserve the postulates with which the permanent collection on display was created, by adapting them to modern times by incorporating new works of art, restoring the façades and rooms, and restoring existing works of art - so that these may once again be viewed in all their splendour.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO RENT A SPOT FROM A PRIVILEGED BALCONY, RIGHT IN THE DEAD MAN CORNER, TO WATCH THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS IN SAN FERMIN FESTIVAL, LOG IN THIS LINK AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED!

www.sanferminbalconies.com

Hemingway and Sanfermines

Once the San Fermin Festival was over, Hemingway used to travel though out Navarre. He would visit the same locations year after year, Yesa Swamp, Irati´s River as well as Lekunberri and Auritz/ Burguete, near Roncesvalles but his favourite place for practicing one of hismain passions which was fishing was Irati´s river. This year is the 100th Anniversary of Ayestarán Hotel in Lekunberri and it still remains in perfect condition maintained by the same family as this hotel is run by them since it was founded in 1912. Among its guests we can find several famous people such as Orson Wells and the King Balduin of Belgium. Lekumberri is located only 34 kms from Pamplona.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO RENT A SPOT FROM A PRIVILEGED BALCONY, RIGHT IN THE DEAD MAN CORNER, TO WATCH THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS IN SAN FERMIN FESTIVAL, LOG IN THIS LINK AND YOU WILL BE AMAZED!

www.sanferminbalconies.com