The Running of the Bulls

The Running of the Bullsis a unique experience for all the people gathered on the itinerary and specially for those who are going to run in front of the Bulls. It's a show that is defined by the willing risk and the physical abilities.
 The inexperienced runner must be informed of the dangerous characteristics of this race and the necessary protective measures to be taken for their safety and those who are at their side. Most of the times, from the balcony, we could see that recklessness havecaused serious injuries.

The Running of the Bulls isnot for everyone. Requires serenity, excellent awareness and strong physical preparation. Those not meeting these requirements should not participate in the race. The risk is serious.
Runners must be at the section between the Town Hall  Square (were the Chupinazo takes place) and the Education Building on the Cuesta de Santo Domingo.They must do so before 7.30 am, because after that time the doors will be closed. The rest of the itinerary will remain completely free of runners so anyone is allowed to be there and if the police see anyone they will ask them to leave the street. Few minutes before 8 am all the runners will decide where they want to run and how would they like to experience this risky but unique experience. www.sanferminbalconies

The two herds of Halters(Castrated Bulls)

The six bulls that will be fighting against the matador on the daily’s San Fermin Bullfight are the same that will be making possible the daily Running of the Bulls. They will start the run followed by a first bunch of Halters as those are familiar with the itinerary and will be guiding them up to the Bullfight Plaza. Two minutes after they will release a second herd of castrated bulls and those are called the “Tail Halters”, they are smaller than the previous ones and run slower as their mission is to drag into the arena any main bulls that have been left behind in the itinerary.
The Halters also called castrated bulls are distinguished not only by their morphology but because they wear abell around the neck.

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!

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Thank you so much!

Since 1998, GS Incoming has been working the San Fermin Festival (hotel booking, VIP Balconies, bullfights, specialized guides, etc). This year we plan to incorporate a blog - actually two, one in Englis hand the other in Spanish). Our first post was in December 2011 and we have been gradually progressing. Our purpose is to provide fresh and local information to our VIP customers during the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona. We will try to improve the blog notonly with our expertise but with all your experiences and suggestions as they are very valuable to us. We deliver a good service but we are sure with your feedback we can make it better.
Yesterday we were reviewing the visits to the blog andwe got a great joy to see the diversity of
countries who have visited =

United States, France, Belgium, Portugal, Ireland, Singapore, Honkong, India, Russia, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, United Kindong, Italy, Ukraine, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Germany, India, Japan, Australia, Philippines, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Argentina and Spain
THANK YOU ALL!    
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Tragic List History forthe Running of the Bulls

Throughout the history ofthe Running of the Bulls in Pamplona16 people have died

July 10, 2009, a young man aged 22 from Madrid
July 8, 2003, a man aged 63 from Pamplona
July 13, 1995, a young man aged 22 from Illinois. United States of America.
July 13, 1980, a young man aged 26 from Navarre
July 13, 1980, a young man aged 29 from Navarre
July 8, 1977 a young man aged 17 from Pamplona
July 9, 1975 a young man aged 41 from Navarre
July 12, 1974 a young man aged 18 from Pamplona
July 12, 1969 a man aged 42 from Navarre
 July 9, 1961 a young man aged 32 from Pamplona
July 10, 1947 a man from Pamplona
July 10, 1947 a man from Navarre
July 10, 1935 a young man aged 29 from Mexico
July 8, 1927 a young man aged 34 from Pamplona
July 13, 1924 a young man aged 22 from Navarre
July 7, 1910 a young man aged 21 from Navarre

On July 13t 1924, Hemingway witnessed the deadly toss of the young runner Esteban Stephen that he reflected in his novel "The Sun Also Rises".

This post is IN MEMORIAL FOR ALL OF THEM

San Fermin Festival Agenda

Pamplona's Mayor, Mr. Enrique Maya, and the counsellor responsible for Education and Culture, Mr. Fermin Alonso, have presented at the press  conference this year´s San Fermin Festival agenda. There will be 431 events, of which 305 are Music Concerts and events, 77 Children's Activities, 33 Bulls Programs,8 Official Institutions and another 8 more as Sports Activities.´
The City Council wil lpublish 20,000 programs with these events and 5,000 posters, they will print 63,000 unfolding pocket size programs in Spanish, Basque, English, French and German. They will maintain last year´s prices so the poster will cost one euro and the mentioned program two euros.

They can be purchased at the Navarra´s Government InformationOffice and in all the bookstores around the city. According to the Mayor, this year´s program is "High Quality" with an wide range of events for all kind of people and ages.

Waste Containers during San Fermín

Before San Fermín will start, the city council´s workers will remove the "mailboxes" for waste collection that are among the Running of the Bulls itinerary and they will reinstalled the pavers in the hollows occupied by these mailboxes. The old mobile containers will re-occupy their old location but only during San Fermin.
The vacuum waste collection on Pamplona´s Old Town  Pamplona has been functioning over a year now. This system allows the collection and transfer of househ old waste from the boxes installed in the street directly toa treatment plant through underground tunnels. Below each mailbox there arevertical some pipes which are provided with a system of valves used for emptying the container, so that the bags with all the residues are conducted by propelling air currents of up to 90 kilometres per hour through underground canal sup to the main head quarter plant which is 1.5 kms away from Pamplona. 

Currently there are 110 boxes scattered around the OldTown, 10 of them are situated in Estafeta St. With the retirement of old containers they have managed to create more space fo rpedestrian traffic, it has minimized the odour problems and removed the noise and pollution from the collection trucks as they no longer circulate in the area.

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!

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Running and the Bulls

Pamplona´s City Councilis conducting a campaign among Australian, British and New Zealand’sTour Operators in order to prevent the jumping from the Navarrería´s Fountain during the San Fermin Festival.The Council has informed that the will not only repeat the campaign to sensitize about the traditional running on the bulls wearing white clothes or civic behaviours, but maintaining the banof entering any kind of glass (bottles mainly) in the Consistorial Plaza during the Chupinazo. (6th of July)

For the new campaign posters have been published which read 'NO. Donot do it ', inviting not to jump from the Navarrería Fountain. The text is only written in English, since this practice has become common in recent years among some visitors, mainly from Australia, Britain and New Zealand.
In addition the City Hallen courages the runners to wear white clothing in respect to the tradition and as a sign of running in a responsible, safe and correct manner. Among all the usual advices, one of them is to comply the security measures during theRunning of the Bulls which some of them are not touch or mention the bullsnames, get up in case you fall down until the entire herd has pass you by and wear correct and appropriate clothing and footwear.

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!

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Women and the Running of the Bulls

Historically, women hav ealways found it difficult to run with the bulls. Since the 1st of July 1867 an edict was issued that specified fifteen rules for the enclosure (encierro).One was the ban on the elderly, children and women to be on the itinerary. In1974 it was repealed the section precluding the participation of women in bullfightings. However, the Pamplona´s municipal authority continued to preventthe presence of women in the Running of the Bulls and it was in themid-eighties when the presence of women in the Running of the Bulls was not sofrowned upon, so that little by little, the women started running.
The reality is that very few women run in the daily Running of the Bulls. I'm from Pamplona and I don´t know any woman that has run. Last year from the balcony we watched a group of young boys trying to persuade two girls, one of them was too drunk and her body wasn´t in very goodshape. In that case, being a man or a woman is not the issue. The most important thing is that you must be in very good physical condition, to know the route and plan which part you are going to run. Think it twice and consciously.

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!

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Estafeta street balconies, rent balconies

This is the itinerary of the closure. Our balconies are located in Section 3. The closure starts on the Santo Domingo corrals and ends at the end of Estafeta Road where the Bullfight ring is located. The streets through which the closure unfolds are four: Santo Domingo, Plaza Consitorial, Mercaderes and Estafeta. The entire stretch of the closure has a length of 825 meters, which are covered by the mozos (runners) and bulls in an average time of three to four minutes. We have experience exceptional running’s that lasted over ten minutes but these wheremostly when a bull was “descolgado” disoriented and didn´t follow the herd.       

        

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The "Bull dodgers"

In the bullring, apart from the bullfights there are other events, with the corrida vasco-landesa (bullfighting in the French Basque-Landes style) and a competition of young recortadores (bull dodgers) that attract good crowds.
His only weapon is agility and bravery. It is a barahanded fight an a century old tradition. So old almost as first tauromaquias, the cuts appears in first in excess of bulls celebrated on foot, in which they made without layer or with this one rolled .
There are great prizes for the best ones.

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San Fermin Spectacles

Without doubt, in Sanfermines the fiesta belongs outdoors. You can enjoy an enormous range of shows and activities, many of them free of charge. These usually take place every year, but it is a good idea to look at the programme to find out the date and time of each one.

The mornings in the Sanfermines are also full of attractions. On July 6th there is a big folk festival in the Plaza de los Fueros. An exhibition of rural Basque sports is also held in the same square on different days. In the Media Luna park there are representations of Basque culture and every day at 8.30 p.m. there are dances and music from the casas regionales of Spain in the Bosquecillo (behind the Tres Reyes hotel). In the bullring, apart from the bullfights there are other events, with the corrida vasco-landesa (bullfighting in the French Basque-Landes style) and a competition of young recortadores (bull dodgers) that attract good crowds.
Obviously, the night holds a lot in store in terms of shows and displays: the toro de fuego (fire bull), dances, fireworks, concerts, etc. are some of the things that liven up the streets and squares of the centre of Pamplona at night.

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!

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The Bulls "Las mulillas"

This event is also known as the "desfile de caballeros en la plaza (literally, procession of horsemen to the bullring); It is a curious retinue that covers the short distance between the City Hall and the bullring at 5.30p.m. from July 7th to 14th. The caballeros, horsemen dressed in black capes, lead the retinue, followed by two groups of three mulillas (carthorses used to drag the dead bulls from the bull ring) and a total of 14 mulilleros (attendants). The retinue is followed by the city's band 'La Pamplonesa' and, at the rear, anyone who wishes to follow them to the bullring.

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!

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"Las peñas"

"Las peñas" are associations throug wich the members organise activities, predominantly for San Fermin but also for the rest of the year. Most of the Peñas have locals in Jarauta Street. One of their "services" is running vibrant bars where people meet for the corrida, to eat, to drink and dance. They are open almost 24 hours a day. The 17 Peñas that exist are an indispensable part of fiesta.

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!

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Sanfermin,"Poor me"

This is the last official event of the fiesta and takes place on the 14th of july at 24,00 hours. The locals gather in the Consistorial Plaza with candles to say farewell to the party and to begin the count down until the next year.

The Town Mayor gives an official farewell from the Consistorial balcony and encourages everyone to take part again the next year. Meanwhile rockets are fired from Burgos Plaza.Even thoug it is the last official act, the party atmosphere is kept going all night.

The name of the even, wich means poor me, originates from the song that is sung at the event and througt out the night, "pobre de mi, pobre de mi que se han acabao las fiestas de San Fermin", meaning poor me that San Fermin is over.

                              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!

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Pamplona. San Fermín

Pamplona is normally a quiet and recollect town. This changes completelya few minutes before The Chupinazo and continues throughout the duration of the fiesta until the end, which is marked by sing "Pobre de mi" (poor me). People from all walks of life the streets. After the encierro there is a moment of calm but soon after the giants come out to entertain the crouwds.

In certain places in the town, people gather to dance tradicional dances or listen to the brass bands play. The streets take a rest until the Corrida. After that, when de Peñas (social clubs) come out, the streets turn into a bustle os festivity which continues until the morning when the cloc on San Cernin strikes 8 o´clock and the encierro begins.
Afterwich the bars full up with festivity and good vibes once again. 

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!

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The "Apartado"

The event takes place at noon at the bull stalls an is attended by invitation only, distributed at the town hall. It is the moment in wich the bulls are separated fron their brothers fpr the Corrida in the afternoon. Previously the toreros were assigned their bulls by a lottery system. The breeder would put three silver coloured balls in his hat, each containing the number of the bulls, for the toreros to draw.Curious fans observe the course of the ceremony and phisical aspect of the bulls from a small balcony.

The "Apartado" is a social event wich unites the most select of Pamplona´s San Fermín population, politicians, authors, artist, writers, journalist and "handsome people" attend the ceremony to enjoy the on-goings and taste the tradicional pinchos de chistorra (sausage snacks).

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San Fermín, Sanfermines

From July 6th to 14th every year the word fiesta is written in capital letters in Pamplona. The Sanfermines have arrived. When the chupinazo (ceremonial rocket) is fired the city explodes into life. Thousands of people from all over the world descend on the city, which dresses up in red and white. For nine days the streets turn into a feast of friendship, joy, music and non-stop partying, to the rhythm of the charangas and the peñas.

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!

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Virtual "tour" of Encierro

Si pulsas en este Link puedes ver un gráfico del diario EL PAIS que representa virtualmente el recorrido del encierro.

Recorrido virtual del encierro

Defibrillators in Estafeta

Pamplona will have available during the whole San Fermin Festival over two dozen points with defibrillators and trained personnel, thanks to the Lifesaver Project, which proposes that Pamplona will become cardio protected city during the San Fermin fiesta . The initiative was presented this Wednesday at a press conference by the Training and Development Director for the Lifesaver Project. Mr. Francisco Javier Bueno, together with the Geoactiv Development Director, Mr. Diego Bujanda, pointed out that Pamplona will become the first city to be cardio protected during San Fermin Festival.
They have explained that the capital of Navarre, Pamplona will be the first municipality of Spain having defibrillators available throughout the city, following the European recommendations cardio safety.
Therefore, Pamplona during the wholeSan Fermin Festival will have twenty different points of defibrillators and trained personnel to use.

"La casa del Libro". in Estafeta

 They will be located at the Cáritas; Palace Guenduláin Hotel; El Mercado Restaurant , La Casa del Libro (the BookHouse), in Estafeta St, Meson de la Navarrería; Maisonnave Hotel, Anttonenea Restaurant, White Horse Inn (Mesón del Caballo Blanco), Hotel Puerta del Camino, Gran Hotel La Perla, Bokart ; Napardi Gastronomic Society, Chueca Perez Pharmacy, Niza Café, Laura Maeztu Pharmacy ; Café Iruña, and Navarre´s TV Set.
Mr. Bueno has explained that they will create "heart attack save points throughout the city,"so that "if a cardiac arrest occurs at any point in the old town of Pamplona, any one can access a defibrillator in less than four minutes" Furthermore, this initiative will have a mobile application that indicates the location of the nearest defibrillator and the quickest way to reach it, thanks to a geo localizer.

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!

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View the Running of the Bulls from a balcony

If you want to book a balcony to see the Running of the Bulls, you must hurry up!. I think it's very difficult to find places for the 7th and 8th of July already. This year, despite the crisis, the hotel´s owners are very pleased with the bookings. The festival of San Fermin is a major economic boost for the shops, restaurants, bar and and hotels in Pamplona.

Not only it generates employment but also those who have their homes along the itinerary will rent their balconies and get a breath of fresh air in their economy. Pamplona has around 200,000 in habitants but during San Fermin Festival this figure is tripled. So hurry up! If you come to San Fermin you cannot leave without seeing one of the daily Running of the Bulls!.

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!

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The fenced encierro

Today, Monday the 4th of June, the fenced enclosure is starting to be installed from Santo Domingo corrals up to the Bullfight Ring. These works will keep on going until the 6th July when the Chupinazo takes place. Starting on the SantoDomingo Corrals and along the small "encierro2 (encierrillo) itinerary up to the Gas, an army of carpenters will assemble and ensure into the ground nearly 900 posts that hold the 2,700 planks required to make all the itinerary a safe place.

 From today the timbers will be progressively disposed, marking the path for the young men (mozos), bullsand the San Fermin Calendar until the San Fermin Festivities Eve, when the last planks, those located between Estafeta´s and Amaya´s  Streets will be installed.

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!

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Pamplona Choral Society

During these days the Orfeón Pamplonés (Pamplona´s Choir with 102 signers) is visiting New York on "Pamplonés Choir". Today May 31 and the next 1 and 2 June in the Auditorium Lincoln Centerin New York, will be the challenge of Pamplona Orfeón transatlantic in their third tour. TheMaestro Frühbeck de Burgos leads the Orfeón Pamplonés and the New York Philharmonic on Carmina Burana´s, Orff and Atlantis de Falla works.

In October 2010 the Choir Pamplonés became the first Spanish choir to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York.But the fact that they are back in less than two years in the New York Philharmonic is almost more important. They are directed by maestro Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, probably the most international Spanish symphony conductor.The score Carmina Burana, Orff, are always very present in the repertoire of achoir as Orfeón Pamplonés. In addition, Atlantis de Falla, will be the Spanish music chosen to open the three concerts to be held at Avery Fisher Hall. The tickets are already been sold out! GOOD LUCK!

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!

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The Bullfight

The Bullfight in Pamplona has always been the climax of the Running of the Bulls. From 7 to July 14 at 18:30 takes place a show whose special feature is the audience. Up to the death of the thrird bull, the arena is shared by the most exquisite bullfight lovers versus The bullfights are organized by the House of Mercy and the benefits obtained are used to provide care for the elderly.

The famous Peñas, that sit on the sun side and are the true stars of the party with their bustle, colourful dresses, songs and afternoon snacks. It is quite difficult to adquire an tickets, as 90% are given through the “abono”system (small book with the daily tickets on the chosen area) thatt he local families are entitled to as they buy them yearly.  The easiest way is to queue and buy the tickets at the end of each bullfight.

Poster San Fermin 2012

The work entitled 'I love you for San Fermin', reproducing an image of the big head "Caravinagre" (Vinegar Face) from the navarre designer David Joy, was the winner among all the posters advertising the festival of San Fermin 2012.

The image of the San Fermin Festival for this year its produced by digital techniques that evoke the American icon "Uncle Sam". The big head is pointing a finger at the viewer with the caption "I Want You for San Fermin". The author commented that this work "is understood quite well" and is "a kind of joke” or adaptation of the famous American poster which was a milestone in the history of design.

The winning poster, which was elected in a popular vote among the eight finalists, received 1,910 of the 6,422 votes cast by the locals, almost 30 percent of the total.

10 tips for the Bull running (Part 2)

6 - Beware of the Bulls on their one.

For the Bulls it is their very first experience with people and noise. The most dangerous is the bull that is lost, either the bull than runs ahead of the herd that charge against the runners as well as the one the that lingers, as is usually because it has slipped and has been taken down from the herd. Bulls and oxen are easy to distinguish. The oxen are large, bony, older and shaven, and wear a cow bell.

7 - Respect Sheppard’s and benders

Sheppard are located behind the herd with their sticks, try to keep the herd compact and draw the attention of those who annoy, touch or referred to animals. The benders wait for the bulls in the ring to guide them into the bullfight corral.

8 - Do not Quote or Touch the Bulls

You can draw your attention and put yourself and other runners in unnecessary danger.

9 - Do not Follow the Herd once they have overtake you
The closure (encierro) is over for you. And especially do not call the attention of the bulls when you're behind them. The closure is to lead to the square, not to get them again in reverse.

10 - Do not Push or Create any Difficulties during the Race to other Runners.

You do not run alone, mind you. Avoid pushing and elbowing other runners (mozos)  Focus on the bull and run the best you can.

10 tips for the Bull Running (Part 1)

First of all there is to know that the bulls are very dangerous. A bull can kill you. Running with the bulls requires  to knowwhat´s the running itinerary, certain fitness level, coming to run havingrested and obviously, a little common sense. In addition to these four basicconditions, these following suggestions can be very helpful:

Itinerary Bull Running

1 – Find Out the Itinerary Layout before hand

If you want to run you have to access the itinerary before 7:30 am from the gates on the Plaza Consistorial (where the Chupinazo takes place).You mus stay at this plaza or at Santo Domingo´s Hill (Cuesta de Santo Domingo) until the police barriers will open. In that moment, you can place yourself at the point of the itinerary you have chosen to start the race. At 7:30 am all access will be closed and is forbidden to getout.

2 - Select in Advance the Section in which you will Run

Statistically, the most dangerous stretches of confinement are Alley-Plaza (where there have been eight of the fourteen fatal bull caughts) and the end of Santo Domingo, coming to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (three deads). Know also that the curve-Estafeta Mercaderes, where our balconies are located, should be taken from the right: the bulls slip andaffixed to the wall of the left, and more than one corridor has been caught offguard between herd and fencing.

3 - Choose your Clothes Carefully

Use comfortable clothes and shoes, and do not carry any packages with you. Backpacks,cameras and other objects are forbidden and be jeopardize your safety and thatof the other runners.

4 – Ask Advise to Experienced Runners.

The closure (encierro) poses a serious risk and overcrowding have made it even more dangerous. You learn to run after many years of practice.

5 -If you Fall, do not Get Up!

If during the race you hit the ground, do not get up until the whole herd has passed. If  you stay crouched and still, the bulls will pass by. Having that said, watchout for falls, as it is easy to trip and fall, especially in the days ofheaviest affluence of runners. In fact, most of the wounded are because of the contusions as they fall down. You have to go looking at the same time, forward, back and to the ground. Once you are already inside the herd, it is safer if you go attached to the bulls, which probably will any other runner in front will bother you.
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Bull´s Fair Poster 2012

Colombian artist Diego Ramirez Ramos, born in Cali, is the author of the poster announcing the Bull Fair 2012. The poster is a personal request from the Casa de Misericordia (Mercy House) in Pamplona, who´s since 1922 is the organizer of the San Fermin bullfighting festival, renamed in 1959 as the Bull´s Fair.

Colombian artist knew the San Fermin Festival as in 2009 he exhibited his works in Pamplona. The Casa de la Misericordia (Mercy House) will sell 2,000 copies large sized (3 euros) and 3,500 medium-sized (2 euros). As a new idea, this year they have prepared 500 copies laminated in the medium size in order to retainingthe colours of the poster for a longer period of time.

The Encierro

In my opinion the best videos are on the following web site http://www.rtve.es/noticias/san-fermin /

They offer eight different cameras signals plus the signal made during the San Fermin festival 2011. You can choose to watch the encierro (Closure) from which everpoint you prefer by picking a determined the camera. The site is written in Spanish but I it is easy to understand how to move around. As you will see, you can watchthemfrom whatever point of view you want without losing any details.

You could find out what happens in the Santo Domingo Hill or in Estafeta St at any time. You can even feel the tension of the runnersbefore the arrival of the bulls or what happens if any bull is left behind. Just click on the camera, choose the route of the encierro (closure) you want. They are many livestock some of them are Torrestrella, Cebada Gago, Dolores Aguirre, Miura, Fuente Ymbro, Victoriano del Rio, El Pilar or Nuñez de Cuvillo.

Fireworks

From the 6th to the 14th of july, just as the night-life starts getting going, a breathking display of fire-works is orechertrasted from the castle Plaza and hundreds of locals and visitors gather to watch.

The park in the Castle Courtyard (La vuelta del Castillo) is the best place from which to enjoy the show whilst sitting on the grass and enjoying the summer air.

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!

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The chupinazo

It is the rocket announcing the beginning of the festival, this is just over half a century.  During centuries, the beginning of the festival of San Fermin took place when the municipal authorities, accompanied by mace - bearers, giants, musicians and general public use to go to San Lorenzo´s Church to do the Vespers in honour of San Fermin.  In 1901 some people start lighting rockets in the Plaza del Castillo. In 1940 the Deputy Mayor Joaquin Ilundáin and jthe ournalist José María Pérez Salazar suggested to the Mayor to officially pull the Chupinazo rom the balcony of the consistory. And a year later the mayor lit the wick.

The Chupinazo will be shot by an appointed personality that the Major has previously decided (is usually a member of the Municipal Corporation). This takes place on July 6 at 12 noon from the central balcony of the second floor of City Hall. During the previous hours both locals and foreigners, dressed in traditional clothing (trousers and white shirt and red sash) wait for this huge moment. They are bathered with torrents of cheap champagne flowing onto them. Once the rocket is off, they knot their red scarf onthe neck and they should wear it during the whole festival.

The rocket´s shot followed by the shouts of Viva San Fermin! and "Gora San Fermin!" converts the old part in a human tide submerged in a mixture of songs, dances, music and shouts of joy indicating that the party has begun. The best place to experience this are on the balconies surrounding the Town Hall Plaza as to get inside the crowd you must be willing to endure for more than an hour all sorts of pushing, shouting and flourover you. Another possibility, not that exciting, is to watch it live on TV.

Chupinazo 2011
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The Procession

Procesion de San Fermin

On July 7th, the feast of San Fermin, is the biggest day. The human outbreak on the 6 is followed by another act even more crowded if possible, although this has very different nature and very appreciated and loved by the Pamplona´scitizens. Thousands of people dressed in spotless white, accompany the statue of the Saint, which runs through out some Old Town streets accompanied by the Church Authorities.San Fermin leaves for few hours his retirement in the church of San Lorenzo and makes Pamplona a corridor of admiration, devotion and gratitude. Its time for tradition.

San Fermin

The image of San Fermin is a wood carving, a XV century reliquary that was trimmed in silver 1687. In its oval chest has few relics of St. Fermin. Usually it is exposed in the Church San Lorenzo.

Giants and big heads start the tour with the basque dancers. The municipal corporation together with the ecclesiastica l authorities all dressed in evening dresses are accompanying the beloved Saint. The band "La Pamplonesa" along with txistus (basque flute) and bagpipes enliven the journey.

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

The Encierro (closure) 3

               Songs in the Niche

Every day the runners invoke the Saint asking their protection minutes before the race takes place. They do it with a newspaper in his hand in front of the niche that is located at de beginning of the Santo Domingo Hill. The song is sung three times (7.55, 7.57 and 7.59 hours) and goes : "We ask tos San Fermin/to be our guide/guiding us in the runnig/ giving us his blessing". In Spanish would be :  "A San Fermin pedimos/ por ser nuestro Patrón, nos guíe en el encierro/ Dándonos su bendición". Ends with shouts of "¡viva San Fermin!, Gora San Fermín!", And is one of the most exciting moments.

                                                                   
                                                                    
               The Fencing

It first appears in 1776 to mark the route for the running of the bulls an is the most important safety barrier. It is made of wooden spruce and consist of 1.800 boards, 40 gates, 590 post, 200 palisades, 2.400 and 2.000 screws sills. Each year 20 boards are replaced due to the damage.

           

 The Herd 

                           

The encierro (closure) its run by the six bulls that will figh in the afternoon at the Bullring and two groups of halters (gentle) that guide the bulls running in front of them. They are recognizable as they will have a bell hanging on their neck. They will be eight of them in total. Three more halters will be released at the very end to work as a "broom wagon".

Closure July 7, 2011    

The Encierro (closure) 1

The encierro (closure) is, outside of the liturgy, the central act of San Fermin and what Pamplona has projected as an image to the five continents. Any where in the planet have heard of the city where people runs down the street in front of the bulls.
The direct broadcasting on television has increased its legend and has brought a dangerous overcrowding. The number of runners is usually at 2.000 people but the weekend raises up to 3.500.The rate at the bulls run is around 24 km /h.

The Rockets
They are four of them. Its very important the punctuality of their timing being released as is the safety of ther runners depend largely on their correct timing.
The first rocket is released when the San Cernin clock is showing 8o´clock. At that time the corral doors open and the police barriers that are retaining all the runners will dissolve.
The second rocket alerts that the entire herd has already left the corrals, the third rocket informs that the bulls and oxen have already entered the bullring and finally the fourth one indicates that the entire herd has entered the corral that is inside of the Bullfight Ring.

The first rocket is released when the San Cernin clock is showing 8o´clock. At that time the corral doors open and the police barriers that are retaining all the runners will dissolve. The second rocket alerts that the entire herd has already left the corrals, the third rocket informs that the bulls and oxen have already entered the bullring and finally the fourth one indicates that the entire herd has entered the corral that is inside of the Bullfight Ring.



 The Running of the Bulls Run has always the same solar time. At 6 hours, ran to 1924, at 7 pm to 1973 and from 1974 to the 8 hours under official schedule changes.

EL PAÍS

Closure of July 9, 2011  

The Encierrillo

This is the transference of the bulls from the further lying stalls from which the run begins. At 11 o´clock, in the night before the run with the bulls 440 metres quietly, calmly and unaccompanied to to the stalls in Santo Domingo . In order to see it one would have to collect tickets the Town Hall days before the event.

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

The Encierro (Closure) 2

The Encierro  was born from need: getting the bulls from outside the city into the bullring. The encierro takes place from July 7th to 14th and starts at the corral in Calle Santo Domingo when the clock on the  church of San Cernin  (Gothic, XIII century) strikes eight o'clock in the morning. After the launching of two rockets, the bulls charge behind the runners for 825 metres, the distance between the corral and the bullring. The run usually lasts between three and four minutes although it has sometimes taken over ten minutes, especially if one of the bulls has been isolated from his companions.



               1                 Corrales
               1 - 2            Cuesta de Santo Domingo
               2                 Town Hall
               2 - 3            Mercaderes Street
               3 - 5            Estafeta Street
               5-6-7           Plaza de Toros. Access

 July 11, 2011       

The Queen´s earrings and my brother

In September 2010, was the commemorative 150th anniversary of "the Giants and Big Heads Parade". The tickets for the show at Pamplona´s  Bull Ring were sold out within days. My brother Josetxo  Goia-Aribe, which is jazz musician composed a special piece for that day in honor of Thaddeus Amorena, author of the giants, and for the hundreds of people that during these 150 years have been part of "La Comparsa " (The Parade). He was part of this troupe for several years.

At that time he published his fifth album "The Queen's earrings". The title stems from a story he was told by chance. Back in 1900 a woman who lived 12 kilometers from Pamplona was accustomed to go –walking-to Pamplona´s Festival,"San Fermin".

 "The Queen's earrings"  Album cover. The boy is my nephew looking at the Queen

 Well, this woman use to go come to San Fermin Festival     with her children by her hand and get into the maelstrom of the party ... the running of the bulls, bullfighting, carousels, music concerts, etc… But what she liked the most was the Giants and Big Head Parade as she was fascinated by a tiny detail that probably was unnoticeable for most of people attending the Parade, the beautiful earrings that one of the Queens wore.

At the Parade were 8 Giants and one was known as "The European Queen". She was her favourite, and of course, her earrings with the amazing "swinging" they did while the Queen was dancing. She explain this fascination to her children, grand children and even great grand children and on the spoken words of one of her fourth generation descendant when my brother found out this beautiful story. This is the explanation for my brother to choose this title for his disc. His intention was to put in value the small things, even insignificant details that give warmth to our memory.

www.josetxogoiaribe.com

He is a professor at the Higher School of Music of the Basque Country. My nephew plays the piano and is overall a good kid.

Our balconies, Estafeta street

This is the itinerary of the closure. Our balconies are located in Section 3. The closure starts on the Santo Domingo corrals and ends at the end of Estafeta Road wherethe Bullfight ring is located. The streets through which the closure unfolds are four: Santo Domingo, Plaza Consitorial, Mercaderes and Estafeta. The entire stretch of the closure has a length of 825 meters, which are covered by the mozos (runners) and bulls in an average time of three to four minutes. We have experience exceptional running’s that lasted over ten minutes but these wheremostly when a bull was “descolgado” disoriented and didn´t follow the herd.

     In the most recent years that Hemingway enjoyed the Sanfermines, he used to stay in room 217 of the hotel "La Perla", from whose balcony saw the running of the bulls. But in his early years in San Fermin as acorrespondent for the weekly Canadian "Toronto Star Weekly" he stayed in other places as didn´t have enough resources to stay in that hotel. of three to four minutes.

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