Eduardo Buxens

Eduardo Buxens, a Diario de Navarra photographer, has been awarded with the first prize at the Professionals First International Running of the Bulls Photography Contest

The decision taken by the jury was among all the photographs taken at the San Fermin 2011, and has been established in several categories, distributing them according to the stages of the running with the bulls. .

The different snapshots submitted presented different live moments of the Running with the Bulls witthing the runners and the bulls during the run to the Bullring.

In the picture, a bull´s horn is going through of the runners t-shirt at the moment when he is falling down while other two runners are already on the ground. Also, you can see on the cobblestones a paper with San Fermín´s image and the lyrics of the traditional song that all the runners sing to the saint before the Running of the Bulls starts.

Jonan Basterra

The photographer Jonan Basterra won the prize of the II International Photography Contest of the Running of the Bulls. Jonan Basterra takes 21 years photographing the San Fermin Festival as a renowned collaborator of Diario de Navarra Newspaper.

In the photograph you can see a runner who is alone facing a bull, holding out a hand to the beasts nose "as a defence or distancing the animal," the author explained. 

In the photograph you can see a runner who is alone facing a bull, holding out a hand to the beasts nose "as a defence or distancing the animal," the author explained. 

He described the snapshot as a "very simple and very, very clean" and he said it was a "classic" among the running of the bulls.  

The winning photograph was chosen from the jury’s selection among other twelve snapshots. Each one of the photographs was chosen from the different sections within the total itinerary of the running of the bulls. The authors were awarded with a trophy representing a piece of one of the poles removed from the fence.

Watching the Running of the Bulls from a Rent balcony.

This photograph of Iván Benítez Forniés shows the difficulty of watching the Running of the Bulls in the Dead Man Corner (The curve between Mercaderes St and Estafeta St. Those perched on the fences have been waiting there from 5am! Do you think they will be able to see anything or just good guessing?  

Mercaderes- Estafeta St corner

www.sanferminbalconies.com

Places to Relax during the San Fermin Festival Experience

If you want to get out of the madness of the Running of the Bulls, the crowd and relax a bit during your San Fermin Festival experience but do not want to get too far away from Pamplona and yet again, you want a place to relax you must visit, Aqua Relax in Pamplona. You will find bubble beds, circular showers, hydrotherapy ponds, aromatherapy treatments... all you need to say goodbye to stress. All kind of Thermal Centres for reset your body and mind.

Itaroa Cube

The name of the place is Itaroa Cube: An urban spa with 7 indoor and outdoor heated polls only 5 minutes away fromPamplona. The hydrotherapy circuit includes water beds, footbath area, spa area with steam room and dry sauna, relaxation area with heated beds, a shower temple and various cubes designed for relaxation: salty cube, iced cube, flower petals & essences cube and warm cube.

It´s only 5 minutes away by car and if you want to go by bus, you can find one each 30 minutes.

A day off from San Fermin

If you are going to spend several days in the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, and you fancy some rest but don’t have a car, you can take the bus which will take you to San Sebastian’s beach. 

San Sebastián / Donosti

It will take you only 55 minutes to go from Pamplona to San Sebastian. The bus station is very well located in the centre of Paplona ... but we aware that the buses in Pamplona Bus Station are on the ground, so don´t expect to find them on the surface.

www.sanferminbalconies.com

Nine New Media Proyects

Organized by the "Diario de Navarra" newspaper Laboratory, Hackers Hack & collaborating with the Mozilla Foundation, this journalism and technologies marathon ended up with the presentation of nine new projects and mobile applications, developed by some 50 participants between those being physical and those online in just 72 jours.

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San Fermín, International Fireworks Competition

For the third consecutive year, the City Hall of Pamplona commitment to an open-popular-vote contest to choose the different Pyrotechnics Companies participating in the famous fireworks during the festival of San Fermin 2014. Again this year, the fireworks will be projected from 6 to 14 July, at 23 hours, from the Ciudadela (Citadel), with a minimum duration of 15 minutes.

Last year they participated in the fourteenth edition of the Pyrotechnics Zaragozana SA, Mc Pyro Klangfeuerwerkskunst (Austria), Pyro Privatex SRO (Slovakia), Pyrotechnics Thomas SL, SL Focs d'Artifici Europlá, Vulcano SL, SL Brothers Caballer Pyrotechnics, Pyrotechnics and Fireworks Turis SL, María Angustias Pérez Pyrotechnics. In 2013 the award was won by Tomás Pyrotechnics.

The "Red Sash" and the Running of the Bulls

In general, those who try to "Pamplonica" clothing they wear not only white clothing and the red scarf but a Red Sash on their waist. 

Mercaderes/Estafeta Corner

Few years ago it was recommended not to wear the red sash as during the Running of the Bulls the runner could be hooked by the bull introducing the horn on the sash and dragged the runner. To prevent this horrible and dangerous situation you cannot see many people wearing them during the Running with the Bulls.

David Crocket: From De Alamo to San Fermin Festival

Along with Joe Distler, Matt Carny, Jesse Graham, Chris Humphrey, Noel Chandler and The Bomber, Davy Crockett (descendant of the legendary hero of El Alamo Battle, Texas) reached Estafeta St. decades ago.

 They were the vanguard of a wave of Americans who came pushed by the winds of adventure and Hemingways history and tales. In their physical and inner journey towards the Bull Run there is friendship, party, risk, passion, promises and obsessions. In this walk they learned and came to draw bull runs that only the legs, head and the heart allowed to a very few. This is how they forged great and amazing friendships.

The Running of the Bulls: The BIG SHOW

450 million people, that is exactly the potential audience worldwide during the Bull Run. The telecast in RTVE (Spanish tv) reaches 100 million households in 200 countries around the globe. 

Mercaderes/Estafeta Corner

It is the most watched and crowded Festival of Spain. From 6 to 14 July, Pamplona multiplies by 8 its 200,000 inhabitants (the weekend are over two million), many of them foreigners. 3,000 people pile up to run the 850 meters of the daily running of the bulls, but it is said that only 200 of them will really run in front of the bulls. Nowadays American and Australian Governments warn about the dangers of participating in the crazy Running of the Bulls. If you want to enjoy in a safe manner and participate in the joy, rent a balcony. Especially in the curve of Mercaderes and Estafeta St. where the Dead Man Corner is known and all the most important journalists are located. 

Journalists and photographers during San Fermín Festival.

The International Press Organization is in charge of making the distribution of all the press accreditations provided by Pamplona´s City Council. Last year a total of 1,926 accreditations information professionals from 18 countries were given: Spain (333, that means 80% of them), the rest were given to several professionals from: France, USA, UK, Australia, Austria, Sweden, Ukraine, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Colombia, Venezuela, Germany, Canada and Finland.

The Running of the Bulls is the event that generates most interest within the mentioned media. Specifically, 416 professionals have been accredited to cover this particular event among all the events of San Fermin Festival. The most popular closures are on 7, 8 and 9. 

The International Press Center in San Fermín

The International Press Center in San Fermín began as a private initiative thirteen years ago. It´s responsible for meeting the needs and providing all kinds of support to information professionals come to Pamplona from anywhere in Spain and abroad, during the days leading up to San Fermin Festival and more intensely during the nine days of festivities. Currently receives support from the Government of Navarra and Pamplona City Hall.

Since 2000, IPC (International Press Center) has focused their work mainly focused on addressing and helping journalists around the World during the San Fermin Festival. In addition, they are offered a writing place so they can develop their work as well as all kinds of assistance they could need, from helping them to locate the different spots and spaces, main protagonists of the festival, access to the main events such as the fantastic place in the Dead Man Corner to take the best pictures (they are just beneath our feet), bullfight tickets, accreditations for the Chupinazo (Operning Ceremony), the Pobre de Mí (Closing ceremony), etc. .

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 photographs by Inge Morath

These  photographs belong to Inge Morath: San Fermín Festival, All photographs belong to the fifties.  They all belong to the Magnum Agency https://www.magnumphotos.com/

Summer is here!

Pamplona´s Planetarium  held today the summer solstice ( in the northem Hemisphere)  commenting different observaciones and creating several workshops.  The general public has the opportunity to learn the history of different Constellations, Planets and the Universe as they are explained by astronomers involved in this activity. Is not only fun but for free!

Pamplona Planetarium

Pamplona´s City Hall has distributed 25 cans, thanks to an ingenious system as they will act like cameras to capture during the next six months unseen images of different parts of Navarra and record the passage of the Sun across the sky of Navarre.

As explained by Javier Armentia, Director of the Planetarium, this "marcianada" (playing with the words as in Spanish “Marciano” means alien) is part of a global initiative called 'Time in a can' ('Weather canned') and in 2014 Navarre Center joined.

These cans, that only weight 13 grams with a look like or been a bit longer than the usual ones of 33 cl, have been modified by hand in the Institute of Materials Science of Madrid so the light could filter through a small hole of 0.27 mmdiameter, and remain collected in a special photo paper placed therein. Therefore, each can become a pinhole camera, recording an image similar to that obtained with a wide angle (170 º).

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/

www.sanferminbalconies.com

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.

Keith Baumchen

Keith Baumchen, better known by his friends as The Bomber, became one of the most illustrious visitor from the United States attending San Fermin Festival more than 40 years .  Unfortunately he died last year at the age of  65 after failing to overcome a serious illness which have him struggling for months.

This California resident in Garmisch (Germany) and tireless traveller, was one of those Americans who never missed the appointment of the Opening Ceremony (Chupinazo) every July 6. Following Hemingways footsteps, he and other famous "touristy" as Joe Distler, Matt Carny, Jesse Graham, Chris Humphrey, Noel Chandler or Davy Crockett (descendant of the legendary hero of the Alamo) arrived to Estafeta St decades ago and decided to run every single time in the same place.

Bomber used to say that for him, the nine-days of San Fermin Festival were "a gift and a celebration of life," and claimed that from the very first time he visited Pamplona, he had never known another place where you will breathe the same festive atmosphere than at San Fermin.

Bull Running 1912

This photograph was taken in 1912

Run with the Bulls wearing a Suit

The custom of dressing in white and red during the San Fermin is not that old. The tradition of wearing a red scarf is though and it was in the early XIX century were the habit of wearing white clothing started to spread.  

In old photographs about the running of the bulls we see young men running wearing a suit or a black blouse and espadrilles. It is so because they were wearing their best clothes in the patron saint festivities.

Run

In the present days, an American group of runners participating on the Running of the Bulls when the Miura Livestock is due (known for being the fastest ones) they decided to start wearing suits like in the old tradition. As they say, out of respect for the bulls.

Running of the Bulls History

They don´t really know when the firs Running of the Bulls took place in Pamplona, but historians say that already existed in the XVI century. The origin is the entrance of livestock used to celebrate the bullfights. At first there were not runners, but with time, it was becoming a public event in which people began to participate. Nowadays the Running of the Bulls during San Fermin Festival has become one of the most famous fiestas Worldwide.

During all these years the itinerary has changed mainly due to the needs of Pamplona´s different Bullfight Ring locations as they have change throughout history. The timetable have also suffered several changes, they started celebrating the running of the bulls at 5 am, then at 6, change at 7 and nowadays is at 8 . We must take into account the different timetable changes through out the years as 8 am today is the equivalent of 6 am in the old times. (Solar Time)

www.sanferminbalconies.com

San Fermín Marathon

On June 28 it will take place the San Fermin Marathon in Pamplona. The itinerary runs through the city and the is not more identifications numbers available. Funny enough today’s news papers state that the Prince of Asturias Award 2014 for Sports has gone to the New York Marathon, the most popular race in the World. A total of 22 nominations from 13 different nationalities made their presentation to gain this award.

The jury considered that this Marathon symbolizes the best coherence between amateur and professional Sport. The Prize is endowed with a sculpture by Joan Miró- this is the award sculpture- and 50,000 euros in cash,  as well as a certificate and a badge.

For First time, the award will be given by the Princess of Asturias, the eldest daughter of  the new king that today’s will be crowned as Felipe VI.

For many Americans citizens it is a dream come true and a reality visit Pamplona during the San Fermin Festival and participate in the running of the bulls or see a bullfight. On the other side, for many Pamplona´s citizens, travel to NY to participate in the Marathon is a dream come true too.

Jazz in San Fermín Festival

Since 1996 a daily jazz concert takes places during the San Fermin Festival. Although it seems that jazz does not match with San Fermin’s ambiance, the truth is that these kind of scenario becomes a place for peace and enjoyment.

These are some of the Jazz musical shows:

July 8

21.00 Young Jazzfermin. Sarasate Walk. Performance by Makala Jazz Funk Band.

23.30 Jazzfermín. In Sarasate Walk. Performance by Jerry González y Comando de la Clave.

July 9

21.00 Young Jazzfermin. Sarasate Walk. Performance by Makala Jazz Funk Band.

23.30 Jazzfermin. In Sarasate Walk. Performance by Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne & Bob Stroger.

July 10

21.00. Young Jazzfermín. In Sarasate Walk Cristina Martinez and Biribay Swingers Jazz.

00.00. Jazzfermín. In Sarasate Walk.  Performance by Jorge Pardo Trío y Javier Colina.

July 11

21.00 Young Jazzfermín. In Sarasate Walk KGM Jazz Trio.

23.30 Jazzfermín. In Sarasate Walk, Janice Harrington Quintet performance.

www.sanferminbalconies.com

San Fermín Program

This year, Los Fueros Square will be the main scenario for the San Fermin alive concerts some of the Spanish groups performing will be Fangoria, Calle 13, Loquillo, Carlos Jean, Efecto Mariposa, Huecco and The Secrets. The Castillo Square will be decorated with new lighting reminding the traditional festivals style. LED lighting garlands will illuminate the whole squary that hosts the concerts of several Spanish groups: Nacha Pop, Los Rebeldes, Trodogditas, DJ Fernandisco, Orquestra Mondragón,  the Big Band Cote Sud or La Banda del Desagüe. 

The Taconera Park will be again the main scenario for the Basque Music their program content is four concerts on the night and two on the evenings in which highlights the concert of Kepa Junquera & Sorginak and the 'Flea Circus', besides the Basque traditional bertsolaris (basque singers that improvised rhymed verses) by Amets Arzallus, Jon Barberena, Sustrai Colina and Julen Zelaieta. The music continues in the Cruz Square with the concert of the popular duo Los del Rio and popular local dancing. In the Sarasate Walk, the Jazzfermín will be the main activity apart from folks dances, music bands, bagpipe and Txistu (a straight wooden flute with a peak mouthpiece used in the Basque Country and in Navarre ), Parades of Txistularis , etc.

www.sanferminbalconies.com

San Fermín and Emotions

The local City Council has sent to those citizens that have internet an email explaining that this year´s San Fermin Festival theme are emotions Therefore it will be called the Emotions Party. With these expressive photographs describes a full range of emotions in different people.

San Fermin Events: 443

This year´s San Fermin festival will have 443 events, approximately one every half hour, with a central idea: emphasize the positive image of the San Fermin Fiesta based on emotions. The complete program includes 320 music events (concerts, festivals, music bands, the fanfare or dance festivals), 76 events for families and children, 30 bullfighting, 9 institutional events and 8 Rural Sports demostrations. 

The traditional events will remain the Chupinazo (Opening Ceremony), the running of the bulls, the religious procession, the Vespers and Eighth mass or bullfightings; the new improvements & developments come from changes in the itinerary & schedule of the fire bulls in their special running of the bulls, the new emplacement for the Jazzfermín to the Sarasate Walk,  and the new feature for children, their own bull running.

www.sanferminbalconies.com

San Fermin 2014 T-shirt

Each year San Fermin has a different theme where different people participate with their ideas and work to present on the contest for the Awarded poster. It is a beautiful and practical souvenir to take with you to your beloved ones. 

 Logo shirt 2014

It is usually quite cheap and you will find in all the stores, particularly those in Estafeta St, one of the main streets of the Running of the Bulls itinerary.

www.sanferminbalconies.com

San Fermín and Social Media

Among the different events inside the San Fermin 2014 Program a multimedia app has been considered in which they combine texts, photographs and videos, that ncludes QR codes and allow to download additional content of the Running of the Bulls.

This is the way to invite everyone to share their San Fermin Festival experiences Sanfermin through social networks using the hashtag # SFemociona. Through these social networks they will share quality visual contents of these amazing party and the videos of "We are happy from Pamplona" or "You are the only one missing"

www.sanferminbalconies.com

Presentation Program San Fermin

San Fermin 2014 edition will have 443 events. The tradition is maintained by the Opening Ceremony, running of the bulls, religious processions or bullfighting with special recognition to Antonio & Eduardo Miura livestock and for their 35 years of consecutive presence in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. On top of that we will enjoy jazz, pop and rock & roll concerts alive in Plaza del Castillo. Do not forget the incredible and renowned International Fireworks competition as many other events.

Enrique Maya, Mayor of Pamplona

Some of the Town Hall main goals are to improve San Fermin image Worldwide and fight against gender violence. Hopefully last years situation with the “Ikurriña” (Basque Country Flag with a lot of political heaviness issues when used in areas out of Basque Country) , will be avoided as it caused a delay on the Opening Ceremony (Chupinazo) or July 6.

The Guard: bucket list

In 2012 the film “The Guard” was released in Spain.  Sergeant Gerry Boyle is a man who carries out his work in a very peculiar way: away from all conceivable rules, but keeping a strange line of consistency that always end up agreeing with him. One day a man happened to be killed and he discovered that a drug gang is about to introduce in the country a huge amount of drugs. Together with an FBI agent, he will try to unmask those responsible.

In one of main the moments of the film, one of the bad guys points with his gun to Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson), and after an intense conversation, the sergeant shoots the baddy. In his very last breath he talks about his unfulfilled dreams and one the them was participate in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.  This particular moment reflects the Anglo American tradition of making a list of things to do before dying known as the "Bucket list" in Spanish List of life.

Campaign..during San Fermín

Pamplona’s City Council promotes once again the campaign “And during the Festival… What?. Promoted by the Government of Navarre through the Navarra´s County Family and Equality Institute (INAFI). 

This time it does it with a self-image using the male big-headed carnival figure "Caravinagre" hanging up the San Fermin clothing and the female big-headed figure named "Japanese" rejecting the flirts of a young runner. This campaign pursues two objectives: Join responsibilities in house working tasks and prevention of sexual arrestment.

www.sanferminbalconies.com