I have ALWAYS wanted to do this despite stories like this years, would you? Several gored at Pamplona bull run July 7, 2002 Posted: 2:36 PM EDT (1836 GMT) PAMPLONA, Spain -- Thousands tempted fate and several people were injured as Spain's annual Pamplona festival got off to a slippery and dangerous start. Around 2,000 people joined six bulls and six steers for the world's most famous running of the bulls on Sunday. At least six people were injured, according to the Hospital de Navarra, which is coordinating reports from all area hospitals. Three of the injured -- a 19-year-old woman from Kansas, a 19-year-old Australian man and a 32-year-old Spanish man from Madrid -- were gored by the bulls and the other three were listed as "non-bull" injuries. Two Spanish women, aged 21 and 30, and a 37-year-old Englishman were also injured in the course of the eight-minute run. Hospital de Navarra said that none of the injuries was serious. Several of the bulls slipped on the dew-covered streets and fell, drawing out the run to more seven minutes, about twice the duration of a clean run. Television commentators called it an unusually dangerous run because of the crowded streets, and because several bulls got separated from the herd. The run followed about 20 hours of non-stop partying by participants. "Why am I running? I love bulls and I love parties," Rafael, 28, told Reuters news agency. The Pamplona festival, made famous by Ernest Hemingway's 1927 novel "Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises," traditionally includes heavy drinking by the million revellers in the city. The practice began in 1591 with the need to move the bulls from the countryside to the arena. Daredevils began running in front of the animals in the 1600s. Since 1924, there have been 13 recorded deaths in the eight-day event. Most recently, a young American was gored to death in 1995. Two days before the festival began, a small contingent of animal rights activists staged a mock run through Pamplona's streets. The members of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) ran through the streets naked. Local police did not arrest them, chalking it up to the town's party atmosphere. After the daily runnings, the bulls will take part in a bullfight in which they are usually killed.
I was there last year. I was so excited to go. I thought it would be soo much fun. Unfortunately, it was one of the WORST EXPERIENCES of my life well not really, but it was really an awful night. Middle of july, you would think it warmer that 25 degrees outside wouldn't you! Also, after drinking all night, i just wanted to go to sleep, but that really wasn't an option, unless a urine soaked sidewalk appeals to you. Then, we got the perfect spot to watch the run (claimed it 3 hr before the run), only to have the police move us 30 minutes before the start of the race. So i got to see the 2 seconds of the butts of the bull. As far as running, there is not much actually running. There are so many people in the street you really don't have room to run more than ten yards or so. (i didn't run, but my friend did) anyways, if you have the chance, i think everyone should experience at least once. It probably even would have been really fun if it wasn't freezing outside and I had a place to stay. I wouldn't run though, it's pretty dangerous. On the day i went last year, a girl from new jersey ( yea nj!) got gorged pretty good.
I would love to see it, but I don't think I'd participate in it... There's just no need to run in front of a herd of raging bulls!? If my life depended on it, yeah... sure. But to just say, "I'm gonna run in front of enough bulls to trample me to mincemeat, just for fun" ain't my cup of tea. I know...folks say, the adrenaline rush! the extreme factor! blah, blah, yeah, yeah... not me. hey oily... we'll go and you can run and I'll either meet you at the bull ring at the end of the race or in the hospital. haha...
the only time anyone should ever run is if they're being chased by the cops or... if a nasty mean-ass bull is chasing you. i personally dont mess with nasty mean-ass bulls
i think i would...if a friend came with me... and if a bull was right close to me...i'd freaking pull a TOP GUN! "I'll hit the breaks and he'll FLY RIGHT BY!"
I just got back from Pamplona yesterday. It was a peak experience!!! I didn't run. Too old and let's face it too chicken to do it. My expereince was the opposite of doitdickaus' ? How we did Pamplona and had fun. Got there 10:00 pm on Thurs nite. The chupinazo? the Rocket that starts the festival was at 12 noon on Saturday. Found a room for $50 euros. She would not promise us any other nites. Gave me time to find another room on foot the following morning. Had a whole day to find a room. Took the first room I found on the main party street in the casco viejo that had 12 bars on the block. Didnt know it was the main party street, just that it was a cute street. We had a balcony that overlooked the action and unfortunately or maybe fortunatley the noise for 24 hrs a day. Paid $120 euros for three beds. Would be about $40 euros normally. Had at least one UT student from Bastrop in the room next door. Was really nice to have a bed and a bathroom down the hall to take periodic breaks from the partying. Also was nice to walk and get our bearings before the craziness began. Tough to do once it started. Some times just getting through the crowd on the street is all you can do. My experience with the actual bull run was like doitdicaus?. Had a good spot up until the last minute when the security guys blocked much of my view. My wife six feet and 10 people away had a good view. The trick is that they put up two barricades with an eight foot alley between the bulls and runners for the security folks and medical personnel. GET BEHIND THE SECOND BARRICADE NOT THE FIRST ONE. Some French guys clued us in. I saw part of one of the bulls when he fell in front of me. My wife saw almost everything. Interestingly we saw a young American looking guy chicken out about a minute before the bulls caught up with the runners. He slid under the barricade into the alley. The cops just tossed him back in! That isn't allowed. On the other hand, once the bulls are there and especially if they get confused and turn around, the cops will assist in pulling you out to safety. Also saw the "nueva corrida". , the counter demo the day before. There were about 25 totally naked men and women running the same route -- some with bulls heads on. Was sponsored by PETA, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. One of the guys who was there afterwards with his clothes on speaking was a Hispanic guy from Houston who is a national coordiantor for the group in the US. He is a U of H and Bellaire High grad. Small world. Fighting our way down to the main plaza for the rocket that began the festival was a scary experience as the sheer crush of the crowd was frightening at times. So was the crush to see the bulls run. Even those who don't run can participate in the thrill of danger and intense experiences!! The Pamplonans were wonderful. They love their own festival. While many take off for the whole week to go to the beach, others take off the whole week to party in their own town. A bunch of local grandparents sang some Mexican songs like El Rey as they bought me free champaign. I thought the food in Pamplona was about the best in Spain. An Irish guy traded me his great custom made Pamplona 2002 shirt with"Irish Bulls Have Bigger Horns --Pamplona 2002" for my ordinary Festival shirt. What a deal!! Talked to people who tried to make reservations months ahead of time with no luck. In short get there a whole day ahead of time or make reservations at least six months as the guide books say.
I personally think that God came up with the Running of the Bulls with the intention of eliminating the stupid from the face of the earth.
I agree with you about the cold nights and urine soaked streets. I had my camera stolen while trying to catch an hour or two of sleep in one of the grassy areas. There were people sleeping all over the place. Then everyday they put up huge posters in the main square of the people who were seriously injured the day before. It was surreal. It was quite a festival though. Parades pop up on just about evvery corner every ten minutes. People from all over Europe are there and it's definitely exciting. Though it only got in to the mid 40's when I was there. That's still cold enough to make it difficult for comfort. I was there in '90 and actually couldn't resist running. I was at about the middle of the pack, and while I heard the bulls behind me, I didn't get close them until the end of the run when everyone pours into the coliseum. Then one came charging right at a group of us. Of course I tried to run and jump up the wall and hopefully into the stands. Sadly there about fifty people ahead of me, and the wall was stacked with a cluster of people about five deep. There was no way for me to even reach the wall. Luckily shortly before the bull plowed into where I was standing one the Spanish wrangler type people ran by and distracted the bull. It got close to me and I definitely felt a rush of adrenaline. I'll never forget that the night before I ran, I talked to an old Basque man, who laughed at me and told me how I would be torn about the next day. He was really drunk and that was when I first started feeling scared. Anyway it was a great experience, and I would love the chance to run again.
