Camino day 4, Rest day #1

Back track to Thursday night dinner. I ate at the hostel in Zubiri and it was delicious!!!! It was a communal meal so there were about 10 of us.

 

Two (Marie and Florian) from Germany, had also been at Orisson two nights before so I had already met them. I also spoke with a couple from Spainand their daughter who is a teacher. It was reallyice to speak and listen in Spanish (although Marie and I spoke primarily in English. She didn’t speak English with a German accent, but had an accent i kind of recognized.... turns out she lived abroad in Wyoming!).  

Okay, Friday I hike a million miles from Zubiri to Pamplona. It was beautiful! Hot, but beautiful! 

Even though the incline/decline situation was smaller, it was still challenging. There was also some walking through somewhat sketchy wooded areas that maybe required a machete😂.  

Part of the day was spent walking along a streAm which was lovely.

Once I got into the outskirts of Pamplona the white outfits with red handkerchiefs and red sashesbegan to appear. As I got closer to Pamplona the number grew. 

I headed my to my hotel to take a nap and change into the appropriate uniform for the next two days!

San Fermin seems like Mardi Gras, but with bulls (the bull part is probably what has kept the US from appropriating the holiday).  There are events all day including one for children that involves being chased by fake bulls (this would cause a lawsuit in the US the second a child got a nightmare.) also, as some of my students know I HATE the people dressed in costume in Times Square... in Spain they had people dressed as Chucky and his Bride (way to traumatize kids!)

I stayed up to watch the fireworks that happen every night during the festival. 

REST DAY:

Saturday I woke up at 5:45 and got dressed to head to my meeting spot for my balcony to watchthe bulls run.  The streets were packed with people partying from the night before and people ready to watch.  

I shared the balcony with a couple from Copenhagen (although the husband was French) and we had awhile to talk before the event took place. An hour before the encierro (running) the police clear the streets and runners gather at the start. The police walk down the street and make sure every door is locked (apparently 30-40 years ago someone left their door open and a bull got into the apartment building!).

Once the streets are clear they let the runners spread out (the people in the front are basically already at the bullring before they event let the bulls out).  Then a firework goes off and the running starts! They only injuries I saw were people not paying attention and running into other people.

Ugh... my hair...

After that, nap, lunch, nap, and then a final walk around the city for some Queso and jamon before the rain set in!