Did anyone attend the fiesta San Fermin this year?
 

So I am thinking of planning a trip to Pamplona and surrounding next July and taking in a bit of the festival, not necessarily bull running but you never know!<BR><BR>Interested in if anyone went this year for a few days? Reactions, tips, flew into Barcelona or Madrid?, etc.<BR><BR>Gracias!<BR><BR>Wendy

Uno de enero, dos de febrero, tres de marzo, cuatro de abril.<BR><BR>Cinco de mayo, seis de junio, siete de julio, San Fermin.<BR><BR>A Pamplona hemos de ir, con una media, con una media.<BR><BR>A Pamplona hemos de ir, con una media y un calcetiiiiiiiiin!!!!

I assume this is a song I'll need to know!

I'm amazed that with this huge group of travelers no one ventured to the festival! <BR><BR>Anyone????

I've never been to the running of the bulls in Pamplona, but I've heard accounts from a few others who have. Frankly, it doesn't sound like my kind of scene. It's incredibly crowded, noisy, and drunken -- packed to the gills with 24-hour-a-day partyers. I have been to a running of the bulls in another town (there about 50 such festivals all over Spain). Although it was fun (didn't run myself, gotta admit), there was nothing amazing or can't-miss about it.<BR><BR>I know this stance won't be popular with some, but I'm a big fan of bullfights. For me, the draw of a running of the bulls festival is that they tend to feature some of the greatest bullfights. My advice if you do go to "una corrida" is either learn something about the art (it's neither a sport nor a contest) of bullfighting beforehand or get there early and chat up a Spaniard (assuming you speak Spanish because Spaniards tend to speak little if any English). The lovers of "los toros" are usually very eager to educate neophytes, and it's a great opportunity to experience some of the "local flavor" so many Fodorites speak of.

Rudy, Thanks for your info. Out of curiosity what town(s) did you attend the running/fights.<BR><BR>If it makes you feel any better I also enjoy the bullfights and have been in Madrid and Mazatlan. I always sit next to Spaniards who are happy to try to educate me. <BR><BR>