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the enceirro, the "running of the bulls"

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Fiesta de San Fermín

Offering exclusive packages for the Fiesta de San Fermín and the encierro, "the running of the bulls", the world famous 9-day long festival held each year in Pamplona, Spain, between 6 and 14 July.






 


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encierro - "the running of the bulls"

1. Santo Domingo 2. Mercaderes 3. Estafeta 4. Telefonica|5. Callejon 6. Plaza de Toros|


1. SANTO DOMINGO:
The adventure begins along the narrow, canyon like confines of Pamplona's C. Santo Domingo as the rocket is fired announcing the beginning of the day's encerrio. It can be dangerous to linger too long. You look around at the faces in the crowd, not knowing what to expect. A cheer goes up as the rocket climbs into the summer sky. The lead runners inch further down Santo Domingo towards the holding pen, but only for a moment. Suddenly the mass of bodies stop in their tracks and surge back up the slopping street as the bulls burst forth from their pen full of nervous energy. They quickly overtake the first line of runners. The crowd parts to allow the steers through to lead the way for the fighting bulls. The adrenaline rushes, your heart pounds. 

2. AYUNTAMIENTO & MERCADERES: The route widens slightly at the top of Santo Domingo. You race headlong toward the town hall if you are among those lucky enough to have reached Ayuntamiento Square one step ahead of the bulls, for the street quickly narrows once again as you pass Mercaderes. The bulls seem to slow, staying to the right along the wooden barrier as they climb Santo Domingo, but their pace is steady and hopefully they are still running together. If you go down ahead of the bulls, stay down. A runner was killed in front of the town hall in Plaza Consistorial in 1995 when he tried to get back to his feet to rejoin the run. 

3. ESTAFETA: Once across Plaza Consistorial, the route makes a sharp turn to the right onto the famous Estafeta, a long narrow street lined with shops, tapas bars and stores whose doors have been barred shut giving you no where to hide after the gate has swung close behind you. Keep to the right of the bulls as you enter the Estafeta. Carried by their own weight and momentum, the bulls tend to drift towards the left on the smooth stone pavers that line the street, making it a dangerous game if you're in their way. Remember, this can be one on the most dangerous stretches of the run if a bull happens to go down while trying to make the corner and is separated from the rest. You may find yourself standing between the lone, disoriented bull and where he thinks he wants to go. You'll hear nothing except the rapid pounding of your heart and for a moment are unable to move. Thank San Fermin for the shepherds. 

4. TELEFONICA: If you happen to make it down the C. Estafeta ahead of, or with the bulls, you'll find yourself and hundreds of others at Telefonica, which leads to the corral and the entrance of the Plaza de Toros. Here, the runners bunch up, ready to lead the bulls towards the corral and on down into the ring. Keep alert, for there is a good possibility that one or more of the bulls has become separated from the pack, increasing the excitement and danger. 

5. CALLEJON: This dusty path takes you down to the entrance of the bullring and the tunnel leading out into the Plaza De Toros.. It is narrow corridor that fills quickly with shouts and horns as both bull and runner try to share the same space, if only for an instant ,before spilling out into the bullring. Try to keep your feet moving and don't look back. There isn't time. 

6. PLAZA DE TOROS: Once you have passed through the gate and are inside the bullring, break to the left or right, keeping clear of the center of the ring while the bulls head towards their pens on the far side followed by hundreds of frenzied runners.



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