Black Bulls and Red Bandanas: San Fermín 2012

Sharing is caring!

running of the bulls

Source

Slowly the sun began to peek over the tops of buildings and the sky grew from black to dark blue in the early hours of the morning. Thousands of people dressed in white and red are sobering up and loitering around the old quarter of Pamplona for the last day of San Fermín, waiting to see the most famous event of this annual summer.

As the workers start to put up the wooden fences and barricades, I quickly scrambled up and sat on the top, saving my spot. 6am, 2 hours to go. This was not going to be comfortable.

As the sky got lighter and lighter, medics, press and police began to file in behind the wooden fences, getting ready for the action. Balconies were literally overflowing with onlookers, guys were climbing lamp posts, and people were piled high on the barricades and behind them, hoping for a glimpse of the action.

running of the bulls

Spain knows how to throw some wild parties and festivals, but San Fermín is by far the craziest, most insane, most crowded fiesta I have ever been to. For 9 days every summer, Pamplona doesn’t sleep, unless you count the the thousands of people in white passed out in the parks and gardens around the city.

I went last Friday afternoon for the opening day of San Fermín after work with friends. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to this small northern city in Spain to see the famous running of the bulls (encierro). Since Logroño is an hour away, this would be my big chance to see it. Lodging in and around Pamplona is wildly expensive during San Fermín, most people bus in at night and out the next morning, staying up all night partying and then watching the bulls run in the morning. Hell, I’m young, put a redbull in my hand and I could do it!

running of the bulls

Source

We got there mid-afternoon to crowded streets, music and people dressed in the famous white with red bandanas around their necks and festival scarves around their waists. The wine was literally flowing down the streets, and people were stained bright purple from the famous chupinazo opening ceremony. We joined the action, singing, dancing and partying til dawn.

running of the bulls

Source

However, I didn’t make it to 8am. Since we were with friends who live in Pamplona, the lure of sleeping on a sofa was too much for me after 20 hours of straight partying, and I missed the first encierro by an hour. But even as I did the walk of shame from the Logroño bus station to my apartment, with quite possibly the worst hangover of my life, still wearing my filthy festival clothes, I knew I would be going back.

running of the bulls
IMG_8154

I finished class with a new student on Friday night, and we decided last minute to throw on our freshly washed, mostly white clothes and head out to Pamplona again for the final night of San Fermín. This time I made it all night long. This time I was going to see some bulls.

The tension in the air grew stronger and stronger as I perched on top of a wooden fence waiting to see everyone run with the toros. All of sudden people started running. The medics climbed the fences and people began yelling and cheering. Through the line of people in front of me, I saw a group of huge bulls run by quickly, their horns white and sharp in the air. To me they seemed as tall as the men running along side them.

running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls

All of a sudden a guy was on the ground in front of us bleeding from the head. He’d been run over. The medics started to climb over the fence to get to him when a few more bulls came charging by and more runners scrambled over the fence to get out of the way. It was completely mayhem that happened in what seemed to me to be a span of 10 seconds.

San Fermín was exhilarating and exhausting. Would I do it again? Of course! Except next time I’ll either be right up in the action wearing a press pass, or even running with the bulls myself. We’ll just have to wait and see! Click here to see a video of the first bull run this summer.

Have you ever been to Pamplona during San Fermín and the running of the bulls? Did you run with them? How do you feel about the festival? Do you think it should still be allowed because of animal rights or the amount of injuries sustained?
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
running of the bulls
san fermin
IMG_8296
IMG_8304
IMG_8285
San fermin

About the author

14 Comments on “Black Bulls and Red Bandanas: San Fermín 2012

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. I went to San Fermín in 2009–what an experience! I found it mostly exhausting, although now that I’m more accustomed to the Spanish going out style, I might find it easier. However, I don’t know that I’d need to fight with the crowds for hours early in the morning in order to see the actual running again…I didn’t find it that exciting, honestly. It seemed more like a bunch of guys jogging next to some bulls, who were not really running either. Not that I wanted anyone to get hurt, but I thought it would be more adrenaline-filled. Also, I was disgusted by all the trash and the puke in the streets. Bleh.

    But definitely an experience, and I’m glad to say I’ve done it, even though I’d think twice about doing it again!

    1. totally agreed, the streets were gross and I hated having to wait forever just to get a glimpse of some bulls. I think I would have been able to stay up longer if I hadn’t worked a ridiculous 60 hour week beforehand and had visitors. I’ll definitely go again but I’ll pay for a balcony haha

  2. Sadly, I am over the age, that can perform the run and sanity prevails. It is excellent to see the action through your eyes! Thanks.

  3. what an experience!
    the last pic was just proof how exhausting
    the event was. ^0^
    the San fermin fever is definitely on.
    i;m glad you had a blast there.
    too bad, i haven’t been there yet.
    would love to see it first hand though,
    but if only work and visa application
    isn’t a hindrance…
    some “girls running with bulls” did this very scary but thrilling run too.

1 2 3

Related Adventures

css.php