Discovering new magic at Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls
Anna Leocha has already been to Pamplona’s famed Running of the Bulls nine times — and she is only 19 years old. This summer she returns to discover the grown-up side of the fiesta — bulls, dancing and wine — after spending her early years immersed in the surprising family side of the festival — spinning giants, churros and fun fair rides.
Valencia’s fiery Las Fallas
In Pamplona, the heart of the San Fermin festival is the thundering herd of bulls. In Munich, the focus of Octoberfest is huge mugs of beer and swaying hordes of inebriated revelers singing “Ein, Zwei, Zufer.” In New Orleans, Mardi Gras centers on the parades and fabulous floats surrounded by nonstop music. Valencia’s city festival, Las Fallas is consumed by fire — more fire, explosions and fireworks than you could ever imagine. Charlie Leocha has been there.
Pamplona: Spain’s morning run
Last week’s column described the reasons why Charlie Leocha returns to Pamplona year after year. This week’s column deals with the reality of running the bulls, enjoying the fiesta and some nuts and bolts.
Pamplona: Spain’s morning run
The world’s limited view of the fiesta, broadcast on TV and splashed across newspapers, is the two to three minutes each morning when six fighting bulls and several steers run through throngs of anxious runners dressed in the traditional garb of white with red scarves. Most of the thousands of runners who cram the narrow course that winds between ancient buildings succumb to natural panic. They cringe in doorways and dive over fences to avoid the rampaging herd.
Bullish on Pamplona, Spain
Sometimes travelers wander into cities by accident. But I know exactly why I came to Pamplona that first year. I came to run the bulls. I drove for two days to see if the fiesta was as wild as James Michener made it sound in his chapter set in Pamplona during San Fermin in “The Drifters.” The Running of the Bulls, as we Americans know it, or Fiesta de San Fermin, as it is known throughout Spain, lived up to every description and much more - more than I could even imagine.