File this one under "adventuring vicariously," but, this morning, I was reminded that one of the world's biggest parties is underway in Pamplona, Spain, a feria that will always have a special place in my heart. Of course, the most famous part of the San Fermin festival is its daily running of the bulls or encierro, easily the most dangerous and insane 400 meter sprint in the world.
Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, those of us with Internet access can still be a part of the party. To re-create the festival, simply dress in white, make a pitcher of sangria (one cup sugar, 2 sliced-up oranges, a bottle of red wine, anywhere from 2-10 ounces of brandy, and some ice), drink the pitcher of sangria (make sure you spill some on yourself), buy a case of beer, listen to loud music while drinking beer all night, lay down in a park at about 7 am for half an hour, then get up and watch the morning's running of the bulls on SanFermin.tv.
SanFermin.tv's street-level cameras really get you close to the insane action, and those who haven't seen first hand or participated in an encierro can get a pretty good idea of the bulls' immense bulk, the sharpness of their horns, and the chaos of running in the city's crowded, narrow street, particularly the highly dangerous Estafeta, just before the Plaza del Toros. Also worth checking out is the video footage of the chupinazo, the festival's unbelievable champagne-soaked kick-off on the Calle de los Mercaderos.
If you still don't feel like you're part of the action, do some sprinting and make sure you fall down on cobblestones. Goring yourself is optional (and difficult).
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You should include your blog about the time you ran with the bulls. The piece makes me cry everytime I read it. Or at least post some of your video of the champagne falling from the sky.
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