Friday, 12 July 2013

Pamplona Bull Run

Pamplona bull run!

Friday 12/7-13
So, as I wrote on Tuesday, Africa is over for this time. I left Cape Town Monday afternoon, and after 5 flights and 2x6 hours (it was supposed to take 5 hours) on the bus I arrived Bergen, but on the road back home, I stopped by Pamplona. Everything was planned and paid for and I thought I had everything under control. When I landed in Barcelona I got a big surprise, Sissel (my Godmother who came to visit me in Gansbaai) was standing at the airport waiting for me!

Sissel showing up in Barcelona!
We took a taxi to the bus station and then a 6 hour journey to Pamplona. At 4:30 in the morning we arrived the city which looked very dirty after a big night with party animals. It gets cleaned up every morning around 9-10 o'clock, but the streets get trashed every night.
We walked around and bought ourselves the official “uniform” (which is white pants and shirt, and red bandanas and sashes) before the run. I had my GoPro camera with me and was planning on running with the head strap, but I met a Danish guy who said that if the police see anyone with a camera, they will pull you out of the race, so I had to hide it in my pocket. I got a lot of tips and hints from my new friend, who had been running with the bulls all week, and we hung around for an hour before the run actually started
I decided to start the run about 200 m from the arena (the Danish guys tip), so I was sure to make it in before they closed the doors. Before the bulls got released at 8 AM I felt my knee was stiffening up after walking/standing for hours. I tried to warm up but it’s not easy when you’re in a street with hundreds of people.
I and Sissel in our uniforms. Ready for the run!

Good atmosphere before the run

Danish guy who helped out a lot. Thanks mate.

The run
When the bulls start to run, you hear a gunshot, and the second gunshot is to let us know they have caught up with the first people. At this time people around me start to run, and more and more people are heading towards the arena, now with panic in their eyes. They bump into me (good to be 6’3’’ and 200 lbs) and keep falling over. I had been told to keep my eyes in front of me, because the injuries happens when people fall over other people, and then get caught up with the bull who will knock you out of their way. I kept jumping up and down looking towards the bulls to try to see the horns, but I couldn't see them. Suddenly my Danish friend start to run and I realize I should do the same. My adrenalin is rushing through me and I can’t feel anything wrong with my knee (or anything else for that matter). I know I got about 8 bulls behind me sprinting and they are a lot faster than me, so I keep dodging people and run straight ahead. I see people are turning to look for the bulls, but the only thing they achieve is falling over and then getting a bigger risk of getting injured.
The first 3-4 bulls run right past me next to my left shoulder and thankfully they didn't go for my red and white shirt. Soon more bulls will come, so I keep running towards the arena. I'm so close. Another bull passes me.
When I run in the entrance I know I’m in the most crucial area, it’s narrow and it’s no place to hide. I run like crazy and pass a lot of people. When I get in the arena I turn right where I had agreed to meet up with my Danish friend who I met before the run. The last few bulls come in to the arena and the final gunshot is fired, signalling that all the bulls have arrived the arena, so they can close the gates.
Now all the bulls are sent in a door and we are about 100 people inside the arena, which is packed with spectators! It was such an incredible experience. When I find my friend, we head to the gate where the bulls are released out of. I'm being told to kneel down and keep my head down, because any minute now, they will release one bull and it will run towards us at full sprint and jump over us. “Just keep your head down!” I got my GoPro out at this time ready for film the bull jumping over us. The first gate open… the second gate open…. The third and final gate opens and I can see a young bull in full sprint. When it is about 10-15 m away I put my head down while I keep my GoPro pointed straight ahead. Suddenly I feel a sudden pain on my neck and I can hear the crowd say “oooh”. The bull hadn't jumped us, it had ran straight into us, and me, on the first row, got a good feeling on how it is to be run over by a bull. My camera and hair was covered in dirty sand and my bandanas had been ripped off by the bull.
Now the show really started, where the bull was running around and all the people tried to dodge it, but at the same time tried to challenge their fear and push their limits. The crowd cheer for the bull, but if you touch the bull, or jump over it, the crowd will applaud you. If you pull its tail or sit on the bull the crowd will get angry, and one poor soul didn't know this, and he jumped and sat on the bull. Suddenly a guy grabbed his shirt and threw him off and 10 guys start kicking him while he was on the ground. It was strange to look at. But it gave me a whole new perspective of looking at the Pamplona Bull Run. Earlier I thought it was all teasing the bull, and harming it, but now I see that they actually treat the bull with respect and people who don’t, will get punished.


I've tried to explain my Pamplona Bull run in detail, but I could have said so much more. I and Sissel went back to the hotel after about an hour at the arena, and I fell asleep on the minute. I slept for 3 hours solid and woke up only because we had to check out of the hotel. The next day I flew back to Norway and got home in Fresvik at midnight.

Since I came home (last night) I've been helping out on our farm. I want to tell you a bit how I live here, since I got a few English readers, so I will keep updating my blog although I'm not in a foreign country. Have a look at the pictures, today was a really nice day.
I'm the guy on the right here

Nice hit!

I should run now!

On safe distance 

It was "fun" to see the bull get some knocks!



Don't mess with the bull

So much fun!! Loved it!

I managed to touch the bull unharmed!

Well, almost unharmed. Here is after the bull ran over me

Me and Sissel after the run

I'm the guy in the bottom left corner 


You can just see me in the bottom right corner

After every bull-"shoe" we applaud it


The walk back to the hotel. Now the streets are cleaned up
The bull in full sprint!

Exhausted! 


No comments:

Post a Comment