Ole! Pamplona festival kicks off
Source: Agencies |
July 7, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Tens of thousands of people packed Pamplona's main square yesterday for the launch of the "chupinazo" rocket - the start of Spain's most famous bull-running festival.
Mayor Enrique Maya heralded the first of nine days of uninterrupted festivities in the northern town as he lit the fuse from a balcony overlooking a frenzied crowd. "Men and women of Pamplona, Long Live San Fermin!" Maya screamed, as revelers sprayed a fountain of wine, sangria, water and cava into the air.
Many used toy water pistols, or leather wineskins to squirt alcohol into the mouths of those who asked. Onlookers on balconies followed suit.
"It's way more than we expected, especially just the energy. And this is only, what, the opening?" said Brooklyn native Malika Oyo, 37, who was partaking with her brother Yaka. "We need sangria, we need sangria right now."
The day before the bulls steam through Pamplona's streets, it's the turn of locals and foreigners - nearly all dressed in white; red handkerchiefs tied around necks once the chupinazo is fired.
As the sea of people sang along to "Ole, Ole, Ole," giant beach balls were punched to and fro. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes suddenly became another crowd favorite, many humming along, interspersed by the occasional fevered chant of "San Fermin" or "alcohol."
The Red Cross said it attended to 15 people with five taken to hospital for treatment to injuries.
"The ambiance is incredible, there's so much excitement in the air, there's a rush here you don't feel anywhere else," said 28-year-old local Edurne Berastegi.
Immortalized in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises," the San Fermin festival is known around the world for the daily running of the bulls and all-night partying.
The first of eight dashes comes today when thousands look to outrun six fearsome bulls along a narrow 800-meter course through cobblestone streets, with both beast and human often falling over - stomping on each other as they go.
Mayor Enrique Maya heralded the first of nine days of uninterrupted festivities in the northern town as he lit the fuse from a balcony overlooking a frenzied crowd. "Men and women of Pamplona, Long Live San Fermin!" Maya screamed, as revelers sprayed a fountain of wine, sangria, water and cava into the air.
Many used toy water pistols, or leather wineskins to squirt alcohol into the mouths of those who asked. Onlookers on balconies followed suit.
"It's way more than we expected, especially just the energy. And this is only, what, the opening?" said Brooklyn native Malika Oyo, 37, who was partaking with her brother Yaka. "We need sangria, we need sangria right now."
The day before the bulls steam through Pamplona's streets, it's the turn of locals and foreigners - nearly all dressed in white; red handkerchiefs tied around necks once the chupinazo is fired.
As the sea of people sang along to "Ole, Ole, Ole," giant beach balls were punched to and fro. "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes suddenly became another crowd favorite, many humming along, interspersed by the occasional fevered chant of "San Fermin" or "alcohol."
The Red Cross said it attended to 15 people with five taken to hospital for treatment to injuries.
"The ambiance is incredible, there's so much excitement in the air, there's a rush here you don't feel anywhere else," said 28-year-old local Edurne Berastegi.
Immortalized in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises," the San Fermin festival is known around the world for the daily running of the bulls and all-night partying.
The first of eight dashes comes today when thousands look to outrun six fearsome bulls along a narrow 800-meter course through cobblestone streets, with both beast and human often falling over - stomping on each other as they go.
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