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Still Alive, So I Figure Thats Pretty Good?

From First Week In England in Pamplona, Spain on Jul 12 '06

John Shawn and Dan has visited no places in Pamplona
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So we were on the bus to Pamplona and by the time we had arrived, the two guys had convinced us that we should be running with the bulls the next day and so we decided that we would!  I don´t think any of us actually thought we would though, so we just headed onto the all night party where the clubs are just open until the race starts the next morning.  SO after meeting some 35 year old perusian man and some San Sebastians, we headed out for the all night party and ended up eatign dinner at around 130am.  Its such a different lifestyle over here.  Before all this the first thing we did when we arrived was to buy the white shirt and red bandana so we looked the part, and I woulld be hard pressed to find anyone that wasnt wearing anything less then that, most people had all white and the red bandana.  So after we had all stayed up all night and partied with the locals for the same length, we headed for the Running Area.  Yes we had decided to run! Brilliant Move We Thought!  So we got there an hour and a half before the race and then walked the course and saw the smaller bulls that lead the way for thr run.  So now completely terrified, we headed not too far, maybe 200m away from the end since not many people except for locals go to the start. Well we were soon pussed to no farther away than 100m form the START by the cops.  Apperently they do this to weed out the people who arent serious about the run and also to see people that are still feeling the night before a bit too much.  So scared out fo our minds and about to dye of thirst adn starvation and beign dead tired from the night before, we cramped ourselves into what seemed to be some sort of human cattle farm,just crowded into this one area of the street infront of a church, which is part of the race. Then luckily ten mintues before the race the cops released the barrier and we ere able to go to a bit closer to the end of the run.  Well this spreaded out people a bit more but the streets were still full, with spectators in every balcony above watching down.  Then the bang went off and the wait for the bulls to come around the corner started.  And then the bulls came aroudn the corner, except you cant see them becasue of the crowd so you just run.  And in no time the bulls had caught up and we were in arms reach of them.  Someone just got smoked right beside Dan which you can see in online pics for July the 13th.   the guy in a blue jersey. Anyways the rest of us made it fine and a large group of people we had met over night congregated in the areana after.  (pictures were on a disposable so bare with the time delay).  The arena was packed full of people and after the big bulls had ran through the arena they released 'smaller' bulls so that people could run aroudn and try ot dodge it.  Well everyone did this, I think shawn was in the ring for the longest, but all of us got a slap on its ass and none to badly hurt, just bruses from falls.  We are in Madrid right now and if there are any Q´s about these two days go for it via email.

JOhn


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