Spain's running with the bulls starts today

I'm cheering for the bull. He doesn't have a choice, you do...

If you are up for some serious crazy (of the risking your life variety), Pamplona Spain's annual running with the bulls festival kicked off today with daily runs continuing through July 14. The event which dates from the 13th century is Spain's most famous bull-running festival and was made famous by Ernest Hemingway in his classic novel The Sun Also Rises:

Most revellers sported traditional white trousers and shirts with a red neckerchief tied at the front. All were covered in copious amounts of wine, sangria, sparkling wine and others drinks.

Residents poured buckets of water over the crowd from their balconies to help cool down the revellers.

The first bull run is due to take place on Monday, an event repeated daily until July 14, and all are broadcast nationwide on state television.

Each run takes place at 8am, testing the skills and courage of participants, who must race alongside six fearsome fighting bulls along 875 yards of narrow, cobblestone streets linking the city's stables to the bullring.

On the afternoon of each day, the bulls must face matadors in the ring.

Let's leave the humaneness of bullfighting aside for a minute (and, no, I personally don't agree with it), what are the odds you'll be injured if you choose to run with the bulls? Since they started keeping statistics in 1924, 13 people have died while running the event. The most recent death was an American tourist in 1995.

Okay, so you probably won't die...but odds are pretty good you'll get hurt. I suspect - just suspectin' here - getting gored by a bull horn probably stings a bit. Today, on the first running, 13 people were injured out of "hundreds" who participated.

Still interested? You're on your own, but I will tell you how to get there:


View Larger Map

Pamplona is in the northern part of Spain. Closest major airport is Barcelona and Pamplona is about 4 1/2 hours west by car. Pamplona is about 5 hours by Madrid. There is ample train service between the cities and Spanish airline Iberia has frequent service between Madrid and Pamplona.

Good luck to you!

Rocket launches running of the bulls [The Press Association]
Thirteen hurt on first day of Spanish bull run [Reuters]
Running with the bulls [Wikipedia]

Iberia Airlines [Official Website]