Well, yesterday my group and I went to Pamplona for the running of the bulls. Why we got up at 4am to watch the shallow end of the gene pool run with 1200-pound horned beasts I still don't know...oh, wait, yes I do: it was COOL. Not that I EVER want to do it again (you're on your own if you want to go), but I am glad that I went, if for nothing more than the atmosphere.
We actually weren't along the street, we were in the bull ring (called an "encierro") wathcing it on a big-screen TV, and then watched them live as they ran into the ring. These really are the lowest of our race to mess around with these creatures, but wait, it gets worse: after they take the full-sized bulls out, they bring in the mini bulls, whose horns aren't sharp enough to gore you and who only weigh 700-800 pounds. These idiots taunt the vaquillas (as they're called in Spanish), and in return the vaquillas do a pretty good job of rendering these fools sterile. In addition, the folks in the stands shout some pretty colorful phrases at the folks in the ring too. (Hey, Ma, I learned some new words at school today! :D) PLEASE don't interpret this as a judgement of the Spanish, I know the Americans do a lot of stupid things too; I AM, however, judging the fools who think it's a good idea to tangle with these beasts after having stayed up drinking all night. (Very similar to the way I judge the fools who jump into Mirror Lake in November...oh, wait, I did that too...oops...)
After that, we joined the hoopla. Well, not quite, but we weren't leaving town until noon, so five of us--Adrienne, Brian, Krista, Marc, and I--went around exploring, but not until AFTER some cafe con leche/churros con chocolate. Our explorations took us to some pretty cool corners of Pamplona, as well as to a bar selling Kalimotxo (kah-lee-mo-cho), which is "bad red wine mixed with good coca-cola." So you know what they say...when in Rome! The drink itself wasn't terrible, but consuming it at 10:30 in the morning left a lot to be desired. Bleargh.
After that, the bus took us to the lovely San Sebastian for Round Two (yep, I've already been there, but it was TOTALLY worth going back!) Marc's girlfriend was actually in San Sebastian, so he left us, but Adrienne, Brian, Krista, and I wandered around. Found some cool new places and things, including a simply amazing gelateria. (For those keeping track, so far I've had churros--little fried donut sticks--hot chocolate, kalimotxo, and now gelato. It'll be a comfort to know that I DID have real food in there somewhere: potato soup and part of a turkey leg, courtesy of the folks at UDeusto.)
We got back to the dorms at around 7:15, which was unfortunately a socially unacceptable time to go to bed. That being said, I shot off a few emails and went down to dinner (not so much to eat, but more to get a yogurt to store in the communal fridge for breakfast.) After that, it was around 9-ish, and you BET I went to bed!
...yes, I slept for almost 10 hours, but I woke up feeling like a real person today, and I didn't even need a siesta! (What I did during siesta today, well, that's a different post in itself...)
I should mention that my camera and Zorilla were locked on the bus during Pamplona, so here is San Sebastian instead...
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