Running of the Bulls: NolaTgr24

It's approximately 900 meters from the pen to the arena. You can be positioned anywhere along the route. A big bottle rocket will let you know when the first group of "tame" bulls are released, You can hear the boom all over town. A second boom will tell you the bad boys are out. A third boom will tell you the bad boys have made it to the arena. You literally can start 5 meters from the finish line (arena). However, once the bad boys enter the pen at the arena, they let out a group of steers. If you are not paying attention, like some poor chap in 2015 when I was there, he got run over like a 600-pound linebacker. Along the route you can hug the curves. For example if the turn is a hard left, be on the left side of the wall. Chances are bulls will swing wide right. Streets are slick, so if a bull falls and gets separated from his posse, he gets really mad. That's when trouble usually starts. The whole thing is over in less than a minute, unless that bull get separated and commences to wreak havoc. The bull fights are rather unique. Kind of gory (pun intended), but you could bring your own liquor and food. Some people have a picnic. If you sit in the sunny bleachers, be prepared to have nasty stick red liquor that is half Pepsi, half Sangria all over you. It's a hoot.

Haha, I'm pretty sure I can outrun them (or outrun enough of the others) now but I don't know how much longer that will be the case.

So you just show up that morning? You don't have to register or anything before? I want one of those sweet white suits people run in.

I don't remember them kicking anybody out. They kind of had it in sections. I like how the mayor walks the route with other dignitaries to make sure it is suitable to be run. Pure show. We missed the opening ceremonies. The day before our running, the American who wrote "How I Survived the Running of the Bulls (I believe he was from Chicago or some other Midwest town) got gored. It was all over the news there and in the states (website news). He was an alcoholic and I think it was part of his cleansing. I almost read the book after I got back, but the sleeve didn't interest me.

Was thinking about trying to do this next year as well, did you run into any issues trying to book accommodations in Pamplona.

Wanted to try to do this sandwiched Madrid/Barcelona for a few days.

I don't have any in particular, but I would try and stay around Plaza del Castillo and get a place overlooking Calle Estafeta. That's right in the middle of everything and you can forget about trying to get a taxi/uber to anything while you're there. Bring lots of earplugs.