Pamplona surrenders to the party

USPA NEWS - Pamplona (northern Spain) is celebrating. At noon this Saturday, July 6, from the balcony of the City Hall, the rocket was launched, which, on the eve of San Fermin, marks the beginning of the festivities. An enthusiastic crowd, wanting to have fun, waited several hours before the signal. Ahead there are eight days with running, bullfights, music, shows of all kinds and, above all, plenty of food and drink.

Pamplona owes Ernest Hemingway the popularity of its festivals, declared of international tourist interest. The American Nobel Prize is present in many places of the city: in shops that take their name, at the entrance of the bullring - where a great bust of the writer remembers its relationship with Pamplona - and in the subconscious of the people of Pamplona and the tourists that arrive to the city from all the places of the world. Pamplona multiplies its population by three during the festivities of San Fermin and the innkeepers benefit from it. As these days Spain suffers a heat wave as it was not known for 20 years, the most sought after in bars is beer. "During these festivities we will distribute 23,000 liters of beer," explains to USPA News a hotelier whose lodging is in front of the bullring and on the way to the bulls.

But not just beer. The wine is also protagonist and, from hours before the Chupinazo, dyes purple sanfermineros uniforms: white shirt and pants, scarf and red sash. This year, the people of Pamplona want to have fun and have a good time, forget about political fights and events like three years ago, when a girl was raped. His attackers have just been sentenced to 15 years in prison. They are blots in the immaculate history of San Fermin. At twelve o'clock noon, joy broke out among the thousands of people who occupied the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and the surrounding streets. This year, the new mayor of Pamplona has not allowed the flag of the Basque Country to fly on the balcony of the City Hall. "Navarra is Navarra, not the Basque Country," they argue. And a majority of Navarra feels that way.

'La Pamplonesa', Pamplonas beloved municipal band, has been chosen to launch the Chupinazo of 2019. These Sanfermines are special for 'La Pamplonesa' as it is also celebrating the 100th birthday of the founding of the band. Its Subdirector, Jesus Garisoain, had the honor of lighting the fuse of the Chupinazo rocket that officially marks the beginning of San Ferm'n at noon on July 6. This year's Sanfermines is full of acts and activities for young and old. From the 6th through the 14th, according to Mayor Enrique Maya and the concejala delegada for Culture and Equality, Maria Garcia Barberena, some 496 activities with a budget of 1.36 millions, similar to that of last year. There will be fireworks, 40 concerts, 33 out-door dances, 144 music performances in the street, seven bands, 49 other dances and regional music. Around 162 activities and performances for families and children, including rural sports, “dianas“, theater, encierros and other acts relating to the world of the fighting bulls.