SANFERMINES

Sanfermines is amazing! It started June 6 at 12. During the Chipuanza the mayor sets off a rocket from the beautiful town hall which officially starts the fiesta! Everyone has bottles of Champagne, Sangria and Kalimotxo and release it on everyone. After that I went with Bea and the girls to see some traditional Basque dancing. I went out and just danced with everyone in the streets to a really good drum group and then followed the brass bands to the Pena´s aka the best bars with the best music because the town of Pamplona sponsors them. Every midnight I headed out to the main concert in the plaza which was always good. The bands would play Spanish rock and some English stuff. Every night I met so many people and had the best time going crazy in the streets with everyone. In Spain they have a saying sigue la corrienta which means follow the current. The first day of Sanfermines I was a little confused but I soon realized that it is the most amazing event. I met amazing people from all over Spain, France, Germany, Wales, England, United States, Mexico, Peru, Sweden, Austria, Chile and Australia. I walked into a bar because I heard YMCA and started dancing with the Aussie´s. A group of Spainards taught me a song that everyone always sang and the next night another group taught me how to finish it. When I sang it to my host mom she laughed because the song was about coming together, drinking and not caring about the result. Sanfermines is magic because everyone comes together from everywhere and of all ages to watch the encierro aka running of the bulls but while we wait for the sun to rise we Vive ahora, live now! Sanfermines is truely indescribable, the event is not just some random party, it means the world to me and I hope that I will be able to go to Sanfermines again, Mas pronto!

San Sebastian

I decided at midnight on Friday night that I wanted to go to the beach. I took the bus to San Sebastian which is 1 hour away. After getting off the bus I walked 30 minutes through San Sebastian and it is truely one of the most beautiful places. The old city is very nice with its very narrow streets filled with bars serving pinxos and vino. Once I smelled salt water I knew that I was in the right place. I walked on the beach (playa del concha) for a while which was very nice. I then walked on the Paseo, which is a walking path for people. The paseo´s are really big in Spain and I love them because it allows people to walk and bike around the city comfortably. I walked to where there were rust sculptures in the rocks and sat for a while because it was so beautiful. I then walked back on the paseo and had a ham and cheese sandwich at a cafe overlooking the ocean. I then walked to another beach called Playa del Zieba I believe because I wanted to see the surfers. This was an amazing beach! The waves were very big and the surfers were excellent. There was a big soccer tournament going on at the beach and the music was blasting. I made friends because everyone my age was either playing in the tournament or watching it. At 830 I had to leave the beach to catch the bus. Once I arrived at the bus station I realized that it wasn´t as to navigate as Pamplona´s. I did not know where to buy my ticket so I asked a girl and she responded in English ¨go down the road and take a left¨¨ so I sprinted down the road and did not find the Alsa office so I sprinted the other way and found it and then ran to the bus. I ran the San Sebastian marathon that is for sure. Next time I go to San Sebastian I will plan at least a day in advance so my friends can come :) and we can stay on the beach all night!