You will definitely know a place is worth travelling when the great Ernest Hemingway puts his indelible stamp of approval on its map, and that is what he did by the time he set foot in the Spanish city of Pamplona. Ninety years ago, Ernest Hemingway was astonished and enthralled at the sudden burst of vivid colours and lively music the city presented. Even more amazing than the sights and sounds of Pamplona is the festival of the region’s patron saint, San Fermin.
The San Fermin festival strikes a chord with daredevil adventure seekers all over the world. Every July, Pamplona’s streets are conquered by a herd of fighting bulls trampling their way through the city, from their corrals, all the way to the plaza de toros. Adding to the thrill of the event is the competition of daring young – and somewhat middle aged – men running ahead, and in the same direction of the bulls while trying to avoid getting impaled or crushed by the rampaging beasts. Though many have been injured and a handful perished, the San Fermin Festival still is one of the most anticipated nationally televised events in Spain.
Pamplona may be more known for the San Fermin festival, but the city still has a lot to offer to would-be travellers. Its picturesque views of the villages, terrains, and historical remains have always been the apple not just of “Instagram Photographers” eyes, but of its previous tourists and citizens as well. Minus the “bull,” this Spanish city has charmed its way into the hearts of people as proven by Mr. Hemingway’s ninety-year-old claim.
