Why are these bulls chasing me? I didn´t do anything to them.

Honestly, if the San Fermin Festival isn´t the craziest party in the world, I don´t know what is. Yesterday (at least I think it was yesterday...the days are blending together) I was reprimanded by a 13 year old girl for wearing flip-flops, I had sangria and wine poured on me by an 8 year old, I watched people jump off a fountain about 15 feet high into a crowd and caught two hours of sleep in a park before I ran this morning. Believe the hype, this place rocks. And mom, yes someone died yesterday (if the rumors are true). A person jumped off the fountain backwards and no one caught him. I guess it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Basically, the festival started yesterday (July 6th) at 12pm. I woke up around 10am in the main square. I can´t really describe it. Thousands of people everywhere. Everyone in red and white. Everyone covered in wine, beer and sangria. My hair has been marinating in sangria for like 2 days. And yes, I know it sounds disgusting, but somehow it doesn´t seem to matter here. And the rumors are true...Australians and Americans as far as the eye can see. I met 64 Australians yesterday...and those are just the ones I remember.

As for the actual run...
I accomplished my goal. I was within 10 feet of the bulls (or 2 tons of angry beefcake). To set the scene --

The streets are mobbed. It´s before 8am, I´m talking to some old American dude from Albany who has ran for the last 21 years. His advice, "Be crazy, don´t be stupid." If those aren´t words to live by, I don´t know what is. We are in a crowd on these narrow streets. The fireworks go off. The bulls are loose. But, the street is so crowded you can´t see anything. I´m waiting on the side to let people pass. I want to see some bulls damn it!!! All of sudden, it´s not people running anymore. The crowd thins. I start running and there are angry bulls right next to me. But, I´m a pussy. I had my rolled up newspaper and missed my opportunity to smack them on the ass. I will regret that one for a while. Running and running and hoping to god that I don´t get gored. We were lucky today. The bulls stayed in a group. They are much more dangerous when they are separated. Nipped that one in the bud.

I have to leave in 9 short hours. If I never see another 3€ bottle of Don Simon Sangria, I might be a happy man. I say might because I really love sangria. Thank god for the beach, I´m off to the Canary Islands tomorrow for some much needed R&R. I´ll add some more thoughts after the fact and when I am a little more sober. Until then...