¡Viva San Fermín!

I feel like I have heard about the Running of the Bulls ever since I was very young. In Spanish classes, it was a typical topic of interest for "culture" studies. I always thought that it was a small, weird thing that people died at for no reason. Let's just say, I was in for a surprise. Honestly, pictures could not do the festival justice. So much happened that I don't even know where to start!

After a five hour bus ride from Madrid to Pamplona, we arrived at about one in the morning. Shocked, the streets were packed already with people anticipating the start of the party the next day. We hung out, chatted with Spaniards, and just enjoyed ourselves all night. Did I mention that I was with seven other au pairs? Huge group! Here are most of us on Saturday morning, after no sleep. 

After staying up all night, the festivities really began the next day. It is tradition to wear all white clothing with two red scarves at the festival.

Everyone does it--even cute little boys!

After resting up a tiny bit, we decided to attend the opening ceremony. We followed the crowds to discover the location:

However, it wasn't really a ceremony of any kind. It was a place to throw sangria in the air and get all of your white clothes dark pink. Drinking and goofing around is the entire point here.

That shirt was white when I got there. My clothes were soaked. Luckily, I survived!

 

The rest of the day was much of the same. Jumping, dancing, singing, shouting "Viva San Fermín!" No one is a stranger at the festival. It was simply the biggest, friendliest party I have ever been to.

 

You just walk the streets and the party follows. Buckets of water are thrown on passers-by to wash off the Sangria. The squares were filled with people, too.

Even a band marched through the town playing Spanish fanfare.

After taking a nap in the park for a few hours, we headed to our campsite for the night. We ate dinner, swam in the ocean, laid on the beach, drank sangria, and met plenty of other English-speakers. It was really strange to hear so much English spoken.

The best part is that we slept in a tepee with all eight of us. I have lived in South Dakota my entire life, and it took going to the Running of the Bulls to finally sleep in a tepee.

The next morning we woke up before the sun to get to the first day of the running. We had a great view...

Oh wait, no we didn't. No matter, we were still in Spain at San Fermín! The excitement is truly the experience, not literally seeing the bulls and people run around the streets. Here is the area we "saw" after the bulls and runners had already passed.

Afterward, garbage was everywhere. The smell was unbearable.

In the end, it just didn't matter. With a combined sleep total of less than six hours for the 2.5 days, I can easily say that I "lived" Pamplona last weekend. So many more stories could be told about this weekend. However, I think it's like Vegas. What happens in Pamplona stays in Pamplona. :)

¡Viva San Fermín! (Oh yeah, I lost my voice from shouting that for two days straight. Worth it.)

Medieval Times Without the People

After not sleeping for a night, I decided to take another day trip! After all, when in Spain...

Not sure where we going to go, my friend and I met at a train station in Madrid on Sunday, June 30. A helpful man told us about a medieval festival that was going on that weekend at Manzanares El Real. We figured, "why not?!"

It was so shocking for me to see water in the driest place that I have ever lived. After this scenic hour-long bus ride, we approached the castle. With the flags and everything, I might as well have been transported in time.

However, there was one thing that was slightly out of the ordinary... There were no people!

Not a soul at the medieval fair with tents and everything. Very few people at the castle itself, as well. Maybe it was that accurate since there were fewer people actually living in medieval times. Sure, we'll go with that.

Surprisingly, it was nice to get away from the crowds of people in Madrid. A break is necessary every once in a while.

The best part of the trip was climbing around the castle. The steps were the scariest that I have ever been on. Before one spiral stone staircase, there was a sign that said that people who suffer from claustrophobia should not take these stairs. 

So awesome. In the end, it was definitely worth it.

 

The views were incredible. I read later that Manzanares El Real is a popular hiking spot. Unfortunately, we did not partake. This place needs to be in a movie.

As a surprising end, there was a "closing ceremony" to medieval weekend. In reality, it was an eagle and owl show.

This man did various tricks with eagles and owls. I even petted an owl! (Chi Omega Shout Out here.)

The best part was the blaring music throughout. Think of every song that's ever been in a movie trailer. That music was playing at the highest possible volume.

Worth it.

Spain has offered me another pleasant surprise. With festivals, castles, and just downright fun all the time, I think I could make Spain my home.

Segovian Sausage Festival

"Where was your favorite day trip outside of Madrid?" - Me

"Segovia." - Everyone

So, I have been hearing about Segovia for a while--almost since my very first day here. Oh, Katie, you just have to go to Segovia!

Well, folks, I finally went to the long-dreamed-about Segovia! I had meant to go a week earlier, but I had tonsillitis. Talk about a downer.

Anyway, I finally made it to the famed site on Saturday, June 29. It seemed like just any other day in Segovia. Of course, we started the day out by seeing another wedding. How does this keep happening to me? Are there weddings everyday everywhere in Spain?

A short walk down the street revealed my home! Dakota bar and cafeteria in Segovia! Repping the plains no matter where I go.

The famous Roman aqueduct was visible the entire walk. The street view was lovely and filled with people. However, we did think that the aqueduct would be much bigger.

Here is one of the oldest restaurants in Segovia. From what we heard, it's also one of the most expensive.

In the end, the aqueduct turned out to be about the size we expected. HUGE!

The real treat for the day was not the aqueduct, however. It was the surprise festival! Here is a band that kept walking through the town playing along next to this decorated truck. Women danced traditionally as we watched the spectacle. 

Once we got closer, we realized that the truck was not simply for decoration. It was giving out free sausage, bread, and drinks! We tasted a bit of the sausage just for kicks. We're in Spain!

There were also these huge doll/heads/paper-maché looking figures. Honestly, I'm not entirely sure how to describe them. There were also people running around with these heads on. They had brooms in their hands that they whacked people with! When I was hit the first time by a broom, I was very confused. When I was hit the second time, I wanted to chase the little kid around and give it back to him!

After seeing the bulk of the festival, we headed over to the castle. Just outside in the gardens, there was a little girl who was told that there was a princess living in the castle. I hope for her sake that there actually was! :)

It's times like these that it just hits you that you're actually in Spain. I can't believe my luck. Then again, anyone could do it!

Segovia was just as everyone said it would be. But, I must say, they weren't there when the sausage festival was going on. :)

Something to Remember and Something to Forget

Day trips from Madrid are a given. Typically, one travels to these places with friends or family. This time, however, I decided to go it alone. On June 15, I went to the burial places of Spanish rulers: El Escorial monastery and Valley of the Fallen.

The first place on the tour was El Escorial monastery, where all of the Spanish kings, queens, and other royal figures are buried.

 

The monastery was nice from the outside, but the inside was incredible. Naturally, photography was not allowed inside the monastery or the royal palace. 

The monastery is home to Benedictine monks and the burial of the Spanish monarchs. A basilica, the altar is directly over the bodies of the kings and queens. Every Mass said in the monastery is for the deceased rules of Spain.

 

To have a wedding in the monastery, there is a two-year waiting list. As you can imagine, it is extremely expensive. The sheer detail is incredible. (Seriously, look up the optical illusion/physics of the structure behind the altar. Very cool.)

After exiting the lovely views at El Escorial, the trip bussed a few miles away to Valle de los Caídos, or the Valley of the Fallen. 

The Valley of the Fallen is the burial place of dictator Francisco Franco. After the Spanish Civil War, Franco ordered the construction of the cross and church to honor the deceased soldiers from his side. Furthermore, many POWs were forced to build the structures within the hill. The cross is absolutely enormous--the tallest memorial cross in the world at about 152 meters. It looms over all and can be seen quite far away.

 

In addition, the bodies of tens of thousands of fallen soldiers from the Spanish Civil War rest in the church. A typical person cannot enter the tombs. One must show proper documentation that a family member resides there. 

For all the reasons above, the site is extremely controversial, many demanding its destruction. Overall, there is a very eerie feeling throughout the church. Therefore, it felt kind of strange to be crashing a wedding on that day:

I would rather get married at El Escorial, personally. Either way, there are beautiful views.

In the end, the two burial locations proved extremely interesting, albeit different. With the Spanish monarchy revered and cherished, El Escorial is a place where one is proud to be Spanish. On the contrary, the Valley of the Fallen is a reminder of a dark time in Spanish history.

To remember the monarchy, but to forget the dictatorship. Just another great example of the depth of Spanish history.