"You can never be too careful, even Kamikaze pilots wore helmets"

There's a risk in everything we do, but we can mitigate risks through positive preventative action… Let's put on that helmet!

Climate & Siestas

It's going to be very hot. There's an expression in Spain that you can always tell the tourist from the locals because the tourists are walking around in the afternoon while the locals have closed down their shops and are enjoying a siesta. We're going "local". It's hotter than the sun in the afternoon and as such we'll be taking those siestas. Whether you have a nap, read a book, or chill by the pool, you'll have that opportunity to relax in the afternoon keeping the energy levels going late in the evening. To also mitigate the heat, we'll also be drinking lots and lots water to keep you cool. If you're ever hot, just ask for a "Sean Cash Cooldown" which is guaranteed to leave you refreshed!

Running with the Bulls

These bulls are angry, really angry. Ranging from 700 to 2000 pounds these bulls can run 100 meters in under ten seconds. Their horns can rip through people with ease.

You don't have to run with the bulls to enjoy this trip! For liability purposes, we're not advocating that you run (most of our travellers don't), but if you do want to run, there are two different strategies of running:

The first and the only way we'd recommend you run is that you show up very early to the starting line (at your request a guide will be with you) and make sure that you stay at the very front of that line! When the gun cracks indicating that the bulls have been released, you run as FAST as you can to the stadium ASAP! The bulls run around 900 meters, but your run will be around 500 meters giving you a head start on the bulls to getting into the stadium providing you are at the start of the course!

The main risks with this strategy are as follows:

You Fall. Basically, don't fall, because if you do, someone behind you will be running over you and you'll be pushed back down. Finally when you think that you can get up, it's because there is no one behind you (only the bulls!) and that's when you get gored! If you do fall, roll to the side of the street and make sure that there are no bulls coming up behind you before getting up. You'll know if there are bulls behind you because you'll hear everyone screaming!

The Corridor of Death. The run route tightens into a small corridor on entrance into the stadium aptly named the "corridor of death". It's crucial you don't fall here. What sometimes happens is that this corridor gets filled up with people from falling and the bulls come in and take everyone out like angry bowling balls with horns. The bottom line is don't fall and run like the wind! (or run like there's a big 800 kilogram bull behind you! Heh Heh)

The second way to run is to wait for the bulls to catch up to you on the course where you'll be waiting on either side of the alley. Once the fast ones pass you, you pull in behind them and follow them all the way into the stadium. Once inside the stadium pull away immediately to the right or the left out of the way of more oncoming bulls. This is a more risky strategy as the bulls are truly wild and anything can happen. You'll have to keep your wits about you as they come barrelling down. (I know this sounds ridiculous but,) if they're heading towards you, GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!! Dive left or right, just get out of the way, and if you do fall, the same rules apply as above.

The bottom line is that whether you want to run or not, this trip gives a crazy insight into this one-of-a-kind Spanish festival. You can't help be caught up in the adrenaline of this trip. Three days of relaxing in San Sebastian will give you the relaxation you need to recover from the three days at the San Fermin Festival.

Hemingway Statue Diving

Under no circumstances will you be allowed to dive off the Hemingway statue. There's a stupid tradition amongst some young Aussie, Kiwi and South African travellers where they congregate around one statue fondly billed the "Hemingway" statue. As a form of drunken entertainment, some travellers attempt to climb the statue and then jump into the crowd below foolishly trusting the crowd to catch them. Often jumpers miss the crowd or vice-versa and the jumper lands on the pavement. You will not be doing this!

Time to Fly!