Travel in Madrid

Most people have heard of bull fighting, but not everyone may be familiar with bull running (or the running of the bulls). The quintessential Spanish tradition is said to date back to the 14^th century in Northeastern Spain when residents of villages would have to move cattle from pasture to market, and men reportedly hurried the process by incorporating fear and excitement tactics which later turned into a competition as young men would race in front of the bulls while also attempting to escape injury. As time progressed, word of this activity spread to other Spanish cities and a tradition (which stands to this day) was born. The most famous of these runs is in Pamplona during its San Fermin Festival which runs from July 6 to the 14^th and was the focus for Hemingway in his novel The Sun Also Rises. While the length of any bull run is a mere 903 yards, there are countless injuries and fatalities that have taken their toll including that of a 17 year old boy who fell not to the actual bull himself, but to a human pile-up at the entrance to the bullring. The oldest victim was 63 at the time of his death, and his demise was in fact due to being hit by the horn of the bull. While Pamplona is the most noteworthy of all bull runs, they are in fact held in many towns and villages across Spain and Portugal (and even some cities in southern France). And for those not able to travel to Europe but who still want a bull run fix, you might be pleased to read that San Fermin in Nueva Orleans (SFNO) is an annual festival in New Orleans featuring a bull run which replicates and pays homage to the world famous San Fermin in Pamplona.