Tuesday, July 7th

Last night me and another girl from my program took a bus to Pamplona, Spain for the running of the bulls. The whole planning of the trip was a mess, but it was something I really had wanted to do while in Spain. Long story short, I had planned on going on Monday with a different girl. I booked my ticket, but when she went to go book, the bus was sold out. I was so disappointed, and the trip seemed like it was going to be a fail. (Moral of the story: THE LORD IS GOOD!). I was so bummed at the time and thought I had lost 50 dollars for the bus ticket. Tired of disappointment, stressing about weekend plans and trying to get a whole bunch of college students to organize, I finally gave it to God. It turns out another girl messaged me who wanted to go, I was able to easily transfer my ticket date and we skipped school today to go see the bulls run! AND, even better... it turns out yesterday was the first day of the festival, but the bulls did not even run. It was just a big party.

Basically I'm learning that I can't control the things that happen in this world more and more on a daily basis, and I'm learning to become more dependent on HIM along the way! The best part of all is that these humbling experiences have brought me so much Joy! God is seriously the coolest.

So..back to Pamplona. We took a 6 hour bus ride. Left at 10:00pm last night and got there at 4am this morning. We had heard everyone parties all night, and that the run takes place right at 8. When we got off the bus it looked like Roundup Aftermath on steroids (Roundup= UT series of frat parties that leave west campus a mess). There were people high and drunk sleeping everywhere and trash was everywhere. I was shocked the city was in such a mess after one day. We made our way to the main square, and bought ourselves a famous red handkerchief and belt. Then we lined up to get a ticket for the arena. The running of the bulls only lasts about 1 minute and it ends with them gathering into a large arena. It's almost impossible to watch from the streets unless you have a balcony, which can cost up to 500 dollars to rent. We entered the arena at 6 and then waited/slept sitting up until around 7:30. The place became packed pretty quick. They had a band play, a choir perform, and the entire stadium was singing chants and dancing. It was so cool-- everyone was dressed completely in white with either a red handkerchief of belt.

When the guns shoot the bulls run. Everyone watches live from a big screen projected in the stadium. People express their 'oohs' and 'ahhs' as people get trampled and stabbed as the bulls run by. It's awesome cause then all of the sudden, the people start pouring into the stadium with the bulls behind them. There are 6 released at first and then 4 more to follow.

After that, the bulls are gathered into a pen and then let out individually or two at once. The people stack on top of each other and the bull jumps over them. Then its basically a game of freeze tag with people taunting the bull and then running from it. Surprisingly it was WAY more entertaining than I thought it would be. People all cheer for the bulls to get the people, it was so funny (and I'm not a bad human being for saying that...). The bulls were not physically harmed in anyway. I just felt bad because they are basically tormented with confusion and harassment.

We then went and grabbed something to eat (Along with the rest of the city) and then took a nap in the park under a shady tree. We left for Barcelona at 2 and arrived around 9:30. Overrall, it was a great experience and I'm so so glad that I went!! Can cross this one off my bucket list for sure!!