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Description: Looking into the “jamón” bar (the name escapes me right now) on Calle Estafeta. Normally, outside fiesta this bar smells strongly of jamón.

This year, as a result of the 35-40° C temperatures, and the influx of people, and the sweat this bar was an absolute PONG-FEST! (But jamón smells sooooo good.)

Location: Pamplona, waiting for the encierro to start

Duerme te niño.

Steve O’ Keefe, the man in the middle of this photo died on the 16th of June. He was ill for longer than I knew.

There were alot of things I didn’t know about him. For example he was a lawyer turned stonemason. His conscience must have gotten the better of him.

He and Miriam had a habit of renovating houses, a number in France, and one in Vermont.

I remember meeting him for the first time, maybe in 2003-2004 at the Gutterclub Vodka party. He came over to me (and whoever I was talking to), nad said something like “So I hear you’re the Irish guy”, and he went on to take the piss.

I thought who is this guy? I didn’t know whether to take him seriously or just give as good as I got. To my benefit I gave as good as I got.

We went on to talk about alot of different topics, with some arguments (all in good fun, of course).

I will always remember him as the cheeky guy, who always did a great Irish accent impression and who always seemed to have a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

You never knew if he was being serious, or was taking the piss. He was someone who had a very important quality: sarcasm.

“Sarcasm: intellect on the offensive”

Rest In Peace Steve. I hope you are sharing a patxaran with San Fermín.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

Los Mansos, por Javier Lorente. from sanferminencierro on Vimeo.

Javier Lorente Cía, is a veterinary surgeon who worked in the veterinary services involved in the encierro and corridas for many years.

In this interview he explains what “los mansos” (the meek) are, and the different variations (cabestres, from the south of Spain for example).

Los mansos are bulls who have been castrated at an early age. As a result they are These bulls are involved in the encierro. Each day two groups of mansos lead and finish the group of toros bravos.

Their job is to provide safety (and apply a certain slowing of the group) by leading the toros bravos to the plaza, while the second groups job is to lead any bulls that might have stopped or been left behind in the bull run towards the bullring (so-called ‘sweep-up” group).

Location: Pamplona, Navarra

Description: While you are standing in the streets, waiting for the encierro to start, you can have a joke with your friends, if you are not scared out of your wits. Most people try and pray, calm themselves, and reserve their energy.

These valientes were seen joking in the encierro.

This is Alan Chambers introducing his leg to a toro bravo from the ranch of Dolores Aguirre.
You can see more about this event here here and here.

This is Alan Chambers milliseconds before he got knocked to his feet by this toro bravo from Dolores Aguirre. As discussed in this post, he made one major mistake: he distracted the bull, which charged him.

You can read his account of the event here.