Description: Marcus Haney getting his hi-tech cardboard ready for the encierro.

Description: I have never seen someone being more detailed, and expressive about bullrunning than Jose. For someone who cannot talk, he describes an encierro better than anyone.

Location: Pamplona, waiting for the encierro to start

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.

Location: El callejón, Plaza De Toros, Pamplona, Navarra
Description: These guys are the valientes, the “brave ones”. The people who end up in the plaza de toros (the bullring) before the bulls have even been released into the streets.

These guys are always booed as they run through the streets, scared there may be a bull within sniffing distance.

A quote from a Keko Jones article published in Graeme Galloway’s infamous “No Bullshit Fanzine 2000″

“There are runners known as los valientes, “the brave ones.” These are the “wannabes,” and they are to be found throughout the course. To hear them talk, you would think they are the most heroic of runners. In practice, they have little heart for it, and they flee toward the relative safety of the bullring immediately upon hearing the rocket, rarely seeing or nearing a bull if they can help it. A mindless, churning mass of frightened young men, they immediately took up their flight at top speed; their greatest danger being to themselves.”

The police seperate runners into different groups, which makes it easier for the police, and emergency services “manage” the runners.

Along the course there are designated barriers which are closed in a sequence.

The valientes are normally pushed up the course until they are no more than 300-400 metres from the endpoint. These are the first-timers, the people who are scared, who want to be in the encierro, but nowhere near the toros.

If you want to take part in the encierro, near the toros, you need to be as close to the start of the encierro (Mercaderes, Santo Domingo). Move up the streets to the area you want to run from, but stand your ground – the police will try and move you on.

Location: El Callejón, Plaza De Toros, Pamplona, Navarra
Description: These guys are the guys that save peoples asses when things go wrong. The pastores (pastors, or herders), are the guys the run along with the toros, some behind, some in front, keeping the toros “attention” on running.

These guys will distract the toro from charging the runners, or from running back down the street.

You can see an interview with one of the Pastores, Vincente Martínez “Chichipán” here.

Location: El callejon, Plaza De Toros, Pamplona, Navarra
Description: This photo was taken on the morning of the 10th, 4th day of the encierro.

I was waiting for the encierro to start, waiting for 2 hours in the early morning, so I was a little bored.

The policia foral are the regional police force of Navarra, the region in which Pamplona is located. They are usually very helpful police, but can be tough, if necessary. Their uniform is a red boina (beret), usually red bomber-style jacket, and combat trousers, and army boots.

These two forales were standing on the other side of the tramo, opposite me, looking abit menacing, but equally bored.

I asked them could I take their photo, they looked a little reluctant at first, but then agreed, only if I sent them a copy by e-mail. I agreed, took the photo, and that spent a few minutes. Eskerrik asko!

Location: Pamplona, Navarra
Description: Every year in Sanfermines there are hundreds of great street performers. Some of them come back year-after-year for the atmosphere and, I expect, the generous public.

I had not seen this woman before, but I liked her costume. Is she Pocahontas. I don’t think there are many native Americans in Navarra

Performers like her have a similar act. They stand mute, still in a certain pose, until a kind and generous member of the public put some money in their collection. They then spring to life suddenly and act out some movement, or small scene. Her’s was to quickly turn to the generous person, fire her bow and arrow and blow them a kiss, and give them a wink.

I got my wink!