Greetings fellow Sanferminers,



It´s time to start thinking about packing your bags for

your next Pamplona trip?  



We have designed a bunch of All-Inclusive 2&3 Star 

Running of the Bulls packages which will go on release

over the next few days. 



Packages include: Old Town accommodation, Balcony 

to watch bullrun & bullfight tickets. For a sneak previews

go here: http://www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/tour-packages/







Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in

touch with us at +34 638206664 or info@sanfermintravelcentral.com.



Regards,



Michael Murphy

www.sanfermintravelcentral.com

www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/blog

www.retaggr.com/Card/PamplonaMan

Pamplona-La Curva section

A few minutes before it begins, the runners plead to San Fermin & sing the "San Fermin Song" 3 times before the statue of the saint adorned with the red panuelo of the penas on the cuesta de Santo Domingo.

The San Fermin song goes like this in English & spanish: "To San Fermin we ask, you are our patron saint, guide us in this bullrun & give us your benediction". & " A San Fermin pedimos, por ser nuestro patrón, nos guíe en el encierro & dándonos su bendición".

Piicture of San Fermin Statue

Runners will sing in  spanish first and then in basque.  They will sing 3 songs to San Fermin before they run, at 7.55 - 7.57 & 7.59 a.m.

Spanish Version:

A San Fermin pedimos,

por ser nuestro patrón,

no guíe en el encierro

dándonos su benedictión.

Basque Version:

Entzun arren San Fermin,

zu zaitugu patroi,

zuzendu gure oínak

entzierro hontan otoi.

Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in touch with us at +34 669866650, +34 948 210 540, Skype:jude1965 orinfo@sanfermintravelcentral.com

¡Viva! San Fermin!

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com

www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/blog

www.retaggr.com/Card/PamplonaMan

Ian & Richard Branson

Ian Usher text extract from his Pamplona goal http://www.100goals100weeks.com/goals_Details.php?id=61

I reckon this is one of the very first goals I ever set. I was quite young when I saw a documentary on Ernest Hemmingway, and the section of the programme that covered his 1926 novel, "The Sun Also Rises", showed quite a bit of footage of the Running Of The Bulls at the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona in Spain.

I remember thinking, one day I will do that, but over thirty years later it still hasn't happened yet. Why not? Well, I guess the only answer is that I haven't got round to it yet. But the desire to do it is still with me.

This goal really scares me! I have seen quite a bit of video from the festival and some of the things that can happen are pretty nasty. What is it about it that makes me want to do it. I suppose that I feel the need to fulfil that childhood statement, to say that I finally did it, and to feel how good it must feel to run out of the end of that tunnel into the ring, having made it safely. It must be such an incredible thrill!

Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in touch with us at +34 669866650, +34 948 210 540, Skype:jude1965 or info@sanfermintravelcentral.com

¡Viva! San Fermin!

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com

www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/blog

www.retaggr.com/Card/PamplonaMan.

Pamplona´s Deadman´s corner

La Curva....deadman´s corner...Pamplona bullrun...Spectacular views from our 1st level Balcony spots.

Book online here: http://www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/tour-packages/book-pamplona-balconies/

Jarauta apt.Pamplona

This apartment is just become available today...Book your Pamplona 2009 Accommodation here: Jarauta Apartment for 5 pers.

N.B.: Please note that this apartment is is in the centre of the action & the Old Town of Pamplona....1 minute away from the daily bullrun!

Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in touch with us at +34 669866650, +34 948 210 540, Skype:jude1965 or info@sanfermintravelcentral.com

¡Viva! San Fermin!

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/blog
www.retaggr.com/Card/PamplonaMan

Enjoy this poster from the Feria del Toro Pamplona 2009!

Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in touch with us at +34 669866650, +34 948 210 540, Skype:jude1965 or info@sanfermintravelcentral.com

¡Viva! San Fermin!

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/blog
www.retaggr.com/Card/PamplonaMan

Encierro- Enclosure

It this your first time running with the bulls in pamplona? Dont know where to start your run from?

Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in touch with us at +34 669866650, +34 948 210 540, Skype:jude1965 or info@sanfermintravelcentral.com

¡Viva! San Fermin!

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com

www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/blog

www.retaggr.com/Card/PamplonaMan.

Never been to Spain before? Tips for travelling that you need to know!
 
Dress Style: Sanfermines
Red & white t-shirts & white jeans.  Normal dress code is white top &
bottoms but you will still feel very comfortable and not out of place is
you mix&max always with red & white, dont bring any expensive white
clothes as they will get stained easily here.  On every corner you can
buy red&white sets from €18 or so, at that price you can just bin them
when leaving!
 
Passports
Visitors to Spain must have a valid passport. 

Visas
Citizens of the US, Australia, New Zealand and the European Union
countries are not required to obtain a visa to enter Spain unless you
plan to stay longer than 3 months in the country. 
 
Money
Spain is in the Euro zone, the main currency in E.U. The best option to
avoid currency fees is to use your ATM card here in Spain.  All major
credit cards are accepted, but it is also a good idea to get cash from
one of the many 24-hour ATMs. Before you leave, be sure to call your
bank and advise that you will be using your card in Spain. 

Language
The language of Spain is Castellano or Castilian Spanish, Spain
actually has four official languages: Castellano, spoken by nearly all
Spaniards, Gallego found in Galicia in the northwest, Vasco spoken
by the Basques in the Pyrenees regions of northern Spain and
southwestern France, and Catalán found in Valencia, Barcelona and the
tiny neighboring country of Andorra. English is spoken in some hotels &
restaurants but in general english is not spoken.

Electricity
Spain uses 220V, 50 Hz alternating current, which is compatible with
United Kingdom 220V but not US 110V applications, which will need a
transformer, found in most travel shops & airports.

Time
Spain is on Central European Time (CET), which is 1 hour ahead of GMT,
+6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard time, and _9 hours ahead of the
Pacific Standard time and +14 hours ahead of Australia.

Mobile Phones Within Spain
Spanish cell phone service is a modern 3G network.  We can arrange and
have a prepaid phone with your "own number".  We set it all up here for
you & send you the number "before you leave", so your friends, family &
colleagues can contact you & you can share those amazing experiences
with them too!

Internet
Internet cafes, free wifi spots like in Plaza Castillo or Library Plaza
San Francisco, also free for 1 hour to clients at Bar Niza one of
Pamplona coolest and chic bars located at top end of Estafeta turn right
and you will see it. 

Tipping
Service charge is always included in your final bill and therefore.
tipping is optional.

Getting to Pamplona
Pamplona is accessible from France & Spain and is well serviced via
air, train & road networks.
 
 
Chances are that you will be arriving from Barcelona, Bilbao, Biarritz,
Madrid or Zaragoza city airports. We recommend for internal flights from
Madrid & Barcelona, check out local guys; Spainair.com & Iberia.com.
 High-speed Train (AVE) from madrid´s Atocha Station takes just 3 hrs.
When you arrive in Madrid just take the metro to Atocha.  Tickets can
be booked online in advance(recommended) at Renfe.com . Car or
motorbike hire is an option we
recommend Hertz.com or pepecar.com (cheap & cheerful branded cars),
journey times: Madrid – Barcelona - 4-5 hrs.  Zaragoza
– 2hrs.  Bilbao & Biarritz - 1.5 hrs.
 
Leaving Madrid: 435km
 
Train/Metro: When you arrive in Madrid airport, you will arrive at
either terminal T2 or T4, take the metro to Atocha metro station to
connect with the High-speed Train (AVE) it takes just 3 hrs.  Tickets
can be booked online in advance and strongly recommended
at Renfe.com . 
 
Car: 4.5 hrs. - A-2/E90 direction Zaragoza-Soria-Pamplona,
we recommended this route of  is a much nicer drive and lots more
scenery or E-5/A1 diresction Madrid- Burgos-Vitoria - Gasteiz -
Pamplona. 
 
Bus: 5 hrs. - La Conda www.condasa.com there are 7 daily buses
starting at 7.15 am and last bus 8.30 pm tel. 917 456 300
 
Leaving Barcelona: 486Km
 
Train/Metro: When you arrive in Barcelona airport take the metro
to Sants station to connect with the Train for pamplona it takes about
4 hrs. and costs about €60 or you can take the night train also both
from Sants station  Tickets can be booked online in advance and
strongly recommended at Renfe.com . 
 
Car: 486 km - 4.5 hrs. Take the A2/E90 direction
Barcelona-Zaragoza-Olite-Pamplona. again this is our prefered route,
less trafic & more scenic!
 
Bus: arrive by metro or bus to Sants Station, walk outside and you
will see buses on the right which are well
sign-posted Vibasa www.vibasa.es tel: 902 101 363
 
Leaving Bilbao: 169km
 
Train: No Train available
 
Car: 1.5 hrs. direction Bilbao-San Sebastian – Pamplona. Take the
A15 from San Sebastian direct to Pamplona. You can also go via Bilbao-
Vitoria– Pamplona 2.2 hrs.but we dont recommend this route as it
still under construction, has lots of curves and its not free!
 
Bus: arrive to Bilbao´s central station and take La Burundesa
 www.autotbuseslaunion.com to Pamplona 1.5 hrs. tel: 944 271 111
 
Leaving Zaragoza: 181km
 
Train/Metro: When you arrive at the train station to connect with the
High-speed Train (AVE) it takes just 2 hrs.  Tickets can be booked
online in advance and strongly recommended at www.renfe.com
 
Car: 181km - 2 hrs. Take the A2/E90 AP68 (toll roads) A68 direction
Zaragoza - Tudela - Pamplona.
 
Bus: 2hrs. La Conda www.condasa.com there are 7 daily buses
starting at 7.15 am and last bus 8.30 pm tel: 976 333 372
 
Leaving San Sebastian: 85km
 
Train: Trains do not arrive in Pamplona before the “encierro” only
useful is you want to visit San Sebastion.
 
Car: 1 hr. - 85km away by car . Take the A15 to Pamplona and enjoy
the journey.
 
Bus: 1 hr. Catch Pamplona Bus at La Conda www.condasa.com there
are 7 daily buses starting at 7.15 am and last bus 8.30 pm tel:
943461064
 
Leaving Biarritz: 128km
 
Train: No train
 
Car: 128km - 1.5hrs. Take the A63/E70 cross the border into Spain
stay on the E70/A8
 
Bus: Bus from Pesa www.pesa.net Biarritz to San Sebastian 12 noon
& 6 pm then change for a 2ndbus to Pamplona La
Conda www.condasa.com there are 7 daily buses starting at 7.15
am and last bus 8.30 pm

you wont go hungry here!

Just over 3 months to go to Sanfermines 2009!!  Its so close now, they are already preparing the food for the 1 million visitors who come each year.

We are booking up pretty fast these days......we have some late availability specials just come in...dont be sitting on the fence and get your reservation sorted.

Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in touch with us at +34 669866650, +34 948 210 540, Skype:jude1965 orinfo@sanfermintravelcentral.com

¡Viva! San Fermin!

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com

www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/blog

www.retaggr.com/Card/PamplonaMan. 

San Fermin Procession route

The Route

9:50 Casa Consistorial city council leaves the City Hall

10:00 Cathedral city council collects the Cathedral Chapter

10:30 San Lorenzo Official parade leave with the statue of San Fermin for the old customs area.

10:45 no. 47 San Antón street 1st Jota or traditional song to honor the saint

10:55 Plaza del Consejo 1st moment: the Choral Society of Santiago honor him to the jota " Glorious San Fermin"

11:15 San Cernin´s Well 2 children offer flowers "agur jaunak" a Basque song is played by Txistularis.

11:40 no. 20 Mayor street another jota is sung to the saint outside the Napardi Gastronomical Society

11:40 San Lorenzo Statue is brought inside to the San Fermin chapel during a holy mass.

14:15 Cathedral Giants dance as the María bell tolls. " The Astonishment of Damasco" is played as the City Council leaves.

14:45 Casa Consistorial City Council Dantzaris/dancers in front of the City Hall.

Giants & Bigheads in the streets of Old Town Pamplona

4 months to go!!  Dont forget that you need to finalise your Balcony & Accommodation in Pamplona during March!! After this month it will be almost impossible to find any decent accommodation.  You have been warned!

Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in touch with us at +34 669866650, +34 948 210 540, Skype:jude1965 or info@sanfermintravelcentral.com

¡Viva! San Fermin!

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com

www.sanfermintravelcentral.com/blog

www.retaggr.com/Card/PamplonaMan. 

7thb July is San Fermin day, and is the most important day of the festival. It is very different to the Chupinazo and has a much bigger following.  thousands of people, dressed in white, parade around the "Old Town" or Casco Viejo with all the local civil authorities & VIP´s in-tow.  The statue is taken from the church of San Lorenzo & the city surround him in adoration, devotion & acknowledgement. This is the moment of great tradition.

VIP Encierro Party 2008

Hi all, 

just want to inform you all that we now have 4 VIP encierro spots left for July 7th 2009.  To book now, please visit us here 

Chupinazo 2008 Plaza Consistorial

This is the rocket that announces the start of the fiesta. It is launched from the balcony of the City Hall (Ayuntamiento) on the 6th July at 12 noon before a square jam packed with people waving their red neckscarfs in the air! The custom of dressing in red & white is a fairly new one in the last 20 years or so. The "pañuelo" (neckscarf) can only be worn after the Chupinazo rocket has gone off!!

Should you have any questions or experience any problems, please get in touch with us at +34 669866650, +34 948 210 540, Skype:jude1965 or info@sanfermintravelcentral.com.

Viva San Fermin,

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com

Brass Band Pamplona

First of January, second of February,

third of march, fourth of April,

fifth of may, sixth of June,

seventh of July, ¡SAN FERMÍN!

To Pamplona we will go

with a wineskin, with a wineskin,

To Pamplona we will go

with a wineskin and a sock.

Uno de enero, dos de febrero,

tres de marzo, cuatro de abril,

cinco de mayo, seis de junio,

siete de julio, ¡SAN FERMÍN!

A Pamplona hemos de ir,

con una bota, con una bota,

a Pamplona hemos de ir

con una bota y un calcetín.

Chupinazo 2008 Opening Ceremony

We usually send two or three communications per year
highlighting new trips or upcoming departures, and you should start
receiving emails from us within
the next two weeks.

Should you have any questions or experience any
problems, please get in touch with us at
+34 638206664 or info@sanfermintravelcentral.com.

Regards,

Michael Murphy
www.sanfermintravelcentral.com

English....Spanish....Basque

here you can learn to say in 3 languages... English....Spanish....Basque.....

Happy New Year!!

Calle Estafeta

It aint no fun when the rabbit has the gun!