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James’ Stag Pamplona, Spain Saturday 10 July - Tuesday 13 July If you thought Barca v Real at the Neu Camp was Spain’s hottest sporting event then think again. Arguably the biggest weekend of the year is to found in the unknown Spanish province of Navarra where the little town of Pamploma goes utterly beserk for nine days in July for the “Fiesta de los Sanfermines”. Its most famous event is the daily “encierro”, or Running of the Bulls, made famous by Hemmingway and more recently by thousands of wine-swilling locals and tourists looking scare on television every year. Listed in GQ’s infamous list of “must do things before you turn thirty” this is a once in a life time opportunity not to be missed. The weekend will start on Saturday 10 July with flights to Bilbao leaving Gatwick at 13:00 and arriving in Bilbao at 16:00 (88 pounds return taxes included). (A later flight from Stanstead is available for anyone with a lunchtime commitment but you will not arrive in Salamanca much before midnight so the lunchtime flight which the Stag, me, Coz, Fray and Rory are taking comes highly recommended) Everyone will have accommodation together 15 minutes walk from the city centre at the MiraSierra Appartments on Avenida de Pamplona (www.atmirasierra.com ). Rooms are doubles (costing 58 pounds per person per night (Sat,Sun&Mon)). Each room has a small kitchen so we can cook a bit of “pasta pommodoro” to save money, if needed. The benefit of all being under the same roof is obvious as it is Pamplona’s busiest weekend of the year and accommodation is not easy to find (for twenty at least!). Sunday will consist of our very first “encierro” at the most unsavory hour of 8:00am (but remember we will be on Spanish clocks and your day will just be ending!). A café cortado and croissant will be our staple breakfast for our stay in Pamplona. And despite it being the day of rest we fully anticipate the party being in full swing most of the day. Depending how you guys wish to get rid of those minor headaches on Monday, we can start again in Pamplona or head an hour and a half to the beaches of San Sebastian. Often compared to Rio de Janeiro because of the sweep of “La Concha Bay” and the hills overlooking it, it is a suberb natural setting with fantastic sandy beaches perfect for catching some rays and zzzzs. As the sun sets we’ll raise our ice cold beers to James the Stag and his very last night of freedom. Tuesday morning we will all cheer on the brave among us who have decided to actually run their very own “encierro” and then its as early or as late as we want heading back to Bilbao for our 16:30 flight back to Gatwick arriving 17:25. For those wishing to impress their other halves, Bilbao does of course have its very own Guggenheim which is daring in concept and brilliant in execution. And what better way of impressing at your next dinner party than getting into the conversation how much you loved the spot reserved for Picasso’s “Gernika”, which the Basque Government persistently try and prise away form the Reina Sofia gallery in Madrid. That’s it! The dates have changed slight but only to protect the innocent. It’s Spain - so James will love it. There’s a theme - so you’ll be able to exaggerate how close you were to being mauled by a half tonne bull to everyone for a very long time to come. And finally there’s you guys so James will know that he’s spent his last “proper nights away” with his very best mates. Jason, Coz, Nick, Fray and Rory | ||
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