Ever since Hemingway wrote about the running of the bulls in The Sun Also Rises, tens of thousands of people from around the world flock to Pamplona, Spain for the festival of San Fermin. Starting at noon on July 6th of every year, this festival is, among other things, in honor of Saint Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona. But I’d bet that 99% of the visitors don’t know that and they don’t care. They’re here for the bulls. More specifically, they’re here to run with the bulls.
Buskers
Several years ago, I read an article about Joshua Bell, a world-class violinist who played at a DC Metro station in the guise of a street busker at a DC Metro station. (I can’t find the original Washington Post article, but I was able to find this and this) Over the course of 45 minutes, Bell played a $3.5 million dollar Stradivarius on a street corner. Commuters tipped him a total of $32. Two nights prior, Bell had performed at a sold out show where seats went for $100 or more.
Pickpockets
Having your pocket picked will ruin your day, ruin your trip, and potentially make you very jaded about the country that you’re visiting. While only a small percentage of the tourist population will fall prey to pickpockets and scammers, there are a few key things that will help you avoid being a victim.
We’re not in America anymore, Toto
Recently, I was in the bus station in Granada, Spain, ready to catch a bus to Malaga, and I needed a bottle of water and a candy bar, so I went to the convenience store in the station.
Foreign Foods
The purpose of travel is to expand your horizons. Whether you travel to the museum in your hometown or whether you wake up dry beneath the African sky, just you and your Swiss Army knife, you’re stepping outside of your normal life and learning a little more. Maybe you learn about a new culture, a new political perspective, a new life philosophy, or maybe you just learn something new about food in a new country.
Los Chinos in Buñol, Spain
The day that we got to Buñol, Spain for La Tomatina, the forecast called for rain. It held off for a while, but eventually it started to drizzle. Fortunately I had packed an umbrella, but Karen had not, so we went to the nearest grocery store (and the only one in town) to get her one.
Córdoba, Spain
I found myself in Córdoba purely by laziness. I was supposed to go from Valencia to Granada, but it turned out that the trip is at least 8 hours. Rather than spend a full day on the train, I opted to split the trip into two days, stopping in Córdoba for a bit in between. And I’m glad that I did.
La Tomatina
Every year in late August, the small town of Buñol, Spain, home to roughly 9,000 residents, swells to close to 50K people to celebrate the tomato festival, La Tomatina. What started in 1945 as one small kid’s temper tantrum (he fell off of a parade float, got angry, and started throwing tomatoes from a nearby produce stand) has turned into what is considered the biggest annual food fight and the worst ketchup-making process in history.
The 99¢ Store
You never really think twice about the 99¢ Store when you’re home, do you? If you need something, and you happen to be near one, and what you need happens to be the kind of thing that they’d carry, and you happen to have time to kill, and you happen to find parking, and the stars are lined up, then you may go to the 99¢ Store. Otherwise, it’s not really something that you consider in the real world, and something you probably consider even less when you’re on vacation. But you’re wrong, and I’ll tell you why.
Dining In Florence (some more)
Let’s face it; you’re in Florence. You’re going to eat. A lot. Since you’re not finished eating, why would I be done writing about the food?