In my book, the Spanish town of Pamplona is one of the best tourist spots in the world. This city, located at the northern part of Spain, is famous for its San Fermin Festival or La Fiesta de San Fermín. It is a week of riotous celebration, bullfighting and the world renowned “running of the bulls.” Thousands of visitors from all over the world, converge on this town, booking its hotels, bars and even campsites. The streets are decorated with red and white banners and flaglets with the ubiquitous Spanish Flag also displayed randomly around the city.

La Fiesta de San Fermín started in the 16^th century when three festivals namely, the San Fermín festival, the Pamplona town fair and bullfighting were combined into one event. Saint Fermín was actually a bishop in Pamplona who was dedicated to spread the Christian faith around the country. However, his views were not shared by everyone. He was eventually beheaded in Amiens, France. The people of Pamplona have since honored him with a festival in his name. To commemorate the sacrifice of this martyr, people dress in white with a red bandana, and red sash to honor him. Every morning, during the La Fiesta de San Fermín festival week which is around the third week of July, the bulls are let loose in the streets and run from various points on their way to the bullfighting arena. Streets are closed so that the bulls are eventually guided into the bullring and people are free to run along with them. Thousands of people, mainly men, run the streets with the bulls. It is an amazing sight to watch, and not a few people are injured and sometimes pay with their lives during this crazy event. The spectacle of thousands of sprinting men pouring in to the bullring followed by a couple of dozen rampaging bulls is one hilarious sight indeed.

In a recent celebration, an animal rights group marched through the streets naked to protest against the treatment of the bulls. They call it the Running of the Nudes. The Festival of San Fermin is well worth a visit, but only for those with the guts to witness this amazingly crazy celebration.