BEFORE DINNER

Those couple of hours which lie between the exit of the "Peñas" from the bullring (about 8.30) and the opportunity to have suppper (around 11.00) provide the chance to stroll round and take in some of the various curious events which tend to go on at this time of the evening:

21.00 - at nine o´clock every evening there are sessions of traditional Basque music being played from the kiosk in the Main Sq- The Plaza del Castillo where you can listen to the typical Txistu(flute) or gaita(bagpipes). The public are usually dancing to the music and the invigorating swirling steps always seem to generate a good lively homely atmosphere. If you feel in a bit of a "merry" mood you might be tempted to join in and try out the steps of something like "La Era" - a rather long complicated traditional dance. And don´t worry, if you feel like a bull in a chinashop, nobody will give you a second glance. Everyone is busy doing their own thing.

22.00. - The "Bull of Fire" is usually let out at this time to chase after the children around the area of the Town Hall and Estafeta Street. In fact it´s a kind of light wooden shell in the shape of a bull, and which is carried on the shoulders by someone who has the top part of his body covered by the structure and there are fireworks tied to its side which are shooting off in all directions. Harmless fun which doesn´t really scare even the youngest children.

23.00 - At eleven o´clock a high-class fireworks display is put on every evening at the Ciudadela(The old Citadel) park which lasts for about half an hour and which always provides some spectacular sights. Each night´s show is prepared by different experts brought in from all over Spain who try and outdo one another with their complicated fireworks arrangements.

After supper, where there is a wide range of venues to select from. You have the choice of going to see some shows, live concerts, dances or just simply hit the different bars which will be bursting at the seams with singing and dancing for the rest of the night. You can also try to fit in a bit of all those things....