HOW TO BEHAVE

Pamplona in San Fermin has a name for being anarchic - a place where - during the days of the Fiesta - anything goes. And that first impression, when you see the whole town in celebration, seems to conform this fact. However, it's not quite true. Any misdemeanours are punished, just as in any other place, with a night in the caboose, or a fine or whatever. Proof taht things are never too unruly is that you will see many young children with their families strolling among all the hustle and bustle. They can be seen, for example, at the exit of the "Peñas" to see how people "enjoy" themselves. Or at the "Dianas" to see the survivors from the all-night sessions. What the children see is not really the best example of what they should follow but at the same time it is accepted that the locals even on a high are quite well behaved. And it is accepted that there will be no aggressive behaviour of any kind in the line of fights or assaults or anything like that. However, that line of what is permissive conduct and what is not, is not always clear.

Stepping over the line might sometimes depend on where and when you misbehave. It's a question of using your instinct and being generally prudent at all times. Adapting and accepting the local norms and learning from what you see around you.

ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

You can be a boor all day long if you want. The people in general can "act the idiot" and if they are being "smartalecks" or "funny" then they are tolerated in a way that they wouldn't normally be. It's a good moment to throw that "cream pie" in someone's face or pull some similar tasteless joke on someone, should you be so inclined, and you know you can get away with it. You can also parade round in any old scruffy gear, dirty yourself to your heart's content - nobody will take any notice during these days. It's part of the "charm" of the Fiesta.

At the same time, when there are big gatherings such as at the "Chupinazo" or the "Riau-Riau", you have to accept without protest that anyone spraying champagne round or people from the balconies pouring water on the people, can dirty your clothes. Also at the bullring, among the "Peñas" there is a good chance that you could get your clothes stained and you just have to take it with a pinch of salt. In the bars too, you have to accept that with all the dancing and pushing and shoving going on, that your clothes can come out the worse for wear.

However, something very different would be if you had the sudden bright idea of pouring a pint of beer over some stranger's head just because you fancy the idea. Here, you have stepped out of line and the recipient of your tastleness joke has every right in the world to take justice into his hands.

Inevitably there is a lot of pushing and shoving going on. The bars are packed, the streets are packed, the city is packed. However, if you are going to act like a bull in a china shop everywhere you go without taking even the minimum care of who or what you are stepping on, then you can expect to get a deserved reprimant from time to time.

In general, San Fermin is a rowdy Fiesta, and so it accepts with good grace that the people will act the idiot, do a lot of shouting, singing and screaming, sleep rough, roll in the dirt, etc. as long as it's all in good clean fun. You'll only really offend when you do something in a mean smallminded way.

As long as it's fun, practically anything goes.

UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR

One thing you mustn't do is to mix in or get out of hand with the people who are working. A dim view is taken. While the general public are good-humoured and in holiday spirits, there are also a lot of people who are working. The barmen, for example, have to be let do their work, the municipal workers, the garbage collectors, the men at the bull-running and many others. They all contribute to keeping the show going for us. Show them the respect they deserve.

Bullying or any kind of hooligan behaviour is out of order. It's incredible how few fights break out considering the crowds that invade the city. It's not a place to act the hard man in. A poor view is taken of any of that kind of "macho" behaviour.

Nor is "macho" behaviour acceptable in any way when it comes to the sexes. In San Fermin the same freedoms apply as anywhere else. However "high" you might be, you can't go round touching anyone up without asking their permission first. Just try it and you'll soon realize your mistake when the fists start flying.

Keep your hands off the animals too. Even the heifers who are in the bullring to be played with, should not be physically touched. The crowd turn on the culprits with a vengeance when this happens.

Obviously, damage to public or indeed, private property is clearly out of order.

While there is a certain tolerance for garbage misdemeanors, for example, throwing litter and such, you can't go round the streets overturning garbage in the street. Nor depositing it in bars - something we have seen happen ! Nor should you think you can go to the toilet any old place you want. There are plenty of public urinals available all round the town.

In short, remember the golden rule - If it's all good clean fun, almost anything goes!