Not long to go ...
Pamplona is a candidate city for European Capital of Culture 2016. I wonder what the selection criteria will be. No doubt a panel of esteemed judges will visit Pamplona before the final decision is made and they will see the impressive Baluarte, ancient walls and be convinced by a wide array of planned cultural events that will be held in the city if it is successful. Perhaps 2016 will be a good opportunity for Pamplona to shed its image as purely the centre of fiesta, corridas and San Fermín. Clearly the stewards of the city wish to portray their home in a different light, a broader light.
I personally would prefer for the adjudicating panel to visit Pamplona during the weekend of San Fermín. I would like them to see just how culture is treated by the people and visitors to the city. I would like the panel to see the rows of borachos pissing against the walls. I would like them to smell the city at 7am. I would like them to witness the behaviour of the people who think that it is clever to accost other people, those who like to spend their weekend eating, drinking, sleeping and dancing in their own shit and piss.
Then I would like to see the reaction of the elders of Pamplona when the panel rejects their application. Maybe then things can change and the authorities stop focusing on money, and remember what the fiesta truly CAN BE, when it is cultural and not guttural.
