1953

After 22 years, the fiestas were the same as ever, but the atmosphere was becoming filled with more and more foreigners in search of the "Fiesta" experience as narrated by Hemingway.

In 1953 Ernest Hemingway returned to Pamplona after an absence of 22 years. His experiences in the Civil War and his political empathies made him reluctant to return to Spain but in fact his visit went off very well. Hemingway was accompanied by Juanito Quintana during most of his stay even though he did not now run an hotel.

The author arrived with his wife Mary and stayed in Lecumberri at the advice of Quintana. But being so far from the center of the fiestas did not suit Hemingway and on the 7th of July they couple checked into room 217 of La Perla Hotel in the main square of Pamplona. On earlier visits Hemingway had witnessed the bullfighters dress and prepare themselves for the bullfights in this hotel.

That year too Hemingway gave rise to much public comment when he visited the chapel of Sam Fermin after the procession where he prayed devotedly to the saint, as reported in his Book "Hemingway and the Sanfermin fiestas", written by José María Iribarren. Given his political and progressive leanings, Hemingway was once asked by Octavio Aparicio in an interview who he considered the most interesting person in the town ...and Hemingway answered San Fermin.

That year Hemingway saw Antonio Ordoñez, the son of Cayetano, fight for the first time and he was deeply impressed by his performance. That same night, after the successful afternoon, both men had dinner together in Los Pocholas.

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