Jam-packed weekend

11/07/2009. The arrival of Saturday has brought with it a large number of visitors to the streets of Pamplona

After the opening days of the fiestas, where the general feeling was that the number of visitors had dropped this year, the weekend has brought with it a large number of visitors and the streets are now packed with people, as usually happesens with the arrival of the weekend.

Since early Friday afternoon, both the train station and the coach station were buzzing with visitors arriving for the weekend. Night brought thousands out onto the streets of Pamplona, especially in the old part of town and in the classic streets such as Jarauta, Estafeta and San Nicolas which are the main areas with bars.

This morning, at the start of the running of the bulls, the central square -La plaza del Castillo - was full of people and some remains of the long night could be seen littered about even as the street-cleaners were hard at work, collecting bottles, bags and plastics of all kinds and sizes. The running of the bulls was also densely crowded this morning, in spite of the fatal events of yesterday. Tomorrow, when the mythical Miura bulls are featured to run, it will be even more packed with runners.

Tonight the streets of the old part of town will be jam-packed and it will not be easy to get served in the busy bars. For sure, the green belt surrounding the Vuelta de Castillo area will become an improvised bedroom for the thousands who have no choice but to sleep out under the stars. After tomorrow, many will have to say their goodbyes to the fiestas, while others will find the best moment to enjoy what remains of the fiestas.