Church of San Lorenzo

Day 9 of my Globus tour. This morning, we drove from San Sebastian to Pamplona, the capital of the Navarre area. Pamplona is known for its Running of the Bulls. The Church of San Lorenzo is the main starting point of the Festival of San Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona, of which the Running of the Bulls is a part. The festival is held every year from July 6 to 14.

Pamplona City Hall

The ceremonial rocket that starts the Festival of San Fermin is launched from the City Hall––the moment that the rocket is launched is called the “chimpinazo.” The City hall is on the Plaza Consistorial, which is part of the bull run: Six bulls at the same time are released each day of the festival. A herd of steer are behind the bulls to guide them. A bull shepherd runs behind the bulls to keep them from turning around. A first rocket tells the runners that the bulls have been released from their pens, a second rocket tells them that the bulls are on the course, a third rocket tells them that the bulls are no longer in the street, and a fourth rocket tells them that the bulls are safely in the corral and the run is over

Estafeta Street

It was a Sunday and what could be called the “running of the bicycles” was on Estafeta Street where the bulls run. More and more riders came, most wearing orange shirts.

Papa Hemingway

Papa Hemingway is in the window across the street with a not very happy bull. Hemingway popularized the Running of the Bulls with the publication of his “The Sun Also Rises” in 1926.

Estafeta Street

It looks like the last of the bicycle riders have passed us.

Hiding the Bull Ring

But the orange–shirted bicycle crowd overtook the square in front of the bull ring.

The Bull Ring

The only photo I was able to take of the bull ring.

Running of the Bulls Street

Looking back on Estafeta Street of the Running of the Bulls.

I have put my photos of Pamplona on a slide show. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/pamplona/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain–1, “Pamplona”).

Lunch in Pamplona

Before leaving Pamplona, we had a Globus–supplied tapas lunch with wine.

Tapas

One of the tapas.

Dessert

We also had a very good desert––a cheesecake and ice cream.

Zaragoza

After visiting Pamplona, we drove to Zaragoza (also called Saragossa). Zaragoza is the capital city of the Zaragoza province and is part of Aragon, Spain. We were to visit the Cathedral–Basilica of Our Lady of Pillar on the Ebro River. Our bus had to park so far away from the cathedral–basilica that I went right to our hotel and then took a taxi back to avoid a very long walk.

Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar

The Cathedral–Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar venerates the Blessed Virgin Mary under of title “Our Lady of the Pillar.” She is also known as the “Mother of the Hispanic Peoples,” as praised to be by Pope John Paul II. This is the first church in history that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Cathedral-Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar

The other part of the cathedral–basilica. No photos were allowed in the cathedral–basilica.

Clock Tower

The clock tower has a statue of Francisco Goya in front of it. Goya was a famous Spanish romantic painter and printmaker in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

I have put my photos of cathedral–basilica on a slideshow. Go to http://www.peggysphotos.com/zaragoza–saragossa–cathedral–basilica/ (Slide Shows, Western Europe, Spain–2, “Zaragoza (Saragossa): Cathedral–Basilica.

Tapas

I had to wait to have dinner across from the cathedral–basilica until 8 p.m. Some of the restaurants didn’t start serving dinner until 8:30 p.m., the Spanish time for dinner. Luckily, I found one that served “early.” The tapas selection looked good.

Tapas

I’m not sure about what both tapas were but one looks like “Tabla de Jamon Iberico con Pan con Tomate.” Both were very tasty. After dinner, I took a taxi back to my hotel.