Talk about grabbing the bull by the horns

Hi everyone!
I really need to keep track of the days a bit better - I didn't realise I'd left it almost another week without posting! This really is one of those places where time just disappears.
First things first: I have finally managed to organise a Facebook link for this blog. From now on I will write on there to let you know when I've got a new blog post, plus I'm in the process of putting the full collection of my travel photos on there too. Feel free to comment or discuss any travels and adventures - let me see who's reading! The page is:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/633521363345096/633527926677773/?notif_t=like
I look forward to hearing from you guys on there! But now - on with the show.
I finished my last post just before heading out to the final night of fiestas in San Martin De Unx. All the locals were turned out in their best red and white as is traditional for the fiesta. The fire bull ran twice on Sunday evening, once at 10pm and again at 1.30am! Of course since it was the final night, and since Martin had taken us there, we had no choice but to stay. Between the bulls there were drinks to be had and a couple of stalls where prices could be won. On one you had to shoot the target and win a prize - I'm sure many of you are familiar with it. Here they used real air rifles, they weren't chained to the stall and there were no safety warnings or anything like that - who needs health and safety anyway?!
Eventually, after the closing ceremony (which was after the final fire bull) we got home, totally shattered but happy to have attended such a nice local little celebration.
After such a late night Monday got off to a slow start but by mid morning most of us were up and about doing bits and pieces. I spent most of the day helping Pedro with a 'cool' little project he had going on - homemade air-conditioning. Now if you would like the full instructions (or instructions which are as full possible considering half  the 'how to build' file was missing and we had to improvise on most of it) then let me know but basically you're trying to circulate cold air - cooled by a bucket of ice inside - through a load of aluminum pipes - to cool it further - and then push it out through a fan at the top. This whole system then sits inside a plastic bin with a hole cut out for the fan and the drainage tap. As I pointed out however a lot of the project involved guesswork and improvisation so new lids had to be made out of scrap metal, pipes were adjusted and readjusted, problems occurred. No wonder it took all day and half the next! Jon had been allowed the day off after such a late night but Pedro, Martin and I muddled through all day and by the time we'd finished up I knew it would be finished the following day.
Throughout the evening there were a couple of people in for meals, but other than helping with them I had a quiet and chilled out end to the day.
Tuesday morning was spent finishing off Pedro's project. It was great to see it completed - he's been wanting to do it for about two years now so it felt great to help him do it. We did have a bit of an anticlimax when we went to test it and discovered a compete lack of ice but before long Martin's wife appeared and she arrived with ice! It works pretty well to be honest, it wouldn't cool down the entire restaurant area by it would certainly help in the sitting room or a bedroom - not bad considering how none of us really knew what we were doing!
After such a long, productive morning it was time for a rest afternoon which I used to set up the new Facebook group. I did try and make it a page but the site doesn't seem to like me and wouldn't let me - but you do have the nice new group!
On Wednesday it was time for something a little different - we were off on a field trip!!
Linda was going up to San Sebastian with Jan to see her son Daniel and her grandson so Jon and I got to tag along.
San Sebastian is about an hour and a half away from San Martin on the coast - about 20km from the French-Spanish border. I had brushed the edges of it when I hitchhiked down to here but it was late and I saw nothing.
Before going exploring we waited around to see Daniel and his little lad. Now I'll openly admit that I'm not a baby person; I've never spent any time with one and if I was left to look after one for even five minutes I dread to think what would become of it. However he was such a cute little kid, didn't cry or anything and after his little table top rendition I think he's going to be a fine drummer when he grows up - have fun with that one Daniel!
Anyway once we dragged ourselves away Jon and I, after a disposable camera hunt, went to check out the old part of city and the beach which is practically in the centre of the city.  We walked along the sea front for a bit before heading back in search of lunch - when it comes to food Jon is like a machine - I don't know how he can eat so much! Next we wandered the narrow old market streets lined with pintxos (tapas) bars and quirky little stores selling ethnic clothing, incense and other such things.
Once we'd finished browsing we headed back and stopped at the beach on the way. Jon went for a dip but it was far too crowded for my liking so I just sat and enjoyed the sun at the top and did a bit of people watching. By the time we met back up with Linda and Jan they'd already said goodbye to Dani and the little lad which was a bit of a shame but after a quick drink it was time to get back on the road and head home for a quiet and early night.
Thursday morning started bright and early with a wake up call at about 6.30am for an important local event. Tafalla had been having their own fiestas all week and we were off to see the daily bull run. That's right, Tafalla doesn't have the fire bull; like Pamplona it has real, living, breathing, charging bulls! The six animals, all around 600kg, stampede down the street amongst a crowd of men running alongside trying not to get trampled. Another thing health and safety would never allow. Now in Gloucestershire, England there is an annual cheese rolling completion where competitors chase a wheel of cheese down a hill and whoever catches it wins. This year, because of health and safety issues the police tried to prevent it going ahead. Isn't it funny how in England it's too dangerous to chase cheese while in Spain it's perfectly acceptable and celebrated to run through a narrow street being chase by large, dangerous  animals - it's a strange old world. We viewed the run from behind the barriers - for those of you who know Orkney its similar to the town's set up for the Ba' - and then went over to the arena for the next event. Now I assume proper matadors always wear there fancy outfits when they're in with the bulls but in the morning the younger lads get the chance to practice with young bullocks and prefer to stick to their shorts and trainers. The animals can move a lot faster but so can the men and I bet the acrobatics is nowhere near as good with the bigger bulls: I'm saying that after seeing one of the young matadors - the best one in my opinion - took a running jump and lept right over the bullock as it charged towards one of the others. Part way through however there was a heart stopping moment when one of the lads fell as he ran from the bullock. It seized its opportunity while he was on the floor. You could see it jabbing him with its horns and stamping on him as he tried to get away. It was awful to watch, you felt so helpless. Thankfully the other lads had the bullock surrounded in moments and their shouting and arm waving distracted the animal long enough for the poor lad to scramble out of the way - he was lucky not too have been seriously injured but I bet he's got a few bruises to show for it. Most of the crowd had probably seen worse but I bet it was a serious reminder to all of how dangerous this sport can be.
Unfortunately, for all this tradition is known world wide and is part of the celebrations here, you can't forget how unfair it is to the animals. Being raced through the streets only to be slaughtered the very same day and being taunted and tormented to entertain an arena full of people - it might be tradition but it doesn't necessarily make it right.
But moving on - after the event we went to Martin's and had coffee with him and Olga before getting home where I rushed to my computer. It was my mother's birthday and I intended to surprise her! She had no idea I could call the home phone from my computer but I managed to speak to her from India on her previous birthday and I was determined to do the same this year!
We talked for over an hour and it really was great to hear from her properly since we'd only communicated through Facebook since I left.
When I eventually rang off I helped out in the kitchen for a bit then it was time for lunch.
Annoyingly, with me being as clumsy as I am, I managed to slip on the freshly-mopped kitchen floor and hurt my knee to the point where I was effectively out of action for the rest of the day.
Luckily this morning it was almost back to normal so off we went for round 2 of the bulls. The bullocks seemed a little more subdued today - great for the paramedics, though not as exciting for the majority of the spectators. This was followed by a quick look around Tafalla to find a memory card for Jon then we returned home. I've spent the day still trying to rest my knee a bit but otherwise I've been helping with rooms, the kitchen and picking vegetables - I got a huge pan full of peppers chillies and tomatoes today! We really haven't had to much to do with no customers in but it meant less for Linda to worry about.
Well that's all for now - I must leave you to fold tea towels! Remember to check out the new Facebook page!
Until next time!