Las Peñas is part of the San Fermin tradition. It is one of the funnest things you can enjoy in Pamplona.
Peñas at the bullring
if you come to the bullring to watch a bullfight, you will have a close encounter with the Peñas. What are the Peñas? They are groups of young kids from town who love music as much as having fun. They practice all year round for this week.
The Peñas will be seated at the sunny part of the arena. They are the soundtrack of the bullfight. If you are not sure if you will want to watch a bullfight, I recommend you to get a ticket in the sunny part. If you are lucky, you might see one of the bulls…. But for sure you will have one of the best experiences of your life.
Two years ago my wife and I invited some friends from the USA to the bullfight in the sunny part. Sarah, my friends wife, was VERY reluctant in watching a bullfight. WE came in the ring at 18.00 it was right before the Peñas came in. At the beginning it was more or less quiet. We took with us a couple of sandwiches, 3 bottles of Champagne and about 10 plastic glasses. IN about 10 minutes 5000 people surrounded us, not just physically, but also emotionally.
I personally remember the first bull coming out to the arena. Right at that same moment the band behind us started singing “La Macarena” and of course we had to make a full of ourselves and dance to it. When they finished, the band on the right started playing Elvis “Jail house Rock” . Come on, it is ELVIS. We had to dance to that one too. Music and champagne where coming at the same time.
By the time we watch the time, it was almos 20.00. Who cares? We have 5000 new friends. We all shared our sandwich’s, champagne, etc… The 2 Italian guys seated under us brought some great Sangria, and the group on our left they had a wedding cake to share. It was sooooo much fun.
Sarah says that she has been to a bullfight, but she is not sure if there were any bulls at all. By the time it all finished (about 20,30) we all went down into the ring, took many pictures of us at the arena (none of them shareable….) and all the bands jumped with us to the arena. The gates of the ring opened and we all marched through the city with the music. We ended the night at somebodies house preparing fried eggs at midnight.
I love the PEÑAS!!!!
