Los Arcos to Viana, Spain (9/14)

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Distance: 20km

Albergue: Andrés Muñoz Municipal Albergue

Got up at 5:30am and Joseph, our albergue host, had prepared breakfast with wonderful homemade coffee cake along with fresh fruit, coffee and tea. Yum. We were on the trail by 7:00am. It was a great and pretty easy hike, if you don't include the hills and the sun.

Our plans were to reach Viana, have a picnic lunch, siesta in the park until it got a little cooler then hike to Lorgono. Logorno is another 10km farther. 

But when we got to Viana, it was Festival and the Running of the Bulls. Wow, what a surprise. Of course, we cancelled our plans. Choices... Hike or Festival. We found beds at the famous Andrés Muñioz Albergue. (Andrés was formerly a pilgrim and he is responsible for all of the signs on the Camino.)

The entire village was dressed in white clothing with red scarves. The band was playing the bull fighting music. The crowd was ready for the bulls and the barricades were secured. The street where the bulls run was filled with people, tables and chairs with food and drinks. Big parade characters were floating down the street.

I was wondering how that was going to work with bulls running down the street? Then ten minutes before the run, everyone starting bringing all of the food and furniture inside. Ready!

This Running of the Bulls is not like the real one in Pamplona. The bulls are smaller and no one is running. Some people are standing inside the barricades? Then the bulls are released from the ring. They run the entire length of the city and then back again. 

On the first run, a man was injured and had to be carried away on a stretcher. We did not see any blood when they carried him away, but the band was playing Taps. Watching the bulls was still so exciting. 

We took pictures, but most of the pics were parts of the bulls because they were so fast. But enough snaps and finally a few pics. 

They also had tables set for a catered celebration dinner and the tables stretched the length of the street seating 400 guests for 20 euros. We opted for tapas with wine and beer. 

Later we got a pitcher of sangria and brought it back to our albergue to watch the sunset. The sunset was fire red... Beautiful!

Then we headed back to join the party in town to hear the band play some Spanish music. One song was from Jungle Book? I joined in for a Spanish line dance with some little old ladies. I also encouraged a little do si do, so round and round we went. We had so much fun. 

Then the bottom dropped out and it was the running of the people. We had so much fun and what a pleasant surprise. Then it was time for lights out!