Um...I ran with the bulls!

Toro Toro!! Ok, so I'm not gonna give all the detail about the balcony or the general run...you can check out Joe's for that. But where we differ is where Joe and J. headed off to run. They had considered running all along, whereas LBB and I never had any intentions of doing so. Not even a 4am, sangria induced "why not?" moment. Nope! They went off to get ready to run, and she and I headed for the final stretch to secure a place to safely watch from a distance. We were right there when they put up the fence, and climbed on up and got about the best seats you could hope for! Unfortunately, to make sure we kept those seats, it meant sitting on a piece of wood that was 2 inches wide at best, for over 2.5 hours! Can i just say ouch?? I would post pics, but we both only took our one uses so that'll have to wait. We did get some nice video though. Still trying to figure out how to share that.

Anyway, as Joe points out, there was a mistake in the rockets, but as we were at the very end of the race course, we had no idea. We heard the 1st rocket which is meant to signify the opening of the gates for the bulls to enter the course. We heard the 2nd rocket, which tells the crowd all the bulls have entered the course. And then we saw the runners...we cheered and yelled (Ole! Ole Ole Ole!!! Just doesn't get old) and then the bulls came. Just a couple at first, then some more, then what we thought was the last of them. They even have these guys that chase the last ones with big sticks to keep them moving forward, and those guys were there. We got the video out and took about a 2 minute commentary as one of the bulls fell turning the final corner (at least, we think that's what happened) and then we heard what we thought was the 3rd rocket, which tells the crowd when all of the bulls have entered the arena and it is safe to move about the course. Well, LBB and I had this plan that after that we were going to jump in and run into the arena and jump over the wall into the stands to watch. So we climbed down, got into the course and I turned to start running. Then everything kind of becomes a blur. I don't really know what made us aware of anything wrong, or how long it was, or what was said or anything. I just remember turning around and seeing a bull charging right towards us!! I know I warned LBB as I ran away and toward the fence. I could have sworn there were 3 but the boys said 2...regardless, there were more than one, and hence...We ran with the bulls. :) WooHoo! We're pretty much rockstars. Oh, and the boys did the whole thing too, so I guess they're pretty good, too. ;) But really, total adreneline rush and LBB and I still keep looking at each other and saying "We ran with the bulls". AAHH!!!

Ok, well, my little relaxing layover in London before heading to Africa is coming to an end. Time to get cleaned up and head for the airport. I'll try to post again from there on the rest of the trip!