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– Pub Club Pub Journal –
Tales from Around the Globe
Kelly's Journal from Spain
The author parties
with actor Jason Priestly on Ibiza.
By: Kelly Owen, Hermosa Beach CA
Date: July 2000
Itinerary: Pamplona, Ibiza
The idea of heading to Spain began with an e-mail from a local group
putting together a trip to Pamplona and Ibiza in July. We live in a
pretty fun area – it's one of the cool beach communities around
Los Angeles – so leaving one lively sun spot for another in
the heat of the summer action required some serious contemplating.
But, after consulting with a group of friends, we girls decided to
go for it.
We would start out in Pamplona for three days during the Running With
the Bulls. From there, we would goto Ibiza for the rest of our vacation.
Ironically, another group of friends were on a similiar trip, so put
it all together and we had quite a party group.
It was a very enlightening trip, one that exposed some interesting
facts of life about people in other lands and also about people in our
own city.
We partied often and were up very late (or very early, depending on
one's point of view). We also experienced some of the culture that makes
traveling abroad so rewarding.
PAMPLONA
Out on the town
(top) and with the crazy California bull crew.
This was a long journey. It took about 30 hours to get to Pamplon,
including a layover in New York and a flight to Madrid. On top of that,
it's a nine-hour time change.
Because of this, our first day, a Saturday,was pretty low-key. Knowing
we had a lot of activity in front of us, we felt it was smart to stay
subdued. At least for a day.
We were certainly excited to be there. July in Pamplona is high season
for the tourists as well as the the locals because of the tradition
of The Running of the Bulls. It is actually called "The San Fermin
Festival," or as they say in Spanish and Basque, 'Los Sanfermines'
– which is a fabled festival surrounding the annual running of
the bulls. It's an entire carnival, complete with Ferris wheels, bumper
cars, fireworks and loud and colorful parades.
Sunday, we we were up early – 6:30 a.m., in fact. We we wanted
to be sure and get a place in the Plaza where the bulls – El Toros
as they call them here – run through on their way to the stadium.
They run at 8 in the morning and we wanted to have our vantage spot
secured well in advance of that time.
Even without the bulls, it was quite a scene. The locals are very much
into the festival. All ages join in by wearing the traditional costumes
- red scarves and sashes draped over white shirts and pants. Likewise,
the tourists were similarly attired and not wanting to be left out of
the crowd we, too, participated in this tradition.
Not wanting to look
like tourists, we girls donned the traditional red-and-white costume.
The run starts at the bottom of a sloping street called Santo Domingo.
The total distance is short – less than 900 meters.
The first stretch is considered to be the most dangerous because this
is where the bulls burst out of their pen, full of energy. As a result,
they are immediately on on top of the runners. It concludes at a plaza
the Spaniards call 'la plaza de toros.' (Note: for safety reasons, PubClub
recommends runners position themselves in the Plaza, rather than at
the beginning).
We had a nervous moment just before the start when we almost got stuck
on the street. The guards would not let us behind a barricade and The
bulls would be coming through here any moment. Finally, we managed to
sneak past the guards, but it was a close call!
With that little adventure behind us, we decided to head to the stadium.
That's the bull ring where matadors fight the animals. Those who either
run with bulls – such as our friend Jason, who did it wearing a
Superman outfit – or watch the run from the Plaza follow the
bulls into the arena. Not everyone gets in, however, and we didn't want
to miss the climax of the festivities.
 It's
only about $6 (USD) to get into the arena. After all the hysteria of
the run, a Matador starts the bullfight, then slaughters one of the
bulls. This is one tradition we could not tolerate and exited the stadium
so we wouldn't have to witness this atrocity.
Running With the Bulls is a party on a world-wide scale. People go
wild until dawn and it's mass hysteria everywhere. We found it very
similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, except everyone was speaking different
languages.
The people were from everywhere, mostly from Europe. And boy do they
smoke a lot! (We are not used to this, since Los Angeles is pretty much
of a smoke-free environment, especially at the beach.)
My
friend Annette smiles in the stadium.
We found the area around the festival to be very charming with traditions
we liked and beautiful, historic buildings. The food, however, was less
appetizing. It was very simple and rich with fats and enriched processing.
I didn't care for the food at all.
After the run: this
photo was taken at eight in the morning
IBIZA
Ibiza is well-known for being the biggest party spot in the world.
Anything & everything goes here. Leave you inhibitions at home - they
are not welcomed in Ibiza!
Settled right in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Ibiza is an island
off the coast of Spain. It's location make it a European melting pot
of sorts. People from Britain,Germany, Italy and Greece make this their
vacation paradise. Not too many Americans come here.
We didn't meet too many locals, either, only a handful of people that
spoke Spanish. Guess people from the home country prefer to vacation
elsewhere.
The big difference in the people here and home is that they aren't nearly
as vain as they are in Southern California. They are very much into
being "Au Naturale," meaning they have a very earthy, Bohemian quality
to them. Their dress is simple, but elegant. They don't appear to be
too flashy. They remind me gypsies but with a real deep tan!
In short, they are more concerned with their inner beauty than their
outer beauty. People in Los Angeles are too hung up on how they look
on the outside.
But at least we don't smoke! Ibiza was full of smoke, both outside
and especially inside the bars and restaurants. Europeans are chain-smokers.
I felt like I was developing Emphysema. That is probably how the Euros
stay sooo thin (nicotine is known to be an appetite suppressant).
Partying on Ibiza
was an uplifting experience.
Europeans also don't seem to believe too much into exercise. Where
we live, exercise is almost a daily ritual. The people focused more
on smoking and partying, and they do both of those activities a lot.
Okay, there's another difference. They don't have any tan lines. You
can tell because several of the beaches allow nude bathing. Unbelievable.
The people let everything just hang out!
 In
the daytime, we did the beach, sightseeing and other activities. Well,
at least sometimes, when we didn't party 'till dawn. This was around
the noon hour. Then it was major siesta time. Sleep is a must if one
plans to stay up partying until 9 the next morning, something that's
all to easy to do in this town.
Now onto the night scene... Sort of imagine partying in Southern California
but shift the activities ahead by about five hours. In Ibiza, we were
just going out at about the time we're well settled into the bars or
parties at home.
After the beach, we would rest until about 7 then, go to dinner around
9 or 10 and hit a pre-party bar around 11. The time of night really
didn't matter that much, as the laid-back culture of Spain takes away
the stress of having to arrive to a certain place by a certain time,
which is often the case in the States.
After a couple hours of pre-partying came the nite club action!
Leticia and I survived the foam party at Amnesia.
There are some very hip clubs on the island. The first club we went
to was Amnesia, the most famous in Ibiza and maybe the world. This club
is known for 'Espuma'- which is Spanish for foam party, where the foam
can reach as high as six feet or so. Don't wear your best clubby clothes
on this night - you will get messed up & drenched! It's quite a spectacle!
Aafter that, we had to see what else this place had to offer. In no
particular order, we went to El Divino, Pacha, Es Paradis and Privilege.
I really liked El Divino. It was a very nice classy, sophisticated crowd,
over-looking the beautiful Ibiza harbour. I met the local DJ, Boy George!
At Privilege, I "one-upped" myself when I met Jason Priestly,
start of the TV show "Beverly Hills 90210."
The nite clubs typically do not open until 2 a.m. And you look like
a moronic tourist if you show up earlier. We would typically party until
8 in the next morning. A few die-hards in our group would then go to
the after-hours clubs. Those places don't even open until 8 and go until
noon. This is crazy! It is entirely possible to then hit the beach and
start all over again.
Once you get into this groove, not a lot of sleeping goes on here.
The music on the island and in the clubs was very hype, hypnotic &
sensual. There was a lot of clubby, Euro-trans, electronic music. At
the beach bars, they play very sensual, tropical Latin music but w/
a funky beat & w/ some trans/electronic mixed in a little.
Boy George is a local DJ spinning trans, techno-house, eletronica
music at some of the clubs.
It was a very interesting, exciting, adventurous, & exhausting trip.
I recommend going to Spain (Ibiza or whatever your pleasure is) just
for the experience and stories to tell your friends & family.
Because some of the things I experienced, I would never have those
experiences here in the States!
-- Kelly
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