Pamplonas Bull Run - Insurance and Australian Government Information
Lets not beat about the bush here. Participating in the Festival of San Fermin and actually running with the Bulls can potentially be very dangerous. Each year, some participants are seriously injured in the bull run and there have been numerous deaths associated with the event although you are much more likely to be run over by a car than be injured at the hands (or perhaps horns of hooves) of a bull. Even if you do not run with the bulls their are still risks associated with the festival as petty crime can be rife with thefts, pickpocketing, bag snatching and the like all high on the local police forces daily workload.
If you decide to participate in the actual bull run, you should weigh up the cons of doing so, and understand the risks of serious injury.
Your travel insurance may not cover you if you participate in high risk activities, such as running with the bulls. You should check the details of your insurance policy before deciding whether to participate. To this day we have never found a policy that will cover a runner in this annual event.
Under Spanish law, local hospitals are obliged to provide medical attention to everyone, regardless of nationality or insurance coverage. However, Australia does not have a reciprocal health care agreement with Spain and the hospital will expect payment for services. Make sure you have funds for such circumstances or ensure that your travel insurance will provide coverage for any possible injuries incurred during the festivities.
The Australian Government will not pay for a traveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs. These can amount to tens of thousands of dollars for which you and/or your family would be liable.
Due to the high incidence of petty crime and pick-pocketing, including theft of passports, police strongly recommend that travellers carry a photocopy of their passport for identification and keep the original in a safe place.
Local authorities make arrangements for the large number of visitors to hopefully minimise crime. These include:
- Providing locker facilities at the Pamplona Town Hall, located in Plaza San Francisco, open from 8 a.m. on 3 July to 2 p.m. on 16 July 2010.
- Establishing a lost and found office at the Pamplona Municipal Police Station in the centre of the city. Travellers are encouraged to report the loss or theft of personal belongings with this office.
If you require urgent consular assistance while in Spain, you should contact the Australian Embassy in Madrid. Embassy opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
Australian Embassy
Level 24, Torre Espacio
Paseo de la Castellana, 259D
Madrid, Spain 28046
Telephone (34) 91 353 6600
Facsimile (34) 91 353 6692
Web: http://www.spain.embassy.gov.au
After hours Emergency Consular Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by telephoning the Embassy's phone number, which will be diverted to the Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra. In a consular emergency if you are unable to contact the Embassy, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre directly on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
Limited consular assistance, which does not include the issue of Australian passports, may be obtained from the Australian Honorary Consulate in Barcelona:
Australian Consulate
1st floor
Plaza Gala Placidia, No. 1-3
08006 Barcelona SPAIN
Telephone (34) 93 490 9013
Facsimile (34) 93 411 0904
We encourage all Australians travelling to Spain to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register either online or in person with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The registration information provided by you will help us to find you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family emergency.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
Posted: 22 June 2010 01:39:20 GMT by Mark
La Tomatina 2010 Travel Advice
Its small (population of just 9000).
Its distant (lying 38kms west of the city of Valencia in Spain).
It attracts 30,000+ visitors on just one day of the year for the now world famous La Tomatina tomato throwing festival.
Its BUNOL in the province of Valencia in Spain.
But how does this mass of people manage to descend on this tiny hamlet on the last Wednesday of August each year to pelt friend and foe with over ripe tomatoes?
Well take note and we shall tell you exactly how.....
The best way to venture accross for the festival from the UK is clearly by air. IBERIA is usually the best bet although you can now get there on a number of cheaper budget airlines departing from different cities in the UK although IBERIA still has the best times and most departures.
Once you get to Valencia (where most people who visit the Tomatina Festival stay) it is an easy cab ride into anywhere accross the city. There are also trains and buses that depart from the airport although cabs are fairly cost effective and much more hassle less of course
In terms of getting to Bunol itself on the morning of the tomato throwing most people either take a coach/bus or they take the train.
Many travel companies to La tomatina operate out of Europe with most being based in London.
Here at PP Travel we strive to bring you the best possible La Tomatina experience on the planet with parties, transfers, souvenir t-shirts, tour guides and top quality hotels as standard in all our packages.
If you are thinking of heading to Bunol to pelt your mates with over rip tomatoes, then we hope you think PP and we hope to see you there.
Posted: 15 June 2010 11:13:20 GMT by Mark
Hogmanay in Edinburgh Safety Information
Here at PP Travel safety is always of the highest importance on each and every one of our tours. Luckly for us, in regards to our Hogmanay Tour, the council in Edinburgh provides the very best of medical and safety staff for the Hogmanay celebrations throughout the city and cover all the designated Hogmanay events.
- DO dress for the weather
- DO look after your friends
- DO arrange meeting points in case you become separated
- DO think about how you will get home after the Edinburghs Hogmanay Street Party, there are free buses running to parts of the city
- DO appreciate that bags may be searched for security reasons DO let a police officer or steward know if you see anything suspicious
- DO follow any instructions given out they are for your benefit
- DO listen out for announcements. In the event of an emergency, you may need to evacuate all or part of the event arena. You will be directed to the safest exit. Follow directions and leave as quickly and safely as possible.
- DO get to know where the emergency services are stationed (see the event map)
- DO arrive before 11pm, No entry after 11pm
- DON'T bring glass (including bottles) into any of the event arenas
- DON'T expect entry if you've had too much to drink you'll be refused
- DON'T bring children under 16 to the Edinburghs Hogmanay Street Party (events on 29, 30 December and 1 January are for all the family)
- DON'T forget your tickets you won't get into the ticketed arenas without them
G4S EVENTS has been supplying security and stewarding to the Edinburghs Hogmanay festival, including the Street Party since it began in 1993. Their first priority is to make it a night to remember for all the right reasons.
G4S personnel are responsible for entrances, thoroughfares and exits to help you enter, walk around the site easily and safely, and help you leave by the most appropriate route. They will check you have a ticket to manage the number of people entering the Street Party arena and to create a place suitable for everyone to enjoy the festivities. If they do not ley you in because you've had too much to drink, please remember, this is for your own safety not because we want to spoil your fun.
Look out for for the yellow jackets worn by the G4S staff which are highly visible and they will do everything they can to assist you should you have any need. Hogmanay organisers and Edinburgh City Council want you to be safe and enjoy yourselves and as such G4S staff will do their very best to answer your questions, help you out if you have a problem or point you in the right direction if you get lost.
Hope you have a very happy and safe Hogmanay, wherever you may be
See you on the 31st!
Posted: 13 June 2010 01:09:52 GMT by Mark
Royal Ascot 2010 - Race Listing and Times
Just in case you didn't know what races were running when over Royal Ascot here is the full line up including times, race names, prizemoney amounts and distances. We even list which TV channels to watch if you are unable to make it on the day but of course we sincerely do hope you are able to join PP Travel out at Ascot for the Royal festival.
FIRST DAY - TUESDAY 15th JUNE
BBC 2.30 pm - The Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) - GBP250,000 - One Mile
BBC 3.05 pm - The Kings Stand Stakes (Group 1) - GBP300,000 - Five furlongs
BBC 3.50 pm - The St James Palace Stakes (Group 1) - GBP250,000 - Old mile
BBC 4.25 pm - The Coventry Stakes (Group 2) - GBP100,000 - Six furlongs
BBC 5.00pm - The Ascot Stakes (Handicap) - GBP50,000 - Two and a half miles
ATR 5.35 pm - The Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed) - GBP50,000 - Five furlongs
SECOND DAY - WEDNESDAY 16th JUNE
BBC 2.30 pm - The Jersey Stakes (Group 3) - GBP80,000 - Seven furlongs
BBC 3.05 pm - The Windsor Forest Stakes (Group 2) - GBP125,000 - One mile
BBC 3.50 pm - The Prince of Wales Stakes (Group 1) - GBP450,000 - One and a quarter miles
BBC 4.25 pm - The Royal Hunt Cup (Heritage Handicap) - GBP100,000 - One mile
BBC 5.00pm - The Queen Mary Stakes (Group 2) - GBP90,000 - Five furlongs
ATR 5.35 pm - The Sandringham Stakes (Listed) (Handicap) - GBP50,000 - One mile
THIRD DAY - THURSDAY 17th JUNE
BBC 2.30 pm - The Norfolk Stakes (Group 2) - GBP90,000 - Five furlongs
BBC 3.05 pm - The Ribblesdale Stakes (Group 2) - GBP125,000 - One and a half miles
BBC 3.50 pm - The Gold Cup (Group 1) - GBP250,000 - Two and a half miles
BBC 4.25 pm - The Britannia Stakes (Heritage Handicap) - GBP100,000 - One mile
BBC 5.00pm - The Hampton Court Stakes (Listed) - GBP50,000 - One and a quarter miles
ATR 5.35 pm - The King George V Stakes (Heritage Handicap) - GBP50,000 - One and a half miles
FOURTH DAY - FRIDAY 18th JUNE
BBC 2.30 pm - The Albany Stakes (Group 3) - GBP70,000 - Six furlongs
BBC 3.05 pm - The King Edward VII Stakes (Group 2) - GBP150,000 - One and a half miles
BBC 3.50 pm - The Coronation Stakes (Group 1) - GBP250,000 - Old mile
BBC 4.25 pm - The Wolferton Rated Stakes (Listed) - GBP50,000 - One and a quarter miles
BBC 5.00pm - The Queens Vase (Group 3) - GBP70,000 - Two miles
ATR 5.35 pm - The Buckingham Palace Stakes (Handicap) - GBP50,000 - Seven furlongs
FIFTH DAY SATURDAY 19th JUNE
BBC 2.30 pm - The Chesham Stakes (Listed) - GBP50,000 - Seven furlongs
BBC 3.05 pm - The Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2) - GBP125,000 - One and a half miles
BBC 3.50 pm - The Golden Jubilee Stakes (Group 1) - GBP450,000 - Six furlongs
BBC 4.25 pm - The Wokingham Stakes (Heritage Handicap) - GBP100,000 - Six furlongs
ATR 5.00 pm - The Duke of Edinburgh Stakes (Heritage Handicap) - GBP50,000 - One and a half miles
ATR 5.35 pm - The Queen Alexandra Stakes (Conditions) - GBP50,000 - Two miles, six furlongs
Posted: 08 June 2010 12:26:38 GMT by Mark
San Fermin festival and the running of the bulls historical photo exhibition
From the 7th of May an exhibition is based on the camerawork view of the fiestas from the likes of Cartier-Bresson, Morath, Massats, Ubiña, Koudelka and other photographers has opened in Pamplona. Among the famous faces captured by the cameras you and find Ernest Hemingway, John Dos Passos, Deborah Kerr and Charlton Heston.
Until the fourth of September 2010, the exhibition of photos of Sanfermin fiestas down the years can be seen under the general exhibition title of "Fiesta." Eighty images from more than twenty photographers can be contemplated on the second floor of the Palacio del Condestable building in Pamplona. The personal viewpoint of the different authors on the fiestas is clearly contrasted in this exhibition. Koudelka, Morat, Masats and other photographers provide an insight into how the fiestas were during the decades of the fifties and sixties when the fiestas were not yet over-crowded and more indigenous, still waiting to be discovered by the globalised crowds of today.
This exhibition has been co-sponsored by The Government of Navarra and Pamplona City Hall through an agreement with the Instituto Cervantes. The exhibition has already been shown in different centers of the Instituto Cervantes around Europe.
If you are heading to Pamplona in 2010 for the festival of San Fermin this exhibition is not to be missed.
Posted: 05 June 2010 13:17:25 GMT by Mark
Edinburghs Hogmanay presents the most memorable midnight moment imaginable.
Friday 31 December
Midnight
Edinburghs Hogmanay signals the arrival of 2011 in spectacular fashion as the world famous fireworks and laser display lights up the skies above Edinburgh from the Castle and Calton Hill. As the bells strike midnight, join hands with 80,000 friends from all across the world in a mass Street Party rendition of Auld Lang Syne - all together now, ..Should auld acquaintance be forgot..
4.5 tonnes of pyrotechnics will light up the Edinburgh sky and signal the arrival of 2011 this December 31st, this is truely an evening that can never be forgotten.
The Edinburghs Hogmanay Fireworks are definitely best seen from a distance so its recommended that you select a suitable vantage point and don't attempt to watch them from directly under the launching points.
There is something for everyone at this years Hogmanay Festival with a superb line-up of artists offering a variety of musical and other artistic talents previously unseen at this most brilliant of events.
Check out the PP Travel website for our remaining great value Hogmanay Tour Options. Many accommodation centres are already full so avoid disappointment and book now!
Happy travels everyone, stay safe, and we hope to see many of you in Edinburgh for Hogmanay 2010/11 in December/January.
Posted: 20 May 2010 16:15:50 GMT by Mark
Pamplona - San Fermin Poster Competition 2010
Since 1881 posters have been used to announce San Fermin fiestas. In recent years the poster of choice has come from an annual competition. The competition is open to anyone and the poster of choice this year will be used worldwide as the official representation of the Sanfermin fiestas plus earn its designer near 4,500 Euro in prize money.
The process so far has narrowed the number of entries down from about 500 to just eight finalists. The winner will be voted by the people of Pamplona over a couple of weeks in early May.
Whilst the fiestas of San Fermin is now probably most famous around the world for the Running of the Bulls, the Bull Run was not included in the poster until the poster of 1895.
Here is the eight finalists for Sanfermin 2010;
