Plaza del Ayuntamiento

I came to San Fermin with a veteran friend so she knew we had to get there for opening day, and she knew we should get to Plaza del Ayuntamiento relatively early in order to see the kick off to the week long festivities. Half asleep after taking an overnight train, bus and taxi from Paris we pushed our way in our white outfits with a red sash into the square carrying the bottle of champagne, and box of sangria we had been instructed to buy. I literally do not think I've ever been packed in tighter than I was in that square for the opening ceremony. Whichever way the crowd swayed, we swayed too and I'm certain that at points my feet weren't even on the ground as I was just completely caught in the push and pull of the crowd. All around us people were dumping champagne and sangria on each other, while some others were also covered in mustard, ketchup and flour - but no worries, people on the balconies above the square were dumping buckets on the crowd periodically to clean them off - or add to the mess. Everyone was chanting songs in in spanish around us, then a fire work went off and everyone started pushing out of the square. If this sounds like complete chaos, then I've written the understatement of the year. On the other hand, if you're not claustrophobic this is a great experience and huge part of the festival and you should do whatever you can to check it out, just don't expect to be unbruised, clean, or dry by the end.