Why a Booktrail?
1995: A hedonistic journey through Northern Spain that will change lives forever…
The Last Fiesta
What you need to know before your trail
It’s summer 1995 and Dan Willis is living in Santander, northern Spain, trying to get his life back on track, when he receives an unexpected call from an old school friend and Gulf War veteran, Billy Wyatt, who wants to visit him. Unbeknown to Billy, Dan invites two other school friends to join them. It s a decision that will change their lives forever.
The Last Fiesta follows the friends hedonistic journey through the stunning Basque country, up into the Picos de Europa and finally to Pamplona, for the running of the bulls. But under the blistering Spanish sun, dark truths from the past emerge, and dreadful revelations entwine their lives in a way that will ultimately lead to disaster.
Travel Guide
Hemingway’s Spain
A journey and a homage to Hemingway: the group are following in his footsteps as they travel through Spain, Billy is even reading his Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises, and so doing a booktrail at the same time. He’s a sensible lad that Billy. As well as the trails of his books themselves, he and his friends are also exploring the themes of many of his books: violence, the impact of women on men’s lives and masculinity.
You might want to read Hemingway’s novel Fiesta before or after reading this novel
Santander
The city where it all begins. An some interesting coments on the political and geographical landscape of the past
Magdalena Straits
Gorgeous beaches but also where Republicans are said to have pushed some of Franco’s supporters off the cliffs during the Civil War according to the novel.
Pamplona
Since Bulls and bullfighting are so much a part of this story – apt then that the city of the Bulls – where the running of the Bulls (Feast of San Fermín) takes place in July should be their final destination. During this legendary festival which lasts for several days, bulls are led through the city streets by daredevil (or stupid depending on your view) runners. You can definitely get a feel for what it would be like to be running with the bulls and it’s makes for a few heart-stopping moments.
The city is also one of the main stopovers on the famous Camino de Santiago, the medieval-era pilgrimage route in the area.
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Last Fiesta
Author/Guide: Andy Rumbold Destination: Santander, Pamplona Departure Time: 1995
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