Of the many American exports abroad, Halloween has to be the most revelatory, and I am proud to be a seasoned celebrator of the day. Even since 2005 when I first lived in Europe, I am amazed at how this holiday has burgeoned - bringing along the jack-o-lanterns, creative costuming and parties that can do little but spread some ghoulish amity. Plus, it provides a nice juxtaposition to the somber All Souls Day on November 1, a holiday that I blogged about last year and one I think we should import back to the US.
This year I threw on a flapper costume, dragged Mike out in his "Texan" costume and went to an amazing party at an old mansion on Andrassy ut, one of the most famous drags of the city. The Colorado-native host (who went as a pharaoh for the evening) is Mike's business associate, and he opened his whole building for the occasion. There were cobwebs galore wrapped around the four-story building's giant antique stairwell and a spooky darkened entrance with fake smoke billowing out into the street. The floors were covered by chalk outlines of bodies and eerie messages were spelled out in blood on the mirrors - this, complete with karaoke on one floor and a DJ and filled dance floor on the other, made it quite a blowout.
One of the truly eerie elements of this evening is that the offices in which the party was held also used to be headquarters of both the Nazi and Communist parties. It is situated right next to the Terror Museum, also part of the former headquarters, which is now a museum dedicated to the grizzly aspects of the former reigns. Our host told us that there are even still prison cells in the basement. Also, he showed us the secret panels in his office which hide SS safes. This may be my only Halloween party I attend in what I'm sure is a bona fide haunted house.
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