Halloween

Who would've thought that Halloween would be a big holiday in Colombia. It starts in September when restaurants and stores start decorating. The decorations go from a few pumpkins and silhouettes to way over the top with entrances, lights and costumed workers. About a week before Halloween, the parties start. The Colombians love their parties and these are no exception. Crowded, loud and going to the wee hours of the morning you can find numerous fiestas in apartments or in bars. There is Trick or Treating but it is mostly in the shopping malls. A great scheme by the malls to get people there and spending money. October 31st this year was on a Thursday, but that does not stop The parties here. The celebrations continued through the weekend until November 3rd. At school we didn't have classes on Friday, Nov. 1st. Everyone came in costumes. The administration, the faculty, the staff and the students. And some of the costumes were amazing. The thing that impressed me the most, was the groups that got together with themes. The morning was a carnival, followed by a soccer tournament followed by a water fight, with dismissal at noon. One thing we learned is that Colombians - or at least Bogotoans - take Halloween as serious party time. Here are a few pictures, mostly from school but a few from around town as well.

I don't know how many candles gave their lives
to form this decoration at a local restaurant.

This is the outside of the same restaurant

It looks like Karen and I are trying to be Goldilocks and the
one bear. That was not our intention, but I'll go with it.

Where's Waldo?

There were a couple more ghostbusters somewhere

batgirls?

A bunch of the juniors came as firemen

The SWAT team was there. 

The senior class dressed as construction workers
and armed with spray foam

The high school counselors

The soccer tournament