Mojitos and Transvestite Nuns

Getting off at La Latina was entering a different world compared to the modern, symmetrical barrio* of Prosperidad I had left ten metro stops behind. La Latina is an older neighborhood adorned with older, quirkier, and more colorful buildings, some of which don't even stand up straight. In other words: the ideal neighborhood for Halloween festivities. While in Prosperidad I caught sight of several H&M clad guys with scream masks walking casually down the street, in La Latina I was greeted by hoards of witches, devils, vampires, and other costume-clad folk ready to fiestar.**

Alice, the Queen of Hearts, and the Mad Hatter--me--made their way down the cartoon-like streets, in search of the bar. The inside was dimly lit and decorated with ghosts, spiders, spiderwebs, and jack-o-lanterns. If it hadn't been for the loud Castilian chatter (Spanish conversations are essentially competitions for the most powerful set of vocal cords), I would have thought I was back in the good old USA.

Despite the fact that many people questioned our costumes, I feel that we were original in the sea of all sorts of dead things. My glittery silver top hat seemed popular, considering people kept taking it off my head and trying it on, although I am convinced that half the reason people bothered to do that is because my head was conveniently at reaching level since I was generally below everyone else, being five feet tall. Some Irish guy was entertained by my teacup and kept asking me for tea.

The arrival of the transvestite nuns set the tone for the rest of the evening. I was very interested in taking a picture with them because their costumes were hilarious, so the inhabitants of Wonderland struck up a conversation, got a few pictures, and 15 minutes later, free copas*** as well.

Although Halloween is still a budding holiday in Spain, people dress up and get into the spirit as much as people in the states do. The main differences are that there are way less house parties, because Spanish social culture centers around public places, and there are absolutely no decorations anywhere. Walk into a bar on Halloween, and you leave the bland normal world outside and enter the demon underground.

...so when's Christmas?

*neighborhood

**to party

***drinks