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Polaroid of the Week: My First Thrilling Halloween in the USA

Polaroid of the Week: My First Thrilling Halloween in the USAWe postponed our flights to Chile by a couple of weeks, which gave me the perfect opportunity to experience my first Halloween in the United States. Halloween isn't traditionally celebrated in Germany—though it's gaining popularity there—and it's not a big deal in Britain either. I was thrilled to dive into the real American tradition, even if Jess insists I'm too old for trick-or-treating.

In Chicago, the city came alive with Halloween spirit over the past few weeks. Front yards featured spooky cemeteries, ghosts, and zombies, while beautifully carved pumpkins adorned windows and doorsteps. Last weekend, our friends Megan and Kate hosted an unforgettable party, transforming their apartment into a chamber of horrors. Highlights included a bathtub filled with "blood" and a flying ghost—some of the most impressive decorations our guests had ever seen. Costumes were a hit: my "zipper face," a troll, pirate, mouse, piñata, witches, a peacock, and our hosts as the iconic Grady Twins from The Shining.

Today, we're heading to New York City for the legendary Halloween Parade tonight—then it's time to travel south, as Chicago's chill is setting in.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

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Tourist Attraction
  • Polaroid of the Week: Stuffed Boar s Head at Lucca Market, Tuscany, Italy

    During our travels through Central America, weve encountered unusual market scenes—like baskets of live iguanas tied and ready to cook in León, or fried grasshoppers alongside the final squeals of pigs in Oaxaca. Yet nothing quite matched this discovery! Wandering through a vibrant market in Lucca, Tuscany, surrounded by fresh olives, global sea salts, and fragrant rosemary, we came upon a stuffed boars head proudly displayed at a delicatessen stall, nestled between olive oil and Chianti wine.

  • Polaroid of the Week: Dodging Hurricane Ernesto on Mexico s Caribbean Coast

    Hurricanes have become a recurring adventure in our travels. Since hitting the road full-time in 2010, weve encountered one every summer. Two years ago, on Ambergris Caye off Belizes coast, we arrived just as Hurricane Matthew loomed. Locals boarded up windows, ferries shut down, but it weakened to a tropical depression before striking. We rode it out safely in our hotel. Last year, en route from New York to New Orleans, Hurricane Irene forced a scenic detour through the Blue Ridge Mountains,

  • Polaroid of the Week: Ringing in 2017 from Vibrant Berlin

    Happy New Year from Berlin! My first Polaroid of 2017 comes from Berlin, Germany’s dynamic capital. After family holidays, I arrived for work and catch-ups with friends, but wove in exciting activities—like revisiting the city’s enchanting Christmas markets after over a decade away. Though recent tragic events cast a shadow, I adopted Berliners’ resilient mindset: “We won’t let fear spoil our holiday joy,” as crowds continued flocking to the markets with spirit intact. Besides markets, I bar-ho