Balkanology

Balkanology…how to describe Balkanology? Eastern European Themed Party. In Cape Town. In a circus tent. With lots of hippies. Drunk hippies. And accordions. In other words, a raucous good time!

I really had no idea what Stacey was talking to me when she asked if I wanted to go to an Eastern European culture festival with her. To be frank, it was less of a festival than a straight-up party, but that’s all right. I’d said I would go so we bought tickets in advance and then raided Stacey’s closet for funky, brightly-colored bohemian clothing. Apparently, anything goes at Balkanology.

We arrived at the tent to see lots of people in belly dance beads, tie-die and varying types of costumes. It was after 10:30 but the party was just heating up. Sounds of tubas and accordions spilled out of the tent and into the surrounding small tents that had been set up to host the alcohol sales. To add to the craziness, the theme of the night was Greek Mythology so large groups of people ran around in togas AND Stacey knew most of the people there from AfricaBurns (their version of Burning Man) so I kept getting introduced to people whose names I couldn’t hear over the music AND it was the night of a lunar eclipse so all the random crazies were in awe (at least when the clouds would clear for a few seconds at a time). “Woah. That’s not just me, right? I’m not that drunk. Yet,” was heard, followed by “Ek veet nie, ons is baie drunk.” (I don’t know, we are very drunk.) Also heard? “The moon goddess is retreating.”

Inside the tent, people rocked out to authentic Eastern European bands, though I didn’t catch what specific countries they were from. I didn’t quite know how to dance to the um-pah, um-pah beat, but no one else did either, so we all just sort of bopped up and down in place or formed groups and swung people around. It got rowdier as the night went on and more people crowded into the tent; eventually I experienced my first ever mosh-pit to polka music!

The verdict upon returning home at 3ish? Never boring, often hilarious, and very, very fun. If you’re ever in Cape Town and get invited to Balkanology, go! It’ll be an experience. :)