Every springtime, households across the U.S.A. take advantage of the warmer weather to clean up a little and get rid of unwanted stuff, perhaps making a few bucks by selling their old things to the public – and here in Budapest, the American Embassy continues this time-honored tradition with their own property sale next week. Although the U.S. Embassy’s “garage sale” won’t take place at their historic headquarters overlooking Szabadság Square in District V, we reckon that some of the items on offer will reveal rare glimpses into life within one of Budapest’s most heavily barricaded buildings.

According to the U.S. Embassy’s official website, items on sale will include many pieces of office furniture, including desks and conference tables; who knows what kind of momentous discussions took place among envoys and experts sitting at these work surfaces? Perhaps these dignitaries signed consequential pacts during these meetings – if so, such dramatic documents may have been stored in the filing cabinets that will also be available, while the property sale’s IT and telecommunications equipment might’ve been used to send top-secret encrypted messages back to the White House or the Pentagon. Indeed, any shopper with an active imagination could conceive of a fascinating Budapest-based political thriller while perusing the embassy’s secondhand goods… and, although they’re less exciting for daydreaming conspiracy theorists, the merchandise will also feature garage-sale classics like kitchen appliances and gym equipment – but perhaps a bug might still be planted in one of these seemingly innocuous items?!?

Also in the spirit of springtime sprucing, Hungary’s U.S. Ambassador Colleen Bell (pictured above, center) participated in the planting of a new tree this week in Szabadság Square right in front of the American Embassy to celebrate Earth Day – might this be in preparation for another hallowed tradition of spring in the U.S.A., a garden-party barbecue out in the lawn? We certainly hope so – if we get an invitation, we’ll bring hot dogs!The property sale will be an open auction in Hungarian forints (cash only), taking place on Wednesday, April 29th at the U.S. Embassy’s General Services Offices (District XIII, Apály u. 3); from 8am to 9:30, the public is welcome to view all items for sale, with the auction commencing immediately after the viewing period. Check out the official website for more information and conditions of sale – but there are no warranties or guarantees offered for any items purchased, so even though Uncle Sam is hosting this garage sale, don’t forget: buyer beware!