December 4, 2010: Tokaj

December 4, 2010: After getting up, Jack and I went to the local McDonalds to meet Ric for breakfast. On the way, we passed some of the beautiful buildings of Nyiregyhaza during daylight hours.

Nyiregyhaza

We had a leisurely breakfast after which we went to the train station to meet Kent who decided to join us from Ujszasz, a small village not far from Budapest. 

Since it is only a thirty minute train trip away, Jack suggested that we all go to visit Tokaj, the primary winemaking village of Hungary. I quickly agreed to go since many of my friends have told me how quaint Tokaj is. 

We met Kent, walked to Jack's apartment to drop off his bag there, and returned to the train station to catch the next train to Tokaj. The trip north to Tokaj roamed across flat fields and ended where the Tisza and Bodrog Rivers merge. 

Tokaj Train Station

This is the prime region in Hungary where the Tokaj grapes are grown. The hills there are terraced with grape vines extending from the bottom of the hills to the top. The picture below shows this (although I'm afraid that the light was bad when I took the picture so you can't see it clearly in my picture)

Grape vines extend from foot to top of Tokaj hills

It took several minutes to walk from the train station to reach the Tokaj main thoroughfare where the streets were graced with very quaint shops and churches. Note the osprey nest on top of the school in the first picture.

Tokaj school -- note osprey nest on top of buidling

Tokaj

Tokaj

Tokaj - note building under renovation covered with pictured siding

Tokaj

Tokaj wine tasting shop

Tokaj

Tokaj

Tokaj

 After roaming down the street, we found a nice German restaurant where we had lunch.

Jack, Kent, and Ric at lunch in German restaurant

German restaurant

After a nice lunch we returned through the street of Tokaj to catch the train home. By the time we left the restaurant, it was already turning dark. It seems to get dark at 4:00 p.m. It will be nice when December 21st comes and days become longer again!

Tokaj

After returning, we talked for quite a while at Jack's house after which we walked Kent to a hotel. On the way back to Jack's apartment, I saw the Nyiregyhaza church lit at night.

Nyiregyhaza church

Nyiregyhaza church