Day trip to Tokaj

Tokaj (TO-kai) is a famous wine region in Hungary, located in the north east of the country.  We went for a wine tasting and to climb the small mountain - however, we could only manage the tasting.

Here is our entrance to the cellars, cut entirely by hand using chisels

and the beginning of the extravaganza, where we were seated at a large dinner table set and ready to go

served our first glasses of wine for dinner

  
which began with some trepidation due to the chill, but much anticipation for the event

and finally we set to work on the feast before us

 after which we were supplied with a tour of the cellar

 

and the kids ventured back up into the warmth and did what they could to pass the time

such as taking loads of pictures

and eating pizza

while the boys remained below, tasting

and tasting

and tasting - who knew there were so many kinds of wine down here -

and the girls tolerated the peaceful atmosphere

and found things to climb

and finally we bid goodbye to our hosts, the man who cut the cellars by hand, and his wife who does the cooking

and left with a cautionary tale from our friend who called himself Rambo about the effects of a lifetime of working in the wine cellar and on the fields.

...and Aggtelek above ground

We emerged from the caves and found trails leading up over the hill and into Slovakia.

Although the walk to the border was another several kilometers, being hungry and the day coming to a close we paused for some photos

had fun seeing where we had run around earlier in the day

and descended back to the visitor area where there is always something worth climbing

and retired to drinks aand dinner, preparing for the long trip back home.

And so, another dream is realized.

...and Aggtelek, at last

The trip was planned at least eight years ago, so it could be no wonder that we had absolutely no idea where to go once arriving into Aggtelek, the town. 

Luckily there were the signs we had counted on, which guided us into the cave region, where we quickly found the ticket cassa and a playground to relax on while waiting for the tour

eagerly awaiting our chance to descend into the mysterious small opening in the side of the rock.

Once inside, we experienced the 20 degree (F) drop in temperature and spectacular inner workings of Nature

with gladness for the natural electric lighting

and wonder over the exposed river

and hopefulness for the boat ride, which didn't happen

and marveling over the many optional paths which we did not pursue, this one being over 7 kilometers long and reaching underground, into Slovakia

until we came to the most curious spectacle of all, the Concert Hall - in which the yellow-clad guide in the bottom left orchestrated a light show, switching on and off spotlights on different parts of the 'stage', accompanied by ear-battering  national classics, the likes which would shatter wine glasses, had we the good sense to bring any.

And viewing the naturally alien figures for another several tens of minutes along our 1 kilometer trek

we slowly bid goodbye to the underground world, and emerged.

...and Slovakia

Our final stop of the day would be Aggtelek, but that was another good drive ahead, and brought us via 'shortcut' meandering through a wooded area in the hills - some protected, some logged -

and entirely un-escorted we happily explored, when the cell-phone suddenly chirped, letting us know we had entered Slovakia

 

and at some point, back into Magyarország (Hungary)

 which would be a difficult distinction to make, out here in the country, where old ways have persevered

amongst relics of the past

and curious luxuries of the present

and the traditional escape to freedom from daily toil, the weekend house.