I first read about Vôňa Agátu / Locust-tree Scent wine festival in the English language newspaper from Bratislava. I get a daily email update highlighting not only the news, but cultural and tourism events. There was a bus sponsored by a tourism board on Saturday from Kosice making a tour of that area. I started thinking that we could use our free railroad passes instead of paying for the bus.
The flyer indicated that the events ran Friday through Sunday. We decided to try Friday since it might be lower key and easier to figure it all out.
We took the train about 1.5 hours each way and walked about 3km(less than 2 miles). This area is ethnic Hungarian. So most of the language is Hungarian rather than Slovak. I did pass my phone loaded with Google translate several times. First day attendance may have been limited due to several rain bursts and being a Friday. The community uses the hill for their wine caves/cellars. Some may be 500 years old. There were about 80 numbered on the map. Only four or five were open. The fellow, Csaba, cooking a pot of goulash, seemed to be heading the organization. He(or his wife who knew English) had answered our email inquiry earlier in the week. He was pushing the brandy thus the reason we came home with a bottle of quince brandy as well as two other of white wine.
The flyer indicated that the events ran Friday through Sunday. We decided to try Friday since it might be lower key and easier to figure it all out.
We took the train about 1.5 hours each way and walked about 3km(less than 2 miles). This area is ethnic Hungarian. So most of the language is Hungarian rather than Slovak. I did pass my phone loaded with Google translate several times. First day attendance may have been limited due to several rain bursts and being a Friday. The community uses the hill for their wine caves/cellars. Some may be 500 years old. There were about 80 numbered on the map. Only four or five were open. The fellow, Csaba, cooking a pot of goulash, seemed to be heading the organization. He(or his wife who knew English) had answered our email inquiry earlier in the week. He was pushing the brandy thus the reason we came home with a bottle of quince brandy as well as two other of white wine.
Epilogue: As we left we were asked if we were returning for Saturday. “No, we’re going back to Kosice.” I see now on the Facebook feed for the tourism board that the festival was very well attended on Saturday. Lots of families viewing cultural activities, with many more food and wine booths. And no rain!
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