Debrecen

Tuesday 31 May

This morning we went to school with Daniel and Amanda and met their grade 2 English class.  We arrived halfway through the lesson when they were outside drawing pictures on the ground with chalk.  They all introduced themselves and then we said hello back and, usually, how are you?  We got various responses from "I'm happy" or "I'm happy and sad" and one little boy told us "I'm crazy".  Funny kids.  Daniel took the rest of Derek's birthday cake over for them to share.  They all sang happy birthday to Derek first in English, then in Hungarian and then tucked into the cake.  They then had their morning break which consisted of two huge hunks of bread with meat inside, which is provided by the school, and then they had their own snacks of chips or similar.  Lunch is provided by the school and consists of soup, followed by pasta and then dessert which could be fruit or cake.  They seem to consume huge amounts of food for 8 year olds.

Photo of Grade 2 class with us

Then just after lunch we got in the car and drove to Debrecen which is about an hour's drive away.  Debrecen is a town of approx 200,000 and is Hungary's second largest town.  There has been a settlement  here since Roman times and it has always been an important market town.  Its central square is pedestrian only, although Daniel did drive down it for a short distance before we realised we shouldn't be there and did a u-turn and found somewhere legal to park!

We visited the Calvinist Reform Church which, while it was not in anyway ornate, had an elegance to it.  Derek and Amanda walked up to the top of the tower and Daniel and I had a look at an exhibition of religious paintings.  The day had really warmed up by this stage so we stopped for a cold drink.  It was all in Hungarian and we didn't have a clue.  However, there was a section for Liminade which had a number of different drinks on it so I pointed at one and hoped for the best.  It was lemonade with a dash of bitters and chopped up citrus fruit floating on top.  It was really refreshing.

Kossuth ter and exterior of Calvinist church

Interior of Calvinist church

Shops in Kossuth ter