Eger and the missing camera

It's been my goal this year to explore more of Hungary beyond Budapest.  This fall I went to Esztergom and this spring I took a quick overnight trip to Eger.  Eger is about two hours from Budapest in northeastern Hungary.  The trip was to celebrate the birthday of my friend Megan.  There was just four of us.   Megan, myself, Beth, a mom from my classroom whom I enjoyed getting to know more and  Jennifer, our director's wife.

Of course every trip has a fun, memorable story to go with it.  We took an afternoon train from Budapest and got in around 3pm to Eger.  Megan had directions to our bed & breakfast.  It was about a 30 minute walk and we were all ok with walking rather than taking a taxi.  We started out.  It was a beautiful walk through this charming town.

View of Eger from the Castle

We followed the directions, walked past the castle, wove in and around the streets.  And ended up on a road leading out of town.  This is when we began to wonder if the directions were correct.  There we were 4 American women with backpacks and a suitcase along the side of the road.  We were thinking about what to do next and a car pulled up.  We flagged it down.   Inside we found a very kind, Hungarian man.  He spoke very little English, some German and of course Hungarian.  None of us spoke much Hungarian or German so it was interesting.  We got our point across that we were lost and looking for our bed and breakfast.  He took the address, got in his car and told us he'd look for it and be back to tell us how to get there in a few minutes.  So there we were standing on the side of the road waiting.  He did return about 3 minutes later.  Again the charades and broken language communciation took place between him and us.  We gathered that the place was in a different direction down and up a hill.  He said he called a taxi to come and take us.  We asked how much the taxi would be.  He said he was paying for it.  We were blown away at his kindness, and generosity to us strangers in his homeland. (Makes me think of how I treat visitors to America.)  While we waited for the taxi we found out that he own a garden/orchard outside of town with apple, and plum trees.  He also had a house in Budapest.   The taxi arrived quickly and before we hopped in I suggested we take a picture with our "good Samaritan" or "guardian Angel".   We did.  We even gave us his business card with e-mail to send him a copy of the photo.

(Insert picture with "good Samaritan" or "guardian Angel" here...keep reading...this is not a mistake.)

Away we went in the taxi on a short ride to our B & B.  We were thankful to be there and hoped out to meet our kind hostess, Judit.   We were quite warm and sweaty from our longer than necessary walk and all took a dip in the pool before heading out to find dinner.   

On the way to dinner we came across one of Eger's most famous landmarks, a minaret from the Turkish empire.  I reached in my purse for my camera to snap a photo and didn't find my camera.  

Eger Minaret 

Beth, me and Jennifer at the top of the minaret

But I began to wonder where my camera was.  Did I leave it at the B & B?  After thinking and looking later that night at the B & B, I realized that it was gone.  The last picture I took on it was with our "good Samaritan" before we got in the taxi.  I finally can to the conclusion that I dropped my camera in the back of the taxi.  I was sad when I realized it was gone and sad that we'd not be able to share the picture of our "good Samaritan."  

Megan & I at the top of the minaret

I didn't let it ruin the rest of our time that night or the next day.  I was disappointed to not be able to capture memories from my perspective but thankful for my friend's photos.

After seeing the minaret and getting a good, I mean GOOD, thigh workout from the 97 stairs going up and down to the top of the minaret.  The minaret is the northernmost from the time of the Ottomans ruled Hungary (Turks).

Eger Castle which was first built in 1200's

 The next morning, we left our B & B and headed out for a quick coffee and pastry in the center of town.  Then we went up to the Eger Castle for some great views of the city.  The region of Eger is the wine region of Hungary with rolling hills and vineyards.  We didn't have time to visit any on our short trip.

Views from the castle

Castle with Hungarian Flag

Then it was time to catch the 1pm train back to Budapest.  This short overnight trip was a much needed break and time of relaxing with friends.  

On the train headed back home to Budapest

Update on my camera:  It has not been recovered.  We tried to communicate with the B & B owner that it was lost.  Lots of prayers that the taxi driver would return it.  We even looked for the same taxi in the morning but never saw one even close to it.   I am grateful to many other who have cameras and have allowed me to use them or given me pictures as we do things together.  Loosing my camera has been a good lesson in trusting God's sovereignty and purposes.  It's reminded me that EVERYTHING, even lost cameras work out for his glory and my good, even though I may never know how.