Eger, Hungary

If it hasn't occurred to you yet, it should

Europe is in no shortage of Castles. 

And in Eger there is one of largest 

castles left in Hungary. 

Not only that though, but this

little city also happened to be on Cam's 

bucket list of places to see while here in Hungary. 

One for the castle and two for the tallest Minaret still standing in Hungary.

The Minaret is also the northern most structure remaining from the Ottoman period in Europe.

For those who don't know what Minarets are 

(me being one of them until I moved here but now I have seen TWO!) 

they are prayer towers put up by the turkish regime back in 

the late 1500's. 

Another day of discovery for our little crew.

The entrance to the castle grounds

Creed is standing on one of the outer castle walls over looking the city,  while Callan enjoys his spot on the cannon.

Cam was so thrilled to finally get to see this city and its sights.
Its really fun being able to share these things together.

ATTACK!

Mack and I found one of the castle's torture areas, we try not to dwell too much on what happens there
but these are boys I am raising after all so you can imagine how these conversations go. 

We found this area that used to have statues on all four corners, so our family decided to help them out with some temporary live ones. I am sure the historians at the sight were thrilled to see up there recreating it for them.

A family highlight for us all--minus Callan who for some reason didn't want a turn--was trying out some archery.

The burial site on the castle grounds of a famous Hungarian author Gardonyi Geza, who wrote one of Hungary's great Classics about the Hungarians defending the castle agains the Turks.
The boys are also showing off their much desired purchase after their archery experience.
Not as cool and lethal as the real thing, but you know what?
I am ok with that!

The MINARET! Which in case you are wondering for a small fee you are allowed to climb up the nearly
100 nauseatingly narrow and extremely winding claustrophobia inducing stairwell.
Maybe that was just me and Mack, but we went to the top looked down, walked the perimeter quickly and
couldn't get down and out of there quickly enough.
While the other three stayed up there awhile posing for pictures and giving me faint heart palpitations.
This thing is seriously old and decrepid and I really think Mack and I were the only logical ones in the group. 

the crazy ones at the top!

Our kids are really getting into photography and always wanting to take the camera from us and take our pictures instead of the other way around. So Cam and I are getting to enjoy A LOT lately of pictures being taken of us
 together--kind of nice for a change. 

My kids love that nobody cares in Hungary if you climb all over the statues and pretend that you are
fighting in the war with them. 

And like an respectable city they have a beautiful Basillica (Cathedral) that we also went into.