A Story About Karma (2): Finding Lost Luggage And Happiness

This article is part of a series that tells a true story unfolding across two very different cities: Edinburgh, Scotland, and Çesky Krumlov, in the Czech Republic. This is the second part of the story, so if you haven’t read the first one yet, I’d recommend starting there before diving into this one.

In this chapter, things take a slightly chaotic turn: I try (and try, and try again) to get in touch with an airline that seems determined to be unreachable, go on the hunt for a suitcase that has apparently vanished into thin air, and, somewhere in the middle of all that stress, still manage to make Nina smile.

Organizing Ourselves To Get The Luggage Back

First Thing First

After making sure she didn’t feel guilty about the “nice” guy from the airport, I turned my attention to the lost luggage situation and tried to help however I could. My first thought was that we should mention it to the hostel staff and ask for their advice. After all, this probably wasn’t the first time something like this had happened to one of their guests. They might know exactly who to call or what steps actually work.

I also suggested that, since the airline had stopped picking up when she called, she try using my phone instead. Sometimes a different number is all it takes to finally get through to someone.

Finally, I told her that whatever happened with the suitcase, we could still make the most of the day together. I had my heart set on visiting the Camera Obscura & World of Illusions Museum. A friend of mine had been there and raved about it, and it sounded like exactly the kind of quirky, fun distraction we needed.

Let’s Solve This Lost Luggage situation

The woman working at the hostel reception area was very sympathetic, she said she would keep an eye on the deliveries to make sure she would get her luggage if it arrived. She also gave us some advice and wrote down Nina’s name. I was quite happy because, this way, when I would leave in the evening, Nina wouldn’t be alone in this.

I lent my phone to Nina, but it didn’t really work. She managed to speak to the people who were in charge of lost luggage, but they didn’t tell her anything new.

Focusing On The Positive: We Are In Edinburgh!

Camera Obscura & World of Illusions

We went to Camera Obscura & World of Illusions, and we had fun. It turned out to be exactly the kind of light-hearted escape we needed. Nina was wonderfully open-minded about the whole thing, always up for striking a pose or trying out the next optical trick. And we ended up with a whole collection of funny, slightly ridiculous pictures by the end of it.

I fully recommend this museum. It’s playful, a little mind-bending, and genuinely feels like stepping into magic for an hour or two. One of my favorite parts was a room designed so that one person appears to shrink into a tiny figure while the other suddenly looks like a towering giant standing next to them. It’s a small illusion, but it never stops being funny to watch play out in real time.

A Well-Deserved Break

I think Nina really needed to take a break from the drama and the anxiety. As we were finishing the tour, she received a call. We went out so that she could talk. Still the same luggage stories, but nothing new. She called her mother for a little while to explain the situation. Her mother said she would try to solve the problem.

Arthur’s Seat: Wild Wind, Big Smiles

After the museum, we set off to hike Arthur’s Seat. Despite the name, don’t expect a throne or a sword waiting at the top. In fact, it’s really just a stone. But getting there means climbing a hill against a wind strong enough to make you question your life choices along the way.

The reward, though, is a stunning view over Edinburgh. What struck me most is how, even though you’re technically still in the middle of the city, the whole place feels like untamed Scottish wilderness. The higher we climbed, the fiercer the wind became, until it felt like it might just carry us off the hillside entirely.

When we finally reached the stone, we took a few selfies, though staying upright while doing it was its own challenge. We literally had to hold onto the stone just to keep from getting blown over mid-photo. Our hair was whipping around above our heads, our cheeks were flushed red from the cold, and our smiles were as big as they come. It was chaotic, windy, and completely worth it.

Great News: Lost Luggage Located!

As we were going down the hill, Nina’s mother called. She had called the same people as us, but her English was perfect and she clearly had more authority because they had said that the luggage would arrive on the next day at the hostel. Just in time for Nina to start the hike without worrying.

In the evening, Nina was a thousand times more relaxed than she was when I met her in the morning. It’s crazy how much can happen in a day. And this girl who seemed so distant was now someone important to me.

We ended the day by visiting a church. When we got out, I said goodbye to Nina, I had to get my luggage from the hostel before taking my bus to Glasgow. She held me in her arms and it seemed like she was about to cry. She thanked me many times for my support and this great day. My heart was heavy to leave her alone, I felt very emotional, and I was glad that I could make a difference in someone’s life.