Beautiful Europe

Ah, Europe! What a place!

We heard your beckoning call

And opened up our hearts--and wallets--

Eager to embrace your all.

 

The lush “Pfälzer Wald” of Germany

Is gorgeous beyond belief.

Enchanted forests everywhere--

I loved every leaf.

 

We took the train to Amsterdam;

Man was it a riot!

Marijuana shops galore.

And, NO, we didn’t try it.

 

The Anne Frank House is a must.

But wow, what a shock:

Bicyclists are ubiquitous,

So watch out where you walk!

 

Next stop on the Rhine: Cologne;

You cannot miss the “Dom”

And Roman ruins throughout the city--

You won’t find those at home.

 

After stopping in Koblenz

We continued up the Rhine.

Think three things: the Loreley,

Castles, and great wine.

 

Lovely Heidelberg was next--

A truly gorgeous town.

The setting from across the bridge

Is among the best--hands down.

 

To Wertheim then we made our way,

On the lovely Main,

And had cake in a German home!

Was that not divine!

 

On to Würzburg--our next stop.

The Residenz was grand.

And Franconian wine! I asked myself:

Is this the promised land?

 

Lovely Rothenburg was next--

A town that’s quaint and charming.

The torture museum was, however,

A little bit alarming.

 

O Bamberg, city on seven hills,

I’d be insincere

If I didn’t say how much I liked

Your pastries and smoky beer.

 

In Nuremberg we saw the court

Where the famous trials occurred.

And for bratwurst and the gingerbread

I’ll put in a good word.

 

The Danube Gorge near Kelheim

Was a marvel to sail through,

And the Weltenburg Monastery nestled there

Is famous for its brew.

 

As Germany’s oldest medieval town,

Regensburg is renowned.

And that’s where the country’s oldest Roman

Bridge can also be found.

 

Passau on the Danube River

Was an elegant town to behold.

In fact, all sights along the rivers

Never once grew old.

 

The Abbey in the town of Melk

And Austria’s Wachau Valley:

Such captivating places as we

Neared the trip’s finale.

 

Vienna"such a classy city--

So much to do and see:

Palaces, cathedrals, parks...

That’s the place to be!

 

Our trip is now a memory;

What’s more, it didn’t break us!

Now that we have the wanderlust,

Who knows where it might take us?

(6-11-14)