Here is my poetic recap of our Viking Cruise, in honor of my wife, the Belle of the Boat. We started in wintry Amsterdam with no incentive to get off the warm tour bus, so we circled until our Anne Frank tour. There were ticket problems at the airport, but we did finally make it to Venice, also with less desirable weather. High winds prevented us from visiting Slovenia and Ancient Greece, but we did get to see Corfu, Santorini and The Parthenon, three bucket list destinations. We also made arrangements to cruise the Nile in 2020. It was a great adventure, but it’s good to be home.

Belle of the Boat 

Great direct flight,
We flew all night.
Greeted in Amsterdam,
With flakes of white

Hop On, Not Off,
No Red Lights.
St. Paddy’s Day,
Heineken Sights.

Anne Frank tour
Renaissance base.
Diary stories,
Hidden bookcase.

Then off to Venice,
With ticket snafu.
We paid again,
What else could we do?

My Bella Botticelli.
In a priceless frame.
Angels on your body,
Cupid take aim.

From the Hilton,
To Harry’s Bar.
Water Taxis,
There are no cars.

Grand Canal bridges,
But Soggy Gondoliers.
Pizza in the Piazza,
Gran Teatro Chandeliers.

Life vest drill,
Chef’s Table.
Panoramic views,
On a steel cable.

Belle of the boat,
Queen of the Nile.
Although that title,
Won’t come for awhile.

Walled cities,
Built at great heights,
Snow capped mountains,
Starry Starry Nights.

I feel as if I’ve been,
Dropped at Castleton Mall.
Souvenir shopping,
In an old Castle Hall.

Another church?
Croatian Charm.
What are we doing?
At a pig farm.

Mediterranean Mama,
My Corfu cutie.
Traveling with you,
Now my life’s duty.

Perched above volcanos,
White cave homes.
Santorini villages,
Blue church domes.

Weeble walkers,
Sunny deck.
Five-course dinners,
With no check.

Two ports short,
But Limoncello.
Too much Vicks,
On your sick fellow.

Sleepless nights,
Another cold, rainy day.
The Viking Band,
And fABBA four play.

My brown-eyed Athena,
Goddess of Love.
With special approval,
From Greek Gods above.

Parthenon Princess,
Winged Victory.
Forever together,
Like the Greek Key.

Love and Beauty,
My Aphrodite.
A superwoman,
With Powers mighty.

Gifts and Sacrifices,
To prove adoration.
Since I’m now retired,
And you’re on vacation

Grecian jewels,
For you, my dear.
Fourteen days,
To have you near.

Crystal clear Oyster,
Glass pearl.
Marble Columns,
Ancient Murals.

Stateroom cuddlin’
As the ship is rockin’
Lost two more hours,
So Don’t come knockin’

Traffic jams,
Athens is a Metropolis.
Modern Olympic venues,
Ruins of the Acropolis.

It went by too fast,
But more yet to come.
My Belle of the Boat,
From your lovable bum.

copyright 2018 johnstonwrites.com