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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

River cruising for dummies

Written at the final port on our Grand European trip with Viking River Cruises. Posting a day late for Open Link Monday at the online writers' group Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.


Out of the fog looms Budapest


the jewel of the Danube, yes,


but I am glad I’m not ashore


with husband, friends, and others more


adventurous than I, because


I have a schniffle in my schnoz


and coughs and schneezes, ousch! galore,


a cold that needs not any more


help from weather wet as I −


we cannot even see the sky,


and there was e’en a skiff of snow


upon the decks above, below,


and in between, so that could mean


more snow to come at later hour


to trap me in some Pest-ish bower


across the stream from Buda, where                 


my ship lies warmly, safely there


beside the dock, beneath the bridge


with sustenance in cup and fridge.


Ashore I will not go today, in my cabin I will stay, to cruise again another day.

12 comments:

Susan said...

Got to love that warm sustenance. What a spot to float. Pictures?

Powell River Books said...

You're not supposed to get sick on a cruise, even if you can put it to verse. - Margy

Mara said...

I hope you enjoyed your cruise anyway, despite having the sniffles!

Norway so far is proving to be okay. I still need to do a lot of things and I am at a bit of a loss as to where to start. But I will meet my union rep today so perhaps he can shed some light!

Fran said...

Brilliant and funny! Made me laugh out loud xxx

Kerry O'Connor said...

I do hope you felt well enough to see something of Budapest - such an iconic city!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Clever. I'd stay put, too. In fact, I DO!

Kay L. Davies said...

Photos coming "soonest" which, in my case, means as soon as possible.
K

Lisa Ricard Claro said...

My father-in-law (Papa) traveled the world many times over and his favorite trip by far was the river cruise. He especially loved going through Germany during the Christmas season and took the river trip several times (I think he started in Amsterdam). My efforts to recreate grog for him were appreciated, but he always admitted that our kitchen, though it might smell of mulled wine, did not carry the same ambiance as a German village! I'm sorry you were under the weather, but hope you'll improve to enjoy the trip.

Margaret said...

A sniffling poet :) Rest does wonders and I'm sure you will be out and about soon. Just cant' wait for those photos!

Kay said...

Feel better, Kay. I was sick in Japan and I know what a drag it can be. If you rest and drink a lot of fluids, you can lick this thing and enjoy the rest of the trip.

Daryl said...

i love it even tho it chronicles you're ills

Jim said...

Excellent, Kay. Our daughter and family are having holiday in Prague this 'long' weekend.

Karen just sent nice picture of the little one swinging by the river. A few years ago Mrs. Jim and I ate at a little cafe on the river almost in the same spot.

We only spent two nights there, they will be for three. They went mostly for the Christmas markets.
..