From the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium

A four-part postcard.

Christmas Markets

(1st of January, 2025)

Belgian fries and moonless ale,
Fried Bratwurst and apfelwaffle,
Scotch eggs and hot dogs,
Mulled wine and apple crumble;
Sublime, indeed, divine ...
But Christmas day itself
Is meant for home and heart;
It is not the time
For family to be apart.
Delicious, cold and fun,
But missing neice, nephew and
The bright Australian sun.

Dordrecht

(28th of December, 2024)

The Venice of the Netherlands, supine,
Across the waters of the Beneden Merwede:
It is a city of a kinder time,
Away from all the haste,
Where feist and froth can fade.

Cologne Cathedral

(1st of January, 2025)

Stone on stone, soaring high;
Scorched by flame, a christened pyre.
This cathedral is simply huge;
Build for the magi who did bow
Before the greatest mage of all,
Who would all kings eternally rule.

In Brussels

(7th of January, 2025)

In Brussels we did walk quite slow,
Our journey, winding down at last,
And in cathedral, we did know
A time of praise with organ vast;
We tasted fries and sampled ale;
We ate a strawberry-chocolate waffle;
We purchased groceries on sale;
We heard the fireworks unlawful.