by Jack Baxendale
And now we're back, we can both reflect,
On a week end in Hamburg, great and perfect.
Welcomed with lunch, that tasted divine,
Appetites enhanced, with Auslese wine.
Very happy and mellow, with good intention,
Navigating 'one ways', to Hotel Pension.
From Dammtor, the U Bann, so cheap and so fast,
To a fabulous tour, round this port so vast.
The Captain chatted, in colloquial German,
But this mattered not, with one fluent Susan.
On dry land we searched, for good wine and food,
But map reading for once, wasn't good for our mood.
With perseverance, persistence, patience and skill,
We found a good pub, at the top of the hill.
The beer was so tasty, the music Viennese,
And the food - it comprised, of a mountain of cheese.
Saturday dawned, on the U Bahn we went,
To chic city shops, but no money was spent.
Through arcades, we witnessed so many heads turn,
To see the pink trews, and glam hair do - auburn.
The buskers were few, but the quality choice,
The lump in Dad's throat, it was breaking his voice,
Then noises were heard, of a large demonstration,
Protesting a census, each one of the nation.
Packed lunch was enjoyed, complete with boiled egg,
On Binnenaister landing stage, - Jungfernsti-eg,
Criss crossing the Alster, through myriad waterways,
Our eyes had a feast, of an idyllic maze.
The trip had to end, we must disembark,
The planning was spot on, it was next to the park,
A short stop to shelter, and have a quick beer,
Then a walk through the park, like any sightseer.
One thing we especially, wanted to see,
Was open air chess, but it wasn't to be,
Then back at the flat, on radio did hear,
The Final at Wembley, and Coventry cheer.
Richard we met, from't right side o' Pennines,
A fact celebrated, with Su's sparkling wines,
In the evening we ate, at the Friesenkeller,
And who should we meet, but an old English feller.
The menu - Friesen Zeitung was carefully perused,
An original layout, that kept us amused,
The choice was wide, decisions hard to take
But we all finished up, with Bernaise Schweinsteak.
Through Reperbaln's Red Lights, we were led like a lamb,
But Mum had seen better , in Dutch Amsterdam,
On Sunday to Mass, to join with creator
But the service didn't start, till 'zu viel spater.'
So taking the priest's, good recommendation,
We eagerly joined, another congregation,
Mein Gott! Mon Dieu! By Gad! Forsooth Sir!
It was the church of, of Martin Luther.
So back to the first one, returning quick.
Ecumenically enlightened, but still Catholic,
Then needing breakfast coffee, rolls and lunch,
The organised answer, - a super style Brunch.
It was coming to the end, of a perfect stay,
And Hamburg remembered, for many a day,
So thanks are due , to our daughter Hostess,
Vielen danke, Merci; from us both ----- God Bless.