I
We’re traveling east on IcelandAir
To the country where summers are fair.
First, two weeks in Finland
To travel east inland.
We’ll be traveling with family “Bear.”

II
Helsinki
A relaxing day at the hotel,
Due to jet lag, wanted to rest well.
Sit in our room to plan.
Tuesday, see policeman
To renew passport. It will be swell.

III
The police station is very cool.
We stood in line and followed the rules.
They renew passports here.
Their instructions are clear.
All settled and we’re nobody’s fool.

I need a sim card for my cell phone,
To “R-kioski” store we will roam.
Online I couldn’t pay.
In person, I will say,
“I hope the cost is not overblown.”

IV
Tonight we met Jussi and Anja.
A lovely dinner and no drama.
At Lucy In The Sky
All was great, my oh my.
We talked about travel and opera.

V
At dinner with the Uusnakki clan
We talked bout lots and my birthday lamb.
Dinner this time we knew
Would be equal to few.
Meeting again next year is the plan.

VI
Lappeenranta
Tapani drove to Lappeenranta.
In the back sat Anne and Erja.
Empty road was magic,
With no Russian traffic.
We went to meet Pepe and Raija.

Lemin Särä was my birthday feast.
It was a short trip coming from the east.
Just potatoes and lamb.
It was really moist . . . Damn!!
Full bellies and no one was displeased.

VII
Pepe and Raija had a great brunch
For all six of us in our bunch.
Then coffee at train station.
A cute, old location.
Left quickly ’cause the rain had a punch.

Small town, Hamina was the next stop.
A small apartment, the backdrop.
Visit godmother Miku.
We stayed for just a few.
Then off quickly to Lohja nonstop.

VIII

Lohja
Today was a big cousins party.
Silvonens didn’t party hardy.
First, tour the large Manor.
Two sisters were planners,
Over 20 was the total body.

Pippa created a family tree.
In Excel, she did it for free.
It was 10 meters long.
All correct, nothing wrong.
Good family records are the key.

Iiro plays like he’s a mechanic.
Under the car is very dramatic.
He has all the right tools
And he follows the rules.
His methods are always systematic.

IX
On the houseboat, it’s a cloudy day,
Chilly, but better than yesterday.
For Erja and I
We cannot be shy
We like this better than a workday.

Heading now Northwest into the sun.
In the sky are some clouds almost none.
The cabins by the shore
Are hidden even more
By the veil of light green natures done.

X

Helsinki
Jaska, Tuija met us on Lohja.
They’re very kind to drive us. Voila!
We checked into hotel,
To a room where we’d dwell.
Then to dinner at “Olivia.”

XI
Heidi and Juha met us for food.
We all had fish and talked as we chewed.
Anne got her passport
Needed for next airport.
She’s in great shape now for next trip, dude.

XII
Tonight we went to a Czech restaurant.
Good food that anybody would want.
Our friends came from Espoo
Just to meet this duo.
Time with Katri and Tapsa was pleasant.

XIII

Lahti
We boarded a fast train to Lahti.
Anne’s wants to see everybody.
Leena met us for lunch,
And we talked a great bunch.
El Toro steak was very hearty.

Samppa and Anne drove us around.
My Anne’s house and both schools we found.
Red Bull sponsored a race,
Up the ski jump they chased.
The great effort to climb was profound.

XIV

Helsinki
We shopped for more chocolate and candy.
The K-Market is very handy.
One for me, two for you.
For that we’ll take a few.
All this shopping makes me quite happy.

The dinner at Notes was fantastic.
The foods were all a Finnish classic.
Mirja and Pauli
We greeted them warmly
And sat for an evening nostalgic .

XV

Espoo
Sana and Jussi live in Espoo.
With Adam, family is larger though..
Great reindeer stew was served
And Adam we observed.
He’s active and put on a good show.

XVI

Helsinki
We met Liisa and Hugh at airport.
On our way to Lisbon, check passport.
When there, we got a car
To Porto which is far.
I cannot tell if it’s a seaport.

Porto
Hotel was really hard to get to.
Streets were narrow, for cars only two.
Hotel in the middle of town.
Many things upside down.
Many plants sideways and the pool too.

Dinner at Wine Club was Portuguese.
Empanadas, tuna, duck, Yes, please!
The wine from the Douro
Put on the greatest show.
Later we had cake, Hugh, Liisa cheese.

XVII
We walked for 2 hours in Porto.
We had a hard time uphill also.
We stopped for a short drink.
We had to stop and think,
We thought next time we’ll take an auto.

We all met for dinner at seven.
The sea bass selected was heaven.
Calamari was great.
Then the peppers, no wait.
But dessert was out of the question.

XVIII
Yesterday, World of Wine was WOW.
The wine info was great. Holy cow!
Our lunch was amazing,
Each dish we were praising.
Then up the hill we go for port, now.

There was a short walk to see Taylor.
A place to visit, the WOW neighbor.
After the short intro,
You got too much info.
Thank goodness the tasting was later.

Dinner was a short walk from hotel.
They were rated 4.9 as well.
The menu was tapas.
We made quite a ruckas.
Just a few small bites and wine as well.

XIX
We just sat on the deck and relaxed.
Our long walking and moving was maxed.
At Wine Club we had food.
We enjoyed all we chewed.
And 2 bottles of red wine we axed.

Douro
XX
We all celebrated Marinell.
Being with our fond friends was just swell.
Villa was more than fine.
We all drank lots of wine.
Food was great and the cod did not smell.

XXI
We spent all Sunday at the best pool.
The sun was hot and the water cool.
We had gin and tonics,
And tunes with harmonics.
But the white cake and champagne did rule.

XXII
Today we all watched the forest fires
Under control by fire fighters.
It will be a hot day,
In the pool we will stay.
We’re happy as pool noodle riders.

XXIII
We all watched wildfires again today.
They’ve been going since early Monday.
The smoke was very thick.
Stay inside was the trick
Watch movies, the hours wile away.

XXIV
Cleaning pool was on the agenda.
Pro Angelo was the right fella.
The men chatted with him
As he vacuumed and skimmed
The Mark and I fixed the umbrella.

XXV
There once were four men in the kitchen.
What they were cooking came from chicken.
We all had eggs to eat
It was a special treat.
The clean up was done by the women.

We went to Covela winery
All their wines were white; but not for me
The firefighting planes,
Then the passenger trains,
And the river cruise ship added glee.

XXVI
While most of the group were out to roam,
Anne and I were in the pool at home.
We all made leftovers,
The roamers and loafers.
It was the best must-go dinner known.

XXV
Lisbon
Drive to Lisbon on a narrow road.
One lane, two cars, there’s no traffic code.
Meet our friends at the pool.
We eat at someplace cool.
Great menu there and taste buds explode.

XXVI
We had lunch at the Time Out Market.
The cool wine shop was our first target.
Three whites and two great reds
Ham, and cheese with no bread.
The bill was easy on the pocket.

Then we went to fabulous Pink Street.
The party had music with a beat.
We sat in a cafe
Not very far away.
The atmosphere was classic and sweet.

The waterfront was off the large square.
There was plenty to see; we walked there.
We sat for a short while
And I said with a smile.
How about another drink to share.

XXVII
Too tired to write a rhyme today.
From Lisbon to Boston on Wednesday.
Eight hours gate to gate.
Then a three hour wait.
We’ll get home sometime early Thursday.