Eat Out to Help Out

 This is one of the Government's schemes aimed at helping the Hospitality Industry to get back on its feet, after being closed down for so long, by encouraging people to start eating out again as the 'lock down' rules are eased.

In the bottom right hand corner of the window there is a little round sticker which shows that this restaurant is participating in the scheme.  

Here is how the scheme works.

A wall in Amsterdam

Ruler of the waves?

Industrial Landscape (3) Amsterdam

Industrial Landscape (2) Amsterdam

Dropping the Pilot

This powerful, Hydro Jet powered, Pilot boat, has just come alongside and picked up the Pilot

 who has taken this cruise ship down to the North Sea from Amsterdam.

Autumnal Amsterdam

Three figures in a Cityscape.

Plymouth is not a city characterised by high-rise, high density building.

So when we sailed into Amsterdam recently I was quite struck by the scale of these people 

against the buildings.

Amsterdam (4) From the city to the sea.

Amsterdam is connected to Ijmuiden on the coast, by the North Sea by canal,

where you pass through the locks and out into the open sea.

The canal passes through one of the most densely industrialised areas in Europe.

It can feel like sailing through an L S Lowry painting   

Amsterdam (3) Bicycle City

Amsterdam is claimed to be the most bicycle friendly capital city in the world.

Judging from the thousands of bikes that are parked in the city centre during the working day, 

that would appear to be true.

Riding pillion.

Amsterdam (2)

After early morning mist, the sun shone on our time in Amsterdam. 

We were lucky enough to find some vantage points with views across the city.

Amsterdam (1) Up on the roof.

For the last week or so we have been cruising along the coast of Northern Europe.

Very early one morning, we had this marvellous one man welcome as we sailed into Amsterdam.