Sept 16, 2010; 15.30; outside the Ij Kantine, Amsterdam North
Had lunch today at a very nice place in Amsterdam North, right on the harbor, called the Ij Kantine. It's a very pleasant (and free) 15 minute ferry ride from Central Station. A lot of boats are docked and moored in front of the place but this is the most unusual. It's Russian submarine B80, a Foxtrot submarine in the Zulu class. It was built in Riga and launched in 1956. Some entrepreneurs purchased it and brought it to Amsterdam with all kinds of plans, none of which materialized. The Turkish company that now owns it would like to sell it as scrap metal but have been unable or unwilling to put down the €1,000,000 bond necessary to export it for salvage to ensure that it is taken apart according to EU environmental and safety regulations. In the meantime, here she lies, a fascinating reminder of the Cold War. I must one day get a dinghy, climb up there and see if it's possible to get inside.
