360-degree photos are in Flickr.com (taken with my LG 360).
I was planning to take a boat to see the windmills at Zaanse Schans then figure out what to do. I already started out late because I was getting organized and trying to figure out what to take along with me.
Getting a sim
Along the way, I found a farmer's market but I didn't want to carry purchases with me all day. But one if the stalls sold phone sims and I chatted with the merchant who was talking with a friend on a wheelchair. Their language sounded Arabic. The merchant showed me the different options and he answered my questions about data allowances and whether it would also work in Belgium. For some reason, as I was removing the back panel of my phone, he said it might be better if I went to a phone shop, where they can help me better. That was surprising, but appreciated.
As I headed towards the ZansHopper dock, I found a TMobile store, whose rep recommended a Lebara sim, which was one of the options at the farmer's market.
Further down towards the dock, I found a phone repair shop, and they had Lebara and Lycamobile. The rep recommended the Lycamobile.
Anyway, I got a sim with both data (1GB) and voice (€20 worth for €10). And if I went.
Tasty brunch
Somewhere between the farmers market and TMobile, I had brunch at a little sandwich place at the avenue on either side of the nearby canal. I ordered the "hot chicken" and asked what went with it. The clerk was nice but she didn't speak English so she was mostly gesturing while speaking in Dutch. But I figured that "brod" meant "bread".
The chicken tasted somewhat like curried chicken and it was surprisingly very good! With a bottle of water, it was only €6.
The weather decided
Anyway, I couldn't find where the boats docked. There was a sign but it pointed to a dead end. It was drizzly anyway, so I decided it was a good day to hit the museums.
I took the train to Amsterdam Centraal, then a tram to Van Gogh Museum.
The ticket cashier dissuaded me from getting the pass for all museums for €60 because it wasn't worth it if I would only see a few museums. It amazes me that people look out for you.
If it weren't for the crowds, it would have been an absolutely great experience. And my legs were hurting too, so I think I sat at every bench I could find.
There was a section that showed pictures of Van Gogh's brother Theo and sister-in-law Jo, and a realization gave me a shiver. I thought they resembled Jon and me when we were younger. More the combination of flavors, if you can call it that.
Anyway, it took me at least three hours through the crowds. I listened to the multimedia tour for the spots I missed before returning the player.
I decided to have something to eat at the museum's cafe since it was already the middle of the afternoon. I had yogurt with pureed raspberry and granola, a very delicious flaky rectangular pastry stuffed with ground meat (sausage), and a little brownie (sans marijuana).
It was raining when I crossed the Museumplein for the Rijksmuseum. I still stopped to take pictures of people taking pictures at the I amsterdam sculpture.
The Rijksmuseum was closing in half an hour (17:00), so I decided to come back another time.
There was a brick road that ran under the gorgeous castle-like building, where the entrances were. When I came out, I heard classical music being played at the opposite sidewalk., So I walked over. There was a quartet of musicians. Long story short, I was sold three CDs.
Dinner was from easie back at Zaandam. Thai green curry noodles, mango smoothie, and a bottle of water. The noodles were too spicy and had too little meat. The mango smoothie was good though. A nice reward for what I put my legs through.
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