THE WEEK CONTINUES

After sleeping on the 'chip" problem Sharon and I discussed it and decided we'd forgo the "age discount" and pay the regular amount so we could get our card and ride the bus and trams without having to buy a ticket everytime.  So we again walked to central station area and decided we should check on a train pass as well and since we arrived in that area first we dropped in to get information and hopefully purchase a pass.  Again, very nice helpful young girl who insisted we get the discount card which again requires one to know someone with a Dutch bank account and insisted we do that as not only do we save money they were running a big special which would result in an additional 22 Euro savings.  We walked out of there once again without tickets of any sort and the dilemna of what to do.  We could ask Theo, the owner of the flat we are staying in.  He's never met us.  He's an acquaitance of my son's and he lives in the states although he does have a Dutch bank account. Why not - I don't think so.  The other person we know  we haven't meet either but as with Theo we have exchanged a few email.  He was an exchange student and lived with a coupe that we know from our Sunday School class.  He does live in The Netherlands so we finally decided that we could   ask him and we coud pay him in cash for any amount deducted from his accoount.  We also have been told this is not ilegal.  So I have written to Erwin and made the proposal.  We have no desire to commit a crime while here (  even Sharon has put crime behind her) so I've asked Erwin to consider our proposal and do it only if he's comfortable with it and it is not illegal.  

As of today we are awaiting the result of that request.  I am going to call Erwin later because SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSharon and  I are now proud owners of an "unlocked" phone which we will be able to use throughout Europe.  It only requires we get a new SIM card in each country.  Getting the phone was not easy either.  We stopped at vodaphone and found that they could provide the chip and the plan but we needed an unlocked phone and they were only available at one of two stores Saturn or Media Markrt and they were located up by Central Station.  We finally found the Saturn store and asked for the phone department only to be told they were redoing it and phones were unavailable.  No problem, MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMedia Maaaaaaaaaaaaaarkt ( this is what my crazy keyboard is doing) is close by.  Oh NO!  We are told we must catch the subway from Central Station and go to the Media Markrt that is only an hour away.  Sharon had me google Media  Markrt and we found one closer which required us finding bus 39 and getting off at the second stop.  Fortunately I had shown the bus driver the street we needed to stop on because it wwwwwwwas one stop and not two.  We found the store, we were so proud of ourselves, and bought our phones. Went to Vodaphone and got service and we were ready to go.  The thrill of it all!  We had Sumsung phones.  Now I know how to use a mobile phone so I proceed to give Sharon a call and it rings and she hits the green reciever logo and hits it and hits it and hits it and hits it and nothing happens.  We cannot answer the phone.  I mean really!  We continue to try a few more times but it doesn't work.  We can text however so if necessary that will work but how silly to own a phone that can do everything under the sun but isn't a phone.  Oh dear, what can the matter be...

The next day we decided that we would go to vodaphone and find out what the issue was.  On our way we finally decided that we must stop by the gym and check into a short term membership.  This had only been on our agenda since arriving but some how  always ended up at the  bottom of the list.  Wonder if that was intentional.  Anyway we did find a lovely gym and the receptionist was so nice.  While introducing ourselves I happened to ask her if she owned a Samsung  phone and she did.  We told her our delimena and she showed us how to answer the phone.  You have too swipe it.  Just think of the laughter that would have gone on in the  Vodaphone store if we had gone there and asked for assistance.  The Dutch are so polite so I'm sure they would have waited until we left.  Anyway Jolynne showed us the basics of how to operate our new phone.  As for me I am so delighted to have three sets of emails instead of two to manage everyday.  I bet everyone out there is jealous.  

Besides these few major items, we have managed to work the wash machine, the dishwasher, the oven and stove.  Sounds simple I know.  One evening we had to bake our chicken because we couldn't get the gas burners to light.  We have now figured everything out.  Some problems were only solved by generally deciphering the Dutch instructions with the help of a little book we bought and the Itranslate app and of course our genius😊!

We've worked out, we've eaten out, and we've gad about.  A great first  week!

Just a random picture of me at the market.  I figured looking at all this print ,I just needed to break up the page. That's why I left in all the keyboard antics. Broke up all this writing!  

I should also mention before closing that we are in soccer country.  Everywhere you see Orange.  Even in our local bar.  Gooooo Netherlands!