Library

It was a beautiful day today – again – and we all made the most of it.

Our rooms here in Amerisa are pretty nice. They are small but efficient. There can be no wasted space because we are on an Island. The facility is also on the side of a hill. Most everything is on the side of a hill. The shower is small but good. We are used to small after being on the boat though. We do have air conditioning but it only works when the key is in its ‘slot’. Ditto on all the plugs. So, when we are gone nothing is on. Outside our room is the pool and it is only 12’ X 15’. Most rooms have a small veranda with 2 chairs and a small table. This small hotel has a one way street that is on three sides of it. The motorbikes, cars, 4-wheelers and small vans almost use it as a fun road that goes uphill. Thank goodness when we shut our windows the sound is cut out.

Sandy drove us to Oia (Ea) and we were lucky to find a parking place pretty close to the city center. The city has basically one path thru it with many connecting side areas and paths. We window shopped and shopped. The shopping in Oia is higher quality and higher priced items. Gretchen wanted to go to the ‘Fish Taverna’. It is at the base of the island below Oia. To get there one has to walk down (and back up) switchbacks. This is not an easy feat. It is WAY down. Took us a half hour or more to get down…….Will send a picture to show it. Our food items included a Greek Salad (always good) saganaki (fried cheese), eggplant dip (a stewed eggplant), french Fries (they seem to love serving fries with the best items), fried mussels in the shell (had a great sauce with it) and steamed mussels in a terrific broth. Of course they always serve fresh bread which we used for dipping in the broth. Was a great meal! Oh and the girls had sangrias and a couple of us had Mythos (the local beer).

Upon returning, Marsha and Diane decided to walk back up the “hill”. I had no desire to do that so Gretchen, Sandy and I rode the mules up. Mucho better! Of course there is a cost! six Euros. The mules are sure footed and are in great shape and well treated. Their ‘masters’ are full of fun (and comments) but very helpful. My calves hurt already from walking everywhere.

Sandy is doing a great job of driving. It is a challenge here and some of the roads we had to stop and pull in our side mirrors just to get by oncoming traffic. We are now back to Amerisa and a dip in the ‘pool’ to help us cool off.

Gretchen called and we headed down the ‘street’ (a path, a road, stairs, a driveway and another road to have dinner at a restaurant they ‘found’. After dinner Sandy and I walked to the walking area to window shop. We stopped in a very nice glass shop. The owner knows Gilhooly and we had a very nice chat and eventually bought some glass art as well as some Christmas ornaments.

Notes: It seems there are very few ‘smart watches’ but EVERYONE has a phone and they are always on it! Many tables near us in any restaurant have most if not all people on their phones. Example: a table of four in a family, all will be on their phones. (gross). A small hat – a straw fedora –  is popular and many men wear it. (no I did not buy one). Lamb…there seems to be a scarcity of any. The gyros are all chicken or beef, no lamb.

Sincerely, Ron and Sandy

You’ve got a restaurant treat to look forward to this week! MOD Pizza is giving back 20% to Friends of Ridgefield Community Library next Wednesday, September 1st. Enjoy a delicious meal which also supports a local Ridgefield cause at the same time! Show your support for Friends of Ridgefield Community Library by RSVPing here: https://grouprai.se/s189120 TODAY!

They need 60 people to sign up so they can make sure they have enough staffing.

In July 2021 the Ridgefield Library circulated 11,346 items compared to 2447 items in July 2020, a percentage increase of +363.42%.

This number may be a skewed because of COVID, but during a ‘normal’ July about 5000 items are circulated.

And isn’t it nice that the library is open on Mondays now?

Did you see the list of Cornerstone members of the Friends of the Library posted on one wall of the library? Would you like to see your name on that list? There’s still time to have your name included.

Write a check for $1000, fill out the Cornerstone form which you can get at the library, take or mail it to the library and your name will appear on the metal plaque that will commemorate our donors. Don’t delay – the list will be sent to the foundry soon.

Can’t come to the library’s Grand Opening celebration today at 10:30? Here’s a link to a video that gives a tour of the library.

We’re having a Grand Opening Celebration of the new Ridgefield Library on July 9 from 10:30 am to 2 pm! You’re invited to this outdoor celebration for all ages as part of downtown Ridgefield’s Main Street Day. There will be activities for kids throughout the event, including an art bar, a balloon artist, and strolling performers. Storybook characters will be in downtown businesses, and families and kids will get a passport that can be checked off if they go in and talk to the character. When the card is full of stamps, the family brings it back to the library for Main Street moola or a book from the Friends group.

Events start at 10:30 am with a flag ceremony and speakers, followed by the ribbon cutting, Foundation donor presentation, and music from Fort Vancouver Pipe Band.

Ridgefield Lions will serve hot dogs to the first 150 people after the ceremony.

I encourage you to attend. It’s been a long haul and we owe a big round of applause to the Ridgefield community for helping raise the money to build this fine facility.