Is this the biggest character in Portugal with magician Luca Gallone?

 Meet Ruy, the owner of Black Cat's bar in Olhos de Agua

He's with BGT magician Luca Gallone (lucagallone.com)

 

 

Bars are always home to interesting characters and few are more interesting than Ruy, who at 62 (I am told) runs a little jazz bar  called Black Cat's in Olhos de Agua

He is dapper, and I mean dapper. He tells me he has friends in the fashion industry who post clothes to him. I can believe it. Olhos isn't awash with designer boutiques.

 

He's been very poorly. I understand he's had throat cancer. He's lost his voice completely but still runs his bar. How? He writes down what people owe him on a bit of paper. Simple!

The bar is ... well ....unusual.... he loves to decorate it himself and it's kinda quirky. Apparently he's renowned in the village for his heavy reliance on Sellotape. The cats, above, are part of the interior décor.... check out his tables and interior atmosphere. It is a tad dark!

 

My antiques addict partner reckons the art deco tables are worth a fortune. Ruy told us a friend gave them to him. Good friend!

The bar is not what you would call plush. It's tiny, Ruy plays music on an old music centre, sometimes nodding off on a quiet night. But he just loves people and, somehow, creates a very special atmosphere. People find themselves talking to complete strangers in his bar, making friends and returning night after night...

 

A friend who went there on my recommendation said: "I couldn't believe where you'd sent me! It was tatty and dusty with cobwebs....but we loved it.  It hooked us. We ended up going back every night. I joked to my husband that it must have been black magic!"

 

My neighbours did exactly the same. They couldn't believe it when Ruy told them to pay the next night because he'd run out of change. Of course they went back. Every night! And bought him a present next time they went to the village.

 

My teenage son, professional magician Luca Gallone, introduced me to Ruy.

"He's just such a nice person," he told me, "really generous and kind."

 

We went there one night and me, a person who is usually nodding off at 9pm, was still in Black Cat's at 2am one crazy October evening.... madness! But great. Especially for me.

 

Finally, check out this cocktail he made Luca. Chocolate buttons, squirty cream? Who knows but it made me smile... The world needs more Ruys ...