Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Jason’s parents found The Ocelot, next to our hotel. The restaurant/bar had just opened a few weeks ago and owner Shaun, from Wales welcomed us immediately. The proximity, food and familiar faces kept us coming back each day or evening for a drink or meal.

This town is small enough that it doesn’t take long to start recognizing people on the street and everyone is keen on  becoming friends quickly. Now, like Norm on Cheers, when Bode walks into The Ocelot, people all say “Bode!”

On one visit, Shaun attempted to show Bode how to play backgammon. Every table had either a backgammon or checkers board painted on it. Bode is getting quite impressive at checkers, but taunts his opponents a bit too much.

The grandparents were sad that they missed Bode’s 5th birthday, so they planned a surprise party for him at the Ocelot. He’s got a shiny new bike and we can hardly keep him off it.

Jason and I had a night out without Bode, and guess where we spent the majority of it? And, when Jason’s parents left and we went out for dinner, Bode still begged to go back. Of course we had our regular places back home. But, it’s funny how after only a week in one city we can already have a spot where we are the regulars. Creatures of habit, I suppose.

A few nights there was live music, so we’d pop by to see what was going on. Bode was quite at home in this place and several times left our table to go speak with women at the bar. He finds the English speakers immediately, climbs up the bar stool and starts talking. We’re not sure what he says, but usually they laugh. Eventually, one of us has to go pull him away, but he’s really impressed his grandparents.