Rafa's Manacor ...

Woo-hoo !!! I'm back!! *wave*

Yesterday I found myself in the blue skies and sunshine of lovely Mallorca, and today I'm back to reality with a bump - chained to my desk with grey skies and horrid, fine rain that wets you through. And sporting a sunburnt chest and freckles, courtesy of a long, lazy lunch at beautiful Soller, washed down with a couple of glasses of Rosé. *cheers*

Whether you want it or not - hehe - I'll probably make a little post (with links to pictures) to describe mine and Rafan's little jaunt to Rafa's Mallorca, but I thought I'd start the resumé with a few words about Rafa's Manacor ...

How to be polite?? *giggle*

We know that Manacor is supposed to be rather industrial and is something like Mallorca's second biggest town. But if you're looking for culture, life and history, this place is not for you. However, for us, it was part of the "journey" of being a Rafa fan and as we were in Mallorca, of course we paid it a visit.

We had resigned ourselves to the fact that it was highly unlikely we'd come across Rafa, but on arrival, we made our way through the outskirts of Manacor to the Tennis Club ... via buildings and housing that looked like something out of a war zone and there was not a soul to be had. Good! I would have been terrified. ;) Pretty it ain't!! But eventually by the side of one of the main thoroughfares that skirts the outside of the town, there was the Club.

I don't know what we assumed, but I thought perhaps the Club also contained the "hangar-type" place we quite often see Rafa doing his hardcourt practice in, but it doesn't. Where that is to found, who knows?? But the Club is entirely made up of clay courts. To be honest, I did find it really rather interesting to be there at the place where it all started, where Rafa learnt his craft and where he started out to become probably the best clay courter we will ever see. And you can imagine little Rafa pulling that chain net to sweep the courts under the tough tutelage of Uncle Toni, with the mountains in the background and the sheer ... "smallness" of it all.


The Club does have a little restaurant, and we went in there for a Cola light and to look on the clay courts. Rafan asked the lady in there if they were expecting to see Rafa that day ... "noh, yesterday", was what she replied. No sightings for us then. It seriously is hard to imagine this superstar of tennis in such a simple, little Club ... but then again, this is Rafa we're talking about and its quite a thing to imagine him hitting there in practice.

From the Club, we then took less than a 15-minute walk into the centre of Manacor, towards the main square and the church, and where the Nadal family residence is located. Once again, there was nothing of note or to be impressed by when walking through the town. All the shops were closed, and there was no-one about. But the church is a bit of a landmark - because who can forget Rafa showing us his fitness regime on the balcony with the spires in the background? ;) - and so it was pretty easy to negotiate where the building is.

Frankly, Rafa and his family do live in what you can best describe as the nicest part of the town. And the restaurant at the bottom of the block is where we took lunch whilst looking on the small square. And then could you believe it!! ...

... Rafael Nadal came out of the apartment block door!!!

Erm ... Uncle Rafael that is. :D :D :D Fooled ya!! ;) Seriously though, it was him.


Hehe ... When Rafa says he loves to return home because there, he can just be himself and be bothered by no-one, trust me ... he can be. Nobody of any note ever goes there, and even Mallorca as a country has a very laid back attitude towards its biggest star. But the town more than likely never even gives him a passing look, and that's the way he likes it, and that's what's good for him. But then again when you've been to the place - as it is such a backwater - you have to marvel at the global ambassador that Rafa has become, and credit for him for having done so.

I took a few photographs, and the link to them is here. Manacor actually has nothing much to offer the casual tourist, and unless you're a fan of Rafa or have a passing interest, then the town just isn't for you. If you have any significant others with you, then I would suggest that they find other things to do whilst you take a look for yourself. But personally, I'm glad I went there, and glad that I have that memory now locked away in my picture book of my journey of being a Rafa fan.

The word "humble" does at times get a tad over-used, but from these beginnings ... a superstar of tennis was born. I hope you enjoy the read ...