MAC in Monte Carlo

How do you sum up the best of weeks in a few short paragraphs? Somewhere between "I saw him play and win 5 matches" and my full day by day blog is a happy medium that should just fit nicely on this page.

For those of you who have never been to Monte Carlo I'd have to recommend taking a good GPS system with you to negotiate the Escher painting that is the road system. This will also come in handy for finding your room if you decide to forego eating for the rest of the year and stay in the Hotel Hermitage. Failing that tying string to your bedroom doorknob and unravelling it as you go is the only surefire way of finding your room before daybreak. Pack a decent pair of walking shoes if you don't like sitting in traffic jams at the end of a long day watching tennis. If you can stretch to the kind of wardrobe that is very light, doesn't crumple and keeps you warm if it gets chilly as well as cool in the noonday heat then you will have a more comfortable time of it.

Get to the point, I hear you say. If this is a summary then cut the scene-setting and tell us about Rafa. I think that pictures will be quickest.

The doubles was fun as a starter.

The main course has to be the singles though. On the practise courts he could be almost anyone. Except that not everyone has people clambering over each other to get a glimpse of them. You don't need a list to tell you who is practising on what court. Just follow the crowd and listen for the grunts. But when he steps out of the door to go to the court it's a whole different person.
To watch him play on clay is pure joy
And then there's the towelling down and drinking water and wiping off the sweat
Before you know where you are the match is finished and he's signing the camera
And then being mobbed by crowds wanting his autograph
And then suddenly he has a trophy in his hands and it's all over for another year.
It all goes much too quickly but it's worth every penny.

Thank you, Rafa, for giving us another wonderful week.

VAMOS!