Tennis in the Tramuntana plus some Early Evening Culture in Soller
The children of Mallorca have twelve weeks holiday in the summer. Summer schools are therefore essential to allow parents to work in the tourist industry and to stop the little ones getting bored of holiday life. The families of the hidden valley have choices - groups based in school buildings throughout Soller, the community centre Ca’n Dulce, or the favoured one of my family – the Tennis & Swimming Summer School.
Based on the outskirts of town just off the main road signposted to Lluc and Pollenca sits the Soller Tennis and Paddel Club. Floodlit tennis courts sit on a ridge overlooking the town with the mountains surrounding them. The swimming pool lies below the courts in another unrivalled location. The surrounding scenery is breathtaking and a far cry from our previous life using the municipal pools of central London. The children are there every weekday from 9 till 1 pm and start with two hours of tennis followed by two hours of swimming and cooling down in the pool. They have great fun with their young leaders and grow browner by the day in the beautiful sunshine. This summer school is open to all, not just local children so often holiday makers enrol their children for a week or two to give them the opportunity to mix. It’s worth checking to see if they have any space if you have interested family members. The cost is around 150€ per week per child.
The Soller Tennis and Paddel Club is open to all but is rarely used by holiday makers as it’s tucked away in the Argeles area of Soller. It is worth taking a detour to find it, the full size pool is often empty and there are plenty of sun loungers and umbrellas to encourage you to spend the day exercising and relaxing high up in the mountains. There are five floodlit tennis courts, four paddel courts, swimming pool and small cafeteria. More information can be found at their website.
If you are staying in a hotel or villa with a private court you may prefer the services of our local freelance tennis coach who plays and teaches island wide. Matt Dean is a relocater to the Soller valley from North London and now plays on the courts of Mallorca rather than Hampstead Heath.
After all that action what could be nicer than wandering the shaded streets of Soller as the sun begins to lose its heat. The walks of Soller will occupy another article but a place to find this month is Soller’s Museum and Cultural Centre in the Carrer del Mar. Local artist Dorothy Bradbury is exhibiting her popular work from now until 30th July 2010. Opening hours Monday to Friday 11.00 – 16.00 and 19.00 – 21.00 Saturday from 11 – 13.00. The museum is housed in a typical Mallorquin house with central courtyard and is a great backdrop for beautiful art.
Another art gallery can be found in the Randemar Restaurant on the seafront at the Port of Soller. This month they have an exhibition of photographs by the famous ‘image artist’ Lennart Janko. Lennart is a Swedish photographer of note who says of himself
‘In order to find beauty in life you will have to search for it. My pictures contain moments that affect. Sensible reflections of people, places and matters’
His pictures are worth looking at and the restaurant, serving great Italian food is always a pleasure. More information about this artist can be found at his website. This exhibition will last until 30th July 2010 and may extend.
