This is a photo of a shepherd, Juan Alonso.
Juan is fifty-three years old. He was born in Juncalillo but now he lives with his wife in Artenara.
He gets up very early every day from Monday until Sunday. He gets dressed and doesn’t forget his hat. Then he has a cup of milk with gofio and cheese for breakfast. He has a hundred and twenty sheep and he goes to the fields with them every day. He sits down and takes care of his sheep. In the evening, he milks all the sheep with his wife and she makes cheese to sell.
He likes walking and practising “the jump of the shepherd” with his friends. He doesn’t like cutting the wool of the sheep.
Juan is a special person because he keeps the Canary tradition.
Yolanda García de la Fe NB1
If I were a mother, I would look after my children
If I were a clown, I would make them laugh
But I am a tree, I can only wait and stare
If I were water, I would be rain
If I were the sun, I would warm up the world
But I am a tree, I can only wait
If I were a king, I would stop wars
If I were a rich man, I would give poor people a hand
But I am a tree, I can only cry
Carmen Rodríguez Díaz NA1
In my opinion, the piece of music that could accompany the photographs is the music of Gladiator BSO. The song is "Now we are free" because it is very relaxing and strong too . . . and this music stimulates the senses. This piece has many musical instruments a symphony orchestra), some strong instruments (horns, trumpets, percussion...). I like the brass instruments for this. The composer of the soundtrack of gladiator is Hans Zimmer. He was nominated for an Oscar for his music in this film. The singer of Gladiator is Lisa Gerrard. She is Australian.
The music makes you think and reconsider many things. You can feel the immensity and power of nature, your life and the lives of others.
Natalia Ónega Hernández NB1
Dear Roberto,
Thank you for your letter. I’m very happy that you’re coming to stay with me in March. I’m sure you ´ll have a good time.
I’m sending you these photos so that you know better where I live. I know you like agriculture and these photos speak a lot of the hard work the farmers here do.
The island territory is very mountainous and difficult to create land for agriculture. The farmers have to imagine how to exploit the natural resources.
I like the photo in the top left-hand corner because it is of a very mountainous area which has been used to grow vegetables and fruit. They use rainwater for irrigation. They have broken the rock and incorporated the land. This work has been done with their hands and animals for generations.
Agriculture is integrated with the landscape. I think it is possible to operate in the territory to good use.
I also like the photo in the top left-hand corner because it is also a rural area and has been used by farmers for several generations for the cultivation of cereals. These cereals are not irrigated because water is not available in this place. The green dots you see in the picture are almond trees that grow on the edges of the land. The house you see in the picture makes the landscape bigger.
The two photographs were taken from a plane, from an overhead view. There are other interesting things you can see too when you come.
I hope you like them because I live here!
Warm greetings
Javier
Javier Gil León, NB2
