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THE E-MAGAZINE WITH ISLAND LIFE SNEAK PEEKS DECEMBER 2021 | ISSUE #4
INSPIRATION
CHRISTMAS ON THE ISLANDS
FREE GIFT!
EXCLUSIVE!
WE BOUGHT A MANGO FARM!
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CONTENT THE DREAM - DIGITAL CONTENT - STORIES
03 WORDS BY EDITOR I love Christmas. And experiencing Christmas in another country is very exciting. For example, the first time we tried the special cake "roscón de reyes".
04 CHRISTMAS ON THE ISLANDS You will find many versions of Santa Claus on the islands. He surfs, cuts hair from a bicycle (page 9), rides a motorcycle, etc.
07 ART OF SAND You will find different varieties of the nativity scene everywhere. The most famous is probably the one on the beach in Las Palmas.
09
WE MADE YOU A CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST
08
EXCLUSIVE!
FREE GIFT! MERRY CHRISTMAS 25 GRAN CANARIA SKINK Endemic to Gran Canaria.
27
INTERVIEW VESTRE FAMILY
ISLAND FOODIE CHESTNUTS
The Vestre family has bought a mango farm in Gran Canaria!
Chestnuts are harvested on the islands during autumn and winter. In Gran Canaria there are almost 80,000 chestnut trees (Castanea sativa).
"We simply saw an ad, and thought, why not?"
If you have feelgood content, with a good story - maybe we'll contact you to make a deal! We are always looking for the best stories out there.
GRAN CANARIA HELLO@CANARYWHISTLER.COM
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04 DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
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26 YOUR STORY
ISSUE #4
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WORDS BY EDITOR I love Christmas. And experiencing Christmas in another country is very exciting. For example, the first time we tried the special cake "roscón de reyes". In this issue, we try to present some of the festive traditions we have found here. Our team lives mainly on Gran Canaria. So, most of the stories will come from this island. But please, write to us about other island stories and traditions. 04
"try the cake roscón de reyes". LISTEN TO STORIES
This is an interactive e-magazine. Feel free to click on the play button, the links and some of the pictures.
DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
WATCH VIDEOS
DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
CHRISTMAS
ON THE ISLANDS
04
SANTA SURFS HERE
"LAS CANTERAS IS THE PLACE WHERE SANTA CLAUS ALWAYS SURFS AT THIS TIME (IN LAS PALMAS / GRAN CANARIA)"
You will find many versions of Santa Claus on the islands. He surfs, cuts hair from a bicycle (page 9), rides together on motorbikes etc. This is a place where older traditions are combined with new ones. By the way, did you bananas? Plátano de Canarias (bananas from Canary islands) are famous in Spain. And their suggestion to surprise the wise men with bananas, is a success. Watch one of their videos on the next page!
04 DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
know that you should give the three wise men
"TALK TO THE THREE WISE MEN DIRECTLY THROUGH YOUR SCREEN" In Spain, it is the three wise men (or kings) who
On January 6, most people around the islands
give the children gifts. And this tradition takes
also eat a "king cake". If your piece of cake
place in early January. The arrival of the wise
includes a small king figure - you have won!
men is celebrated on the 5th and the gifts are
You can now proudly wear the golden royal
given out on the 6th of January.
crown, which is usually included in the cake boxes you buy. Oh, and the one who receives
Due to the situation with covid, Las Palmas has
the bean have to pay for the cake next year.
created a digital opportunity for all children in the region. They can talk directly to their favorite
.
king via their screen. You must register to book this meeting. Click on the links to find out more: http://lpacultura.com/es/ https://www.losreyesmagos.tv/oficinavideollamada-2021/landing_laspalmas.php
https://madridfoodtour.com/roscon-de-reyes/
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ART OF SAND
"ARTISTS USE WATER AND 2,000 TONS OF SAND TO CREATE THE SCULPTURES"
There are certain things on the islands that tell you that "Christmas is around the corner". You will find different varieties of the nativity scene everywhere. The most famous is probably the one on the beach in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria). Read more here:
Opening hours: 10:00 to 22:00 Special days: 24 and 31 December, and January 5 from 10:00 to 20:00
CLICK ON THE ARTICLE
DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
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https://lpavisit.com/en/
CHRISTMAS THINGS
DECEMBER #4 CANARY ISLANDS
Santa on Wheels
This red flower is planted in thousands around the islands at Christmas. Here, it often grows up to become small "trees". They can be 3 meters high. Did you know that the red leaf is not the flower itself? It's actually the little yellow parts.
You must reserve a place for December 23, 24, 30 and 31. Go to their Instagram account: @minimobigote
FREE GIFT! we have made a special Christmas gift for you all. A special background for your computer / ipad and mobile phone. Just click on the link, add to cart. Go to checkout and download. https://canarywhistler.com/index.php /product/free-christmas-gifts/
04
BARBERSHOP ON WHEELS @MINIMOBIGOTE
DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
Poinsettia
@minimobigote is not a regular hairdresser. He rides around Gran Canaria and takes the salon with him. During December, he also dresses up as Santa Claus (@papaveinte). He combines what he likes best: "a smile, a picture, and a haircut"
FROM US TO YOU
CHRISTMAS TUNES. A GIFT FROM US TO YOU.
Canary Whistler is about the islands' feelgood stories. And what could be better, than to experience Christmas moments with wonderful music playing. Therefore, we have made a special playlist for you.
04 DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
Click on the playlist to the right ...
INTERVIEW
DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
INTERVIEW
04
INTERVIEW
VESTRE
FAMILY
MEET THE FAMILY
Tell us about You and your link to Gran Canaria.
We are the Vestre family of 4, plus a four-legged newcomer. Ragnar 39, Thea 39, Veslemøy 16 and Hedda 13. We have had a link to the island for many years. We lived here before, and my parents stay here most of the winter. Last time we lived here, we stayed for three years. This time, we have sold everything in Norway and emigrated properly! We wanted to find a good way of living and in contact with something real. On our previous adventure, we had contact with the sea, now it is time for the soil. We have found a wonderful place, where we can participate as much or as little as we want in both the Spanish and Norwegian society. In addition, we have an income from the mango trees, so that we are guaranteed food on the table. For the first time in many years, we have a long-term perspective on where we will live.
04 DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
THE
INTERVIEW
"WE SIMPLY SAW AN AD, AND THOUGHT, WHY NOT?" How did You end up with a mango farm?
Big News!
In our family, we have always joked about us running a banana plantation on La Gomera. But then, there was a mango finca on Gran Canaria instead. Another fruit and another island. But everything we were looking for to be able to live in a warmer climate, and with an income. We simply saw an ad, and thought, why not? We bought it unseen, sold the house, packed a box trailer and drove through Europe down here this summer. We love to travel, so the trip down was exciting in itself. Fortunately, we arrived without corona trouble at the borders. Luckily, the finca was also as we had imagined,
We have found a new
adventure! We are going to
become mango farmers in Gran Canaria!
We have just bought a finca, and we will emigrate from Norway in June.
and we loved the atmosphere straight away. .
EXPEDITION | PAGE 2
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SEPT 2021 | OCEAN PEOPLE
INTERVIEW
06
DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
INTERVIEW
04
INTERVIEW
"LIVE SIMPLE, EAT MANGO AND ENJOY!" Do you have a "feelgood" experience to share?
It is also a very good feeling when Ragnar and I get up early in the morning and go out with the
When the harvest started! The whole family was
"mango car" to sell fruit at the fruit market. Or the
active, even the new puppy. We cut down fruit,
first time we drove to Telde, to buy hundreds of
carried boxes, sorted and packed fruit all
mango boxes and pallets that we had to fill up.
weekend. We were able to make our first money from two pallets of fine mango.
It is great to feel part of a whole new environment; Spanish fruit farmers!
The first few weeks we had a lot to do: understand the mango fruit, arrange papers,
Whether we live on the high mountains in
establish the business and arrange a home for the
Norway, sail in the Caribbean, backpack in
girls, so that they would enjoy it. There was a lot
Colombia or pick mangoes, we want to fill our
to catch up on on the farm, so we crawled
lives with experiences and people. We are
around, both early and late, to get rid of weeds.
probably a little afraid of stagnating in routines,
And all this was done during an unusually warm
and therefore we make choices that give us the
summer. But it was great to be able to pick our
opportunity for new input and new experiences.
own fruit for the first time!
EXPEDITION | PAGE 2
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DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
INTERVIEW
04
INTERVIEW
Mango "lessons"
"IN THE CANARY ISLANDS, THE SMALL YELLOW ONES ARE CALLED "MANGO" AND ALL THE OTHER LARGE ONES "MANGA".
Teach us something about mango.
Mango is the most eaten fruit in the world. - Over 400 varieties - Spends 5 months maturing. can etch on the skin. In the Canary Islands, the small yellow ones are called "mango" and all the other large ones "Manga". All our trees start with "Gomera uno", which is a mango, and then they are grafted to the desired variety. In theory, there could be dozens of different types on a tree.
04 DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
- Slightly toxic as ivy, the juice from the branch
INTERVIEW
Mango "lessons" What does a "normal" day look like?
ALL OUR TREES START WITH "GOMERA UNO", WHICH IS A MANGO, AND THEN THEY ARE GRAFTED TO THE DESIRED VARIETY. They say things will calm down during winter. Then, we will just drink coffee, wait for the trees to bloom and watch the fruit grow.
We have only been mango farmers for 4-5 months, so we know far from everything. We arrived on the island just before the harvest, which lasts from July to October. So, it was a lot to learn very quickly. We receive guidance from our mentor Carlos, who we bought the finca from. Ragnar works full days; Watering two days a week, fertilize, keep away weeds, move the trees, graft trees, find and plant new seeds, replace dead trees with new ones, check watering, repair watering, and of course fix anything else that comes up.
GRAFTING
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DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
INTERVIEW
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DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
INTERVIEW
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INTERVIEW
MANGO CHUTNEY
INGREDIENTS Mango Garlic Chile Green pepper
I think mango is a super resource, and wish to
Good oil
use all. I use it for jam, juice, ice cream, sorbet,
Curry
smoothie, mango salad, mango in the oven,
Salt
wok or we eat it as it is.
Pepper white vinegar / lemon METHOD
Fry garlic, a little chili and green pepper in a pan with good oil. Season with curry, salt and pepper + a little white vinegar / lemon to get some acid. Put the mango cubes in the last 5 minutes. Excellent to serve with chicken, or as a small dish in a bowl with salt biscuits next to it.
04 DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
BY EVELYN SOMERS
DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
INTERVIEW
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DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
INTERVIEW
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GRAN CANARIA SKINK Cetorhinus maximus
HTTPS://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/GRAN_CANARIA_SKINK
04 DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
Gran Canaria skink (Chalcides sexlineatus) is a species in the family Scincidae, which is endemic to Gran Canaria. The adults measure 16 - 18 cm, of which the tail makes up 50%.
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DECEMBER 2021 INSTAGRAM ISSUE #4
Y R O T S R U YO What to Do! Want to see your story / picture in "canary whistler"? Just use the hashtags #canarystory and #canarywhistler We will also add some of the stories to the Instagram account @canarystory.
#canarystory If you have feelgood content - maybe we'll contact you to make a deal! We are always looking for the best stories out there.
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TASTE OF SALT
Chestnuts
ISLAND
FOODIE Chestnuts are harvested on the islands during autumn and winter. In Gran Canaria, there are almost 80,000 chestnut trees (Castanea sativa). Most at high altitude. They are used in various recipes, including cakes. It is also common to roast them, and serve with salt. Click on the article to the right, to read more about where you can visit these areas.
CLICK ON THE ARTICLE
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THINK ABOUT
CHESTNUTS & RECIPES A TASTE OF CHRISTMAS Some of the videos are in Spanish. But it is easy to follow the instructions.
04 DEC 2021 | CANARY WHISTLER
ROASTED CHESTNUTS & CHRISTMAS FEELING
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E-MAGAZINE FOR ISLAND PEOPLE Any screen you have - we bring the island stories to you! All issues are filled with videos, that you can watch directly by clicking on them. You can also listen to different podcasts, click on articles, and read interviews. We focus on inspirational content. Stories that may change you. We want to make every click worth your time.
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GRAN CANARIA SPAIN
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