Mallorca always used to be a rural society, predominantly shaped by farming and agriculture.

Rural communities had their own infrastructure, with parish churches, local schools and farmers markets.

But times they are a-changing. Mallorca has probably seen changes happening faster than elsewhere, and rural communities have lost their appeal, their schools and their livelihood. Now, it is all priority for tourism, golf, sailing and such like.

The primary school in Son Negre (Felanitx) shown today has ceased functioning as a centre of education in 1979. The building is used today as a Community Centre, if and when. The facilities will probably be used next week, for the fogerons (bonfires) of the San Antonio festivities (January 17th).

The photo was taken in Son Negre, near Felanitx, Mallorca, Spain. The date: January 6th, 2008. The time was 14:19:55.