by Celia

Everyone loves a rainbow, the ephemeral half-circle arching over the Earth like a smile. We always gasp and stop whatever we’re doing, tipping back our heads with wide eyes of joy and awe. No matter how often we see them, they never fail to amaze us. Rainbows grace our presence all over the world, and we are lucky enough to call them common, but there is one type of rainbow that is much more rare. A city of rainbows. 

Salento, Colombia, was an example of this. Color burst out from every doorway of every shop, house, and building. Coming from the verdant jungle of Minca and San Carlos, it was an assault to our eyes, though not necessarily a bad one. Combinations of colors you wouldn’t expect, and some you would, adorned the streets, not just in paint, but in umbrellas and murals as well. Walking around the urban rainbow, it made me wonder why we seem to shy away from color in the U.S. Together with the loud music and fragrant aromas of market stands, it gives a distinctly Latin American vibe. Color brings joy, and I find that many people need that in their lives.

Still I am grateful to have seen this display of color and happiness.  Maybe someday I’ll paint my own house Caribbean blue and pumpkin orange!