A brief glimpse at Rabinal

Here are a few prime examples of the beauty of Rabinal. I have fallen in love.

This was my first time entering Rabinal via the windey road through the mountains from Salama. The glowing orange sun was beginning its descent as I arrived in the town. A stunning welcome.

Rabinal's sunsets are incredible. This photo captures maybe a fraction of the actual beauty of that evening during my first week. It was one of the most stunning sunsets I have ever seen.

This was the same night. It had been raining earlier in the day, but not for the past couple hours. I had been watching the sun drop behind the mountains and the constantly changing colours, when I turned around and saw a rainbow stretch across the sky above these palm trees in my backyard.

More from the sunset that night.

The beauty here sometimes masks the horrors that occurred a quarter of a decade ago and the daily hardship of life for many. But the beauty remains, maybe as a beacon of hope, offering a sense of pride, tranquility or escape for those who remain. When its gets difficult here, the mountains and palm trees remind me of the beauty that exists; not just in nature, but in most people, in so much work that people are doing, and especially in the hope and strength that emanates from each person.