Last weekend we took a daytrip with some of our missionary neighbors to the pretty ruins of Iximché. This was the capital of the Kaqchiquels when the Spanish arrived in 1524. They formed an alliance with the Spaniards, thinking it would give them an advantage over their enemies. But in time as Spain demanded their gold and other riches, this friendship dissolved into battle. The Spaniards won, and it became their first headquarters in Guatemala. The ruins are not large, but there are four large plazas like the one above, with temples about 30 feet high, some now overgrown with trees on the top. Today Iximché is used by the Mayans who still practice their traditional ceremonies.
