Iximché

I have learned that Guatemala is a land filled with many volcanoes, and many ruins!  Both of these make if a land with much to see and do. Tuesday we took off from school early and headed to Ichimché, a set of ruins that are only about half an hour away from where we live.  Ryan was leaving a few days later, so we wanted to go before he left. 

Ichimché is much smaller than some of the other ruins that we have visited, but I loved it!  There were very few people there, we almost had the whole place to ourselves.  The weather was perfect, and it was just so peaceful.  It made for a perfect day of wandering around.

We couldn´t resist taking a picture of what seemed like a possible sacrificial alter.  So Krista is sacrificing Ryan! After this we found a spot where a Mayan religion still preforms sacrifices.  They were sacrificing chickens that day.  It was an odd experience. We left quickly.

Some of the ruins you can still climb, others you can´t.  The ones you can arre really cool!  The view is always really fun from the top! 

Ryan told us that Ichimché is the proposed Land of Ishmael from the Book of Mormon, which I found very cool.  I promptly reviewed the section of the Book of Mormon that talks about the Land of Ishmael as soon as I got home. I need to study more about these places, I find it so facinating! I´m not sure if it really is or not, but it does give me something to think on.

Iximché even had one of the Mayan ball courts that I had been dying to see.  It did not disappoint! 

Ruins never get old.  You can feel the rich history (most of which we don´t even know!) as you walk through them.

Every structure is built so well.  The lines and angles are so close to perfect.  To be able to build the way they did, without any of the modern technology we use, continues to astound me!  And then to think that they could just walk away from these magnificent cities floors me.

When we got home that night Domatila had prepared a going away dinner for Ryan. We sat around and laughed and talked and enjoyed her amazing Guatemalan food!  I love these people, they are just so amazing! And I love this land!  Always something to see and do.  Hooray for Guatemala!