Guatemala: Maya ruins of Iximche and Mixco Viejo

Short break from volcano action in the form of more Maya culture: off to the twin sites of Iximche and Mixco Viejo. Iximche near Tecpan was probably the first Spanish settlement in present-day Guatemala, where the name 'Guatemala' also comes from. Dead end on a hill, difficult to conquer. Classic Maya strategy. Same game at Mixco Viejo, which also posed some conquest problems for the Spanish. Both ruins were characterized by the usual Maya tranquility and spirituality. Oh, I'm briefly deviating from chronological correctness: there was a little dragon festival between the two visits ;)