Patzun

Located in the Lake Atitlan region of Guatemala's Western Highlands Patzun is home to more than 20,000 people. The inhabitants are primarily of Cachequel descent or mixed European and Cachequel, referred to as Ladinos.
Typical of the various Mayan groups of the western highlands the Cachequel have as first language their own. Spanish is the second language, but it is universally taught in school. Also typical is native dress that is specific to the town. In Patzun the red huepiel seen below is worn by women. Increasingly less common is a white uniform of shirt, trousers and apron worn by men (not shown). Construction of the huepiel is a family affair; elder women weaving the cloth and younger ones hand sewing the decorations.
Men work fields of broccoli and snow peas that surround the town. The land is fertile, but wages are low and work is hard. Fields are tilled by hand. The house under construction below is good by local standards.

Typically the Cachequel live in family groups of 6 to 12 is finished homes such as this. At this time it is unusual for these homes to have electricity or water. Large portions of each day are filled with drawing water, buying food at the open air market and preparing food. Surrounding larger towns such as Patzun are villages, called aldeyas, consisting of 10 to 50 homes. People walk miles from the aldeyas to Patzun for market days, Mass and other holy celebrations. Overcrowded and cheap busses provide transportation between cities the size of Patzun and larger.
Problems include widespread malnutrition, inadequate education, and lack of clean water. Some percentage of the people turn to alcohol and prostitution. When this happens or serious illness strikes parents children often have no home other than the streets or the orphanage at the mission. Petty theft is common. Since the end of the war in 1996 armed robbery has become a problem.