Drinking with the devil

Our first thoughts after arriving in Potosi, the highest city in the world on 4000 and a little bit meters, were similar to those of most travellers: "Shit, this is ugly, how fast can I leave again?", but when we went into the city center at night we completely changed our opinion and instead of only staying for 2 nights we ended up staying 4 nights. The city center has lovely colonial buildings surrounding a green Plaza where flowers grow and people relax.

On Saturday we visited the Casa de la Moneda (the mint) where all bolivian coins were made until the 1980s. We got a good introduction into the colonial mining and slavery history of the city as it was mostly slaves who were used in the mines and the smelters.

We used the bolivian mentality of not opening their shops and museums on sunday as an excuse to do absoutely nothing for one day and basicly stayed in our extremely comfortable hostel bed the whole day except for eating.

For monday morning we booked a mine tour with a smaller agency that was set up by former miners. At first I was concerned about security standards as the guide told us that the mountain did already loose 400m of altitude because of all the tunnels that have been build into it in the last 480 years since the exploitation of silver started. 

But after a very short time I noticed that breathing was a much more urgent problem than the fear of a colapsing tunnel. Our guide found it particularly funny to offer our help to the miners when they were putting an empty wagon that still weight 2 tons on the track by hand. We all had problems to walk in the tunnels because the air was so thin and physical work was actually impossible.

After having a chat to some of the miners we visited the Tio or and had a little chat with him too. For some reason Flo and I had to ask him for many children, so let's hope that he is not to generous. After only 3km and 2 hours in the mountain we were exhausted and basically spend the whole afternoon sleeping again. 

Tomorrow we'll try to go to Sucre. Since last week the roads to and from Sucre are blocked due to a protest of truck drivers. That happens quite often in Bolivia (sometimes truck drivers, sometimes teachers, or any other profession you can think of) and we were told that it is not very dificult to pass the road block by foot and then take a bus or taxi on the other side. So, that's the plan for tomorrow, we'll let you know how it went.

-Sandra