Potosi street

The city was founded due to the presence of huge silver deposits in the surrounding mountains. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was the wealthiest city in the Americas. The mines are operated on a co-operative basis, but still have atrocious working conditions. The life expectancy of a miner (in 2009) is 40 years.

Why I hate tourists

March 20th 2009
Due mostly to my back-to-back bout with a chest cold and then traveler’s diarrhea, we didn't do much during the rest of our travels through Bolivia and into Peru. We spent time in the cities of Potosi, La Paz, Copacabana, and Puno (see pictures), leaving the hostels rarely. These circumstances left us with little to talk about but home and the activities of the other people living in the rooms s ... read more

South America » Bolivia

Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1... ... read more

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