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Background: 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 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, resolving disputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counterdrug efforts, and waging an anticorruption campaign.

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By looking for my zihuatanejo
September 25th 2008

Potosi - The highest city in the world, and once the richest

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

2. Cerro Rico, Potosi

Day 85 - Monday 22 September: Getting lost in Potosi Arrive at Potosi at 4pm, which at 4060m is the highest city in the world. Doesn't look far from the bus station to the hostel I want to stay at so start to walk. Bad decision. Walking steeply uphill at 4km above sea level and getting lost severtal times on the way isn't good for the mood after a 3 hour bus journey. Can't be bothered to explore the city today, and again the hostel is quiet so its dinner out alone. Bump into the GAP tour group again in the [View Full Entry]

6. Holding a stick of Dynamite and looking remarkably calm, or stupid!

1. Posing in our mining protection gear before the tour

By SeamusandTash
September 6th 2008

The Silver Mines

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

Our new profession!

Potosí is a the capital of the department of Potosí in Bolivia. It is claimed to be the highest city in the world. It lies beneath the Cerro de Potosí — sometimes referred to as the Cerro Rico ("rich mountain") — a mountain of silver ore, which has always dominated the city. Cerro de Potosí's peak is 4,824 meters (15,827 feet) above sea level. After the worlds most dangerous road we thought a trip to the silver mines in Potosi would be a breeze so after our first overnight bus journey in Bolivia we reached Potosi (alive) at 6am. Luckily the [View Full Entry]

Holding the dynamite...before it was it!

By Daz_Crawford
September 4th 2008

Altitude

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

Our Bus
Where is that bloody driver - He nearly killed us all!

Potosi is a city of beauty, madness and adventure. Maybe its the altitude sickness that creates a distorted view of the city or the insanity of crawling around in the Potosi Silver mines while hyperventilating asbestos dust makes this city appealing. With the option of creating a massive bomb out of Nitro-glycerine and Ammonium Nitrate I cant possibly understand why this city only appeals to insane travellers naturally high on altitude! Already suffering altitude sickness at 3653 metres above sea level, I decided to jump on an old tin bus with four other travellers heading for the highest [View Full Entry]

By Daz_Crawford
September 4th 2008

Breathless

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

Team Dynamite

The air was unbearably hot, the tunnels were cramped, and the atmosphere was filled with dust and asbestos generated from the blasting of rock. Together with the uncomfortable knowledge that Australian experts predicted the tunnels should have collapsed 4 years ago, I was on an adrenaline fuelled adventure deep into the silver mines of Potosi at an elevation of 4000 metres above sea level. This was no tour and there was no health and safety. I had to sign away my life in exchange for a day of extreme insanity that pushed my mind, body and soul to its limits! We [View Full Entry]

By Daz_Crawford
September 4th 2008

Dynamite

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

I Was Tempted To Buy A Box
They would not let me buy an entire box!!

Nitro Glycerine (Dynamite), Ammonium Nitrate (Fertiliser) and a 4 minute fuse.. A recipe for disaster? Probably, but what a surreal experience to unexpectedly run fuelled on adrenaline with five sticks of dynamite, a bag of fertiliser and a lit fuse in hand. Sliding down the side of a mountain and stumbling over rocks in a complete panic before carefully placing the dynamite on the ground. Scrambling uphill faster then lightening followed by a deafening explosion behind that rocks an entire mountain range which almost throws you to the ground! Probably the scariest 4 minutes of my life! [View Full Entry]

By Sophie and Dale
September 3rd 2008

Playing with Dynamite...

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

Dale with the dynamite stick

We had a relatively uneventful bus ride from Sucre to Potosi which was only interrupted by a flat tyre meaning we all had to get off the bus and wait for a combi minivan to come past and take us the final 1 hour to our destination. Potosi is the highest city in the world resting at a mere 4,090m above sea level and is famous for backpackers to do one thing.. visit the mines and play with dynamite! We hadn´t planned to spend very long here so were glad when we found an agency that had places on their 2pm [View Full Entry]

By ArleneandBenj
August 23rd 2008

POTOSI: A Past Wealth of Wealth

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

No expense spared making this city world class...
... for its time.

Potosi. Famous for Cerro Rico, the scarred reddish hill whose proceeds propped up the Spanish Kingdom for over two centuries with silver. Unsurprisingly, there is a mass of history here from a fabulously wealthy era gone by. The colonial architecture is testament to the population and wealth explosion that occured around the mining activities. Even now its splendour can be seen everywhere. But not so apparent is the underlying human element - a story of atrocious proportions in the need (and greed) to extract more and more silver from the mines. Slaves, and forced indigenous labour were [View Full Entry]

All for a little of this shiny black stuff

By brettsinNZ
August 15th 2008

Mining in Potosi..I think I got the black lung

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

The Mining Mountain

When I arrived in Potosi it was 3am and one of the guys I was traveling with just realized someone had stole his backpack containing his $800 camera and passport. He handled the situation a lot better than I would have and he was able to sort things out. Potosi at 13,500 ft is the highest city in the world and was once one of the wealthiest due to its´ large amounts of silver. The mines here have a lot of history and are known for ending many lives through lung diseases and accidents. Tourists are given an oppurtunity to the [View Full Entry]

We will break the chains that tie us to the USA

Two Bolivian women wearing traditional hats and clothing

By Indiana Jones 5
August 5th 2008

In Potosí - der hoechsten Stadt der Welt

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

Ueber den Daechern Potosis

Die letzten 2 Tage verbringen wir in Potosí - der aufgrund ihres (damals) riesigen Silbervorkommens einst reichsten Stadt Suedamerikas. Heute ist die auf ca. 4100 m gelegene Stadt Unesco Weltkulturerbe (nicht zu Unrecht!) und zugleich die hoechstgelegene Stadt der Welt. Ihr Reichtum liegt allerdings schon eine Weile zurueck - im 16. Jh. war die Stadt wohl groesser als London - heute sind von diesen Zeiten herrliche kolnialzeitliche Gebaeude im Stadtzentrum uebrig geblieben, sowie eine riesige Silbermine, in der noch heute (wenig) Silber, Zink und andere Metalle gefoerdert werden. Darueberhi [View Full Entry]

auch Kirchen duerfen bei der Besichtigung nicht fehlen ;-)

By Jabe
July 15th 2008

No silver lining

South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi

Cerro Rico and Potosi
As seen from the top of Torre de la Compania de Jesus

A dirt track just over 200km long connects Uyuni with Potosi, the nearly 6.5 hour bus ride sufficiently time-consuming that even a Laotian might raise an eyebrow at the average speed. With a dozen backpackers clogging up the seats, I'm sure the locals were none too pleased either as it was standing room only before we'd even left Uyuni. The journey was expedited, and people's bladders tested, by just one stop along the way, and there was relief all round when we arrived in the 4,000m+ altitude of Potosi. A taxi so old that it was a Datsun delivered me to [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » South America » Bolivia » Potosí Department » Potosi