Blogs from Potosi, Potosí Department, Bolivia, South America - page 36

On the 1st of June 2005 we caught a bus from Uyuni (Bolivia) to Potosi (still in Bolivia), the highest city in the world (4100m or 13500ft) and a UNESCO World Heritage City. By this time the campesinos (farmers and rural workers) had mobilised and had set up road blocks around most of the country. There had already been trouble in La Paz, the capital, and now it was spreading to the provinces. The protest's main goals were the nationalization of the gas and oil extraction industries in Bolivia, and the increased participation of Bolivia's indigenous majority in the political life of the country. Some have called this the Second Bolivian Gas War, the first one being in 2003 when 80 protesters were killed and the President resigned. There were also serious protests in Cochabamba in ... read more

The infamous Silver mines of Potosi, I had to do a tour. There are 5000 men and 1000 children still working in the mines. The children, youngest being 8 years old, make about $1.50 per day. This is pretty good money compared to other kids working on the streets in Potosi. The working conditions in the mine are horrendous, I could barely breath after being in there for 5 minutes. The workers usually stay for at least 8 or 10 hours per day. They dont eat beacause it is too dirty in the mines, they chew coca leaves all day. The life expectancy of a mine worker is 10 years after entering the mines. Very cool city, interesting tour! ... read more

After a grueling, yet effortless 4 days inside a landcruiser, we landed in the town of uyuni for a few hours to wait for our bus to potosí. Daniel, the swiss i met on the salar trip, and i were headed for potosí together, and had a few goodbye beers with marta and luca (our other salar partners) before we got on our bus. but it was the wrong bus. we had tickets for ¨trans. 11 de julio,¨ and were on the bus for ¨turismo 11 de julio.¨ a little angry and confused, we got off and sure enough, there was another bus, labeled ¨trans. 11 de julio¨ waiting in the same street. we got on after having our bags strapped to the top of the bus only to see a bag in our seats. after ... read more

Hola from Potosi in Bolivia, the highest city in the world (about 4,100m). We've been quite busy over the last couple of weeks - here's why... In Bonito we spent our last day visiting the Blue Cave (a cave where the water is deep blue). It was then time to find some more wildlife so our tour headed to the Pantanal for 4 nights in luxury accommodation. The Pantanal was fantastic with an amazing array of birds and wildlife all over the place (including green parrots in the tree outside our bedroom window). We explored the dry bits on foot on a guided trek. For the flooded parts we spent a day on horses wading through the metre deep water. Some of the shallower areas we visited on the back of a jeep. And of course, ... read more