Blogs from Potosi, Potosí Department, Bolivia, South America - page 8

Potosí is the highest city of its size on earth sitting at over 4000m above sea level, It was declared a World Heritage Site in the late 1980's in recognition as a silver mining centre during the time of Spanish colonization. Here we were invited to take a trip underground into the mines and deliver gifts for the workers, some of which boys only 15 years old. Working conditions for miners were appalling but was an eye opening experience, sometimes distressing and uncomfortable because of the harsh working conditions which have not changed much since years ago.... read more

The mines at the altitude of 4.300m are really impressive. The name of the movie about the mines and the life of the miners called "The devilish miner" is accurate. The miners are working in middle age conditions getting out of the mines remains of stones with minerals inside (silver, copper, tin, etc.). The security is completely missing, there is almost no oxygen in the mines which is even worse with the dust everywhere and the hot temperature, which reaches fourty degrees in some parts. The miners often die within ten years on the pneumonia. But they are surpisingly very friendly, explaining how the life in the mine is and making jokes with the turists (maybe because of all the gifts the turists are buying for them inculing 96% strong alcohol which they are drinking pure ... read more

I only spent an afternoon in Potosi, so if you´re looking for reviews of mine tours or the museum, look elsewhere. The museum was closed when I was there, and after talking to a number of people, breathing in toxic substances including asbestos in intense heat at a 4,800 meter altitude for an hour is not worth the greater empathy I might develop for all miners. Clearly, working in a mine of this kind would absolutely suck, and it´s true that this city is home to a forgotten holocaust, but obviously one of the many benefits of being middle class and white is not having to ever enter a place like this. In Bolivia, it seems like much of the tourism is driven by the idea that since we can ride bikes down a deadly road, ... read more

I'm now in Potosi in Bolivia- it's not been 'fun' per se since Tilcara, but worthwhile. From Tilcara we headed north to the border with Bolivia- a pastiche of an inefficient Latin American frontier; the booths to get both entry and exit stamps were next to one another in a room about as big as my living room, with only one door and of course no signs to tell you what was where or who was queuing for what, not that the instinct to queue here is strong, indeed, quite the opposite. Nevertheless we (about 6 gringos struggling together with the sheer stupidity of it) got over after about 2 hours and boarded a train, or rather the train- there are only 4 a week- which took us the 10 hours to Uyuni, where we stayed ... read more

miercoles, 12 de mayo Lie-ins are a thing of teenage years. Today 9 of the 10 on our Salar trip all caught the same bus to Potosi. Many more close calls (hope the driver has sorted the arthritis in his right knee) and bumpy roads to unsettle the stomach. This route got above 5000m above sea level and took its toll on Dan and Hayley. After the halfway point where we were shocked by the openness in Bolivian women peeing (that´s why they wear those long skirts) the route hugely improved. Potosi is predominantly a miners' town, at one time rich enough to support the Spanish economy (but maybe not Real Madrid´s ridiculous wage structure) with its minerals in the looming mountain. It´s the highest city in the World (apparently) at 4060m above sea level. Come ... read more