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Published: April 18th 2007
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Its been a long time since an entry(it actually hasnt but we have done so much since the jungle) i thought i better catch up. Im writing this in Mendoza, Argentina after leaving La Paz, going to the Potosi mines, doing the 3 day salt falts, getting buses forever, nearly getting drugs planted on me and dar(more later), getting my phone and watch nicked(damn drunken me) on another bus, getting more buses and doing a 2 day horse trek here all in 9 days....And this travelling stuff was suppose to be a holiday!!!
After finally reaching La Paz after being stranded in the jungle because of the rain(it was only a day and a half of getting drunk and playing pool so not to bad really) we were ready to have a few crazy final blowouts in Bolivia, wave adios to Gar(pissing off to Brazil the jammy bastard!!) and get a move on down South. We spent the next few days on the piss in LOKI and by Sunday were glad to be on route and making the most of our extra week we extended SA by. The staff and the hostel were the best and it was a
great time had. The nite club Ram Jams was a nite to remember as was the wine bar which i collapsed outside(the lads were there mam so its ok!!). I also dont think ill live down the slaggings of me shouting "im to good for the floor" when it took me 45 mins to climb into the top bunk in the hostel.
Got the night bus with Jon and Amy from the jungle trek and Jon convinced us to stop over in Potosi which is the worlds highest city(4200 mtrs - La paz is the highest capital) and check out the famous mines. During the Conquests they were the richest mines in the world and still produce great wealth for the short lives of the current miners. We arrived at 7 in the morning and went on the tour at 10.
On route to the mine tour(only 8 bucks) we stopped at the local shop to buy gifts for the miners so they would let you take pictures and ask them questions. Our guide Juan gave us an idea of what we should get and we obliged. So we purchased smokes, 96% alcohol(all the miners are alchohoics) and
most importantly dynamite. Yep in the local shop for a euro its legal to buy it(only in Bolivia!!).
So feeling a little anxious we set off to the mines and were soon inside. Each miner joins the co-operative and buys a section of the mine for them to explore. Then they are free to blow the shit out of that section any time they like(remember there alcho´s) to access the minerals. As we walked through the mine you could feel the odd shake. Then we heard a few little taps coming from the rock and the guide said it would be wise to move along swiftly. Next of all about 10 explosions went in a row and the whole mine was shaking. Our guide said they happened about 10 mtrs below.
When Juan told us the average life expentancy of the miner was about 35-40(due to accidents,blowing themselves and eachother up and the deadly gases in the mine) we were wondering why they would do this. We soon found out when he told us that the top miners earn about 1000 euro per week(when the average wage of bolivia is 1 euro a day!!!). So the miners live
it up big time knowing that they dont have that long to live thus all the alcho´s floating around. It was very interesting and shocking(and ignorant of me) to find out that people can still work in these conditions today. We asked one miner what age he was and he said 21(he looked about 40).
After distributing our gifts and shitting ourselves up with the explosions we reached the other side of the mine. Having heard a rumour i gave out all my gifts save my explosive. After a quick chat with Juan he brought us over the other side of the quarry. Each dynamite had a three minute fuse and after an anxious wait it was pretty cool when it went off. Impatient as usual, I actually turned around just as it exploded to talk to the lads(dumbass!!). and nearly crapped my self but i still managed to catch it on video
Then we hopped on the bus for a change of scenery and headed for the mountains. We found oursleves in hot pools an hour later. It was lovely, 30 degree water. It was real hard to swim in though but im sure you will all
like the sexy pic of me!!!
Back in the city we caught the bus on the same day and an aussie girl we met at the bus station had her bag nicked in front of us. Pretty shit(im gonna get real negative on Bolivia for the next few entries but its still the best place i have ever been to and not that unsafe).More to follow!!!
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kinger
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yeaarrww!!!
So jealous, wat the hell am i doin in this backwater of a country. Looks great man. Your looking good in that picture. Think ye got a bit of a tan there did ye?? anyway, take care, keep the updates coming kinger