Today brought a visit to La Casa Nacional de Moneda (the Bolivian Mint). Built in 1575 & expanded in the 18th century, the Mint resembles a castle to keep any would-be marauders out. All the silver plundered by the Spanish out of the Cerro Rico in Potosi together with gold from Peru was brought here & hammered into shapeless Reales to then be sent into circulation in Spain & throughout colonial America. The largest Reales were called Pieces of Eight. ...

Freezing & waiting for our bus to Tupiza. It will arrive at 3 in the morning. What were we thinking???!!

Soooo cold....no other option but to wear my silly hat! Brrrrrrrrr!!

My heavy duty cold tablets seem to be kicking in to good effect but not good enough sadly to alleviate my wheezing & cough so could not go on the tour down the famous silver mines. So I decided to make the best of a bad situation & lazed around in bed reading a crime thriller in my cozy heated bedroom!! Eventually I managed to tear myself away from my bed for a wander round the market (sorry Potosi but Sucre definitely out markets you!) & to visit s...

Woke ready & raring to leave Sucre. Not sure if it is due to my feeling poorly again but did not really warm to Sucre. Headed to my favourite place, the Mercado Central, for a huge & delicious fruit salad which I had been coveting ever since I arrived in Sucre. Only 6Bs. Bargain! Then popped into one of the many chocolate shops to by a bar of orange choc as a treat for the bus ride. Cheapest bus so far at only 20Bs to Potosi. Comfy bus but sadly a sma...