The 4 day tour took quite a lot out of us so we decided to relax and chill out for a few days in the highest city in the world (4070m). Potosi is a very old historic colonial city, the Spanish discovered silver in the local hill (Cerro Rico) and for a while it was Latin America?s largest and wealthiest city. It is very famous for its old mint and old silver mines. These mines are still in use today, mainly for lead and zinc- the levels of silver are lower after being mined for that long!!

I went on a ?co-operative? mine tour with Lee (Sarah did not fancy it - claustrophobic!!) We were picked up early one morning given some overclothes, hard hats and wellies, then taken to the miners market to buy dynamite, coca leaves and other gifts for the miners. We were then driven up above the mines where we made a bomb with dynamite put it in a bag full of ammonium nitrate (fertilizer) soaked in petrol. It had quite a long fuse on it, but even so, when it went off it still made everybody jump - I wouldn?t fancy exploding it in the cramped conditions inside the mines.

We were then taken into the mines, it was incredible I think that conditions have not have changed down there too much in the 400 years they have been mining the hill, they are awful. As the mines are set on many levels, the top levels can be freezing and the lower ones can be stifling hot intensified with the amount of dust they have to work in. Lads as young as 10 and 11 are mining down there generally because their fathers have got lung diseases and they are going to need to earn the money for the family. Also these mines are supposed to be co-operatives, however, the miners that find the good veins of ore make themselves lots of money, they then can buy into the mines and take money off the poorer workers. This is why so many people choose to go and work in such dangerous places - they hope they are going to find a good vein and strike it rich!! The downside to working in these mines is the 10 year life expectancy they have once they have started working there - silicosis pneumonia is the biggest killer. As these mines have been worked for so many years it is also widely believed that the Cerro Rico is the biggest mass cemetery of indigenous people and African slaves (approximately 80 million bodies buried within the mines). It was a truly fascinating day out, very moving and incredibly eye-opening - I think I will stick with teaching when I return to the UK - I don't fancy my chances down those mines!!

We are heading to Sucre one of Bolivia?s most attractive cities, apparently if miners get rich a lot of them move to big houses there.

Hope you are all well and slowly drying out,

lots of love

A & S xxx

p.s. we are having some problems uploading photos, we will get them all up asap!!