We chilled in Uyuni for a couple of days before heading to Potosi, the journey was around 6 hours not to bad.
We met an Irish lad on the bus so he decided to come with us to the Koala den so we jumped in a taxi and headed of to the hostel we booked ourselves in and then headed out for some lunch.

After we had a walk around and bumped into Jay and Helen they to where staying at the Hostel so we arranged to meet up later for dinner. we headed to a restaurant that's recommended in the lonely plant the food was ok we sat around chatting an drinking.
The next day was a lazy day we just chilled around the hostel etc and poped out for lunch etc.

We met another Irish lad called Ultan and a Australian girl called Eve we decided that we would do the mine tour the following day then head to La pas on the overnight bus in the evening, so arranged the trip with the hostel and then booked our ticket to La Paz we had to be up early for the trip so it would be an early night.
The following morning we was up bright and early had breakfast and then got the mini bus to the mine store where we could buy Dynamite and coca leaves for the miners.

Our guide for the day was called Pedro Negro he was extremely funny,
He described how the miners make there money and the working conditions that they had to endure, we didn't realize yet just how bad the conditions would be.
After purchasing the stuff we would need we headed to the processing site just up the road there process facilities to be honest look out dated they mine for silver and other minerals.

After looking around the processing plant we headed to the mine stores to get our equipment, we needed protective trousers and tops helmet with light and wellies very attractive.

We jumped in the van and of we set to the mines, we was split into 2 groups English speaking and Spanish speaking, we made our way to the entrance it look like the entrance to hell.

We followed our guide into the tunnels of the María de Potosí mine (Bolivia).
By allowing us to see these mines we get to know the risky work they undertake and to discover a piece of the history of his old city,
Of we set to ascend and to descend through galleries and tunnels. Strange, powdery, almost unbreathable air. Sensation of breathlessness. Doubtful, uncertain steps, perhaps fearful... Maybe the best thing would be to return and feel the sun again, we all struggled to gain our breaths and the heat was something else you could taste the dust and gases etc.

But there is no chance to go back. Steps get larger, become vigorous and repetitive. The hollowness of the mines - swallows the men transforming them into blurred shadows.
The echo of the galleries gives a strange, the light hurts the eyes accustomed to the shades. The golden radiance of the lanterns washes over a coppery face of chisel marked wrinkles. A smile appears in the recently illuminated face, while nasty and restless hands try to frighten off the intruding rays of light. We offered the miners our coca leaves and fizzy drinks they took it with gratitude. The miners worship the devil whilst they are in the mines they believe that because they are working in the deapths of the earth they need his protection they called him Teo the white devil.

Since Colonial time, the indigenous miners of Potosí descend to the depths of the mythical Cerro Rico or Sumaj Orcko (majestic mountain), with hands full of cheat the fatigue in their exhausting work days that surpass the twelve hours of continuous work in some cases.

A contrast to the official history of the Villa Imperial de Potosí: of the stories of adventurous and sagacious conquerors that found the fortune in Cerro Rico are the dramas of thousands of natives forced to work in the extraction of the silver. Slag in the city, discouragement inside the mines... and churches and mansions were built and there were fascinating parties.

Nobody wanted to hear the distant wailings of death that shook the bowels of Cerro Rico. The Colonial city was wrapped by the splendid halo of fortune. Frenzy and ostentation. The streets crowded with people, famous artists swarmed in the land of silver; so why should we worry about the lives of the men of the Andes? They were not worthy enough, the only important thing were the mineral rich hills that fattened the coffers of the crown.
"Here we leave part of our life. I swear to God that it is very difficult gaining a living in the mines, there are so many dangers: the gases, the collapses, an explosive wrongly installed.

Our guide told us that 22 miners had lost their life this year already but it has always been the same. You don't have any idea of how many of us have died in the tunnels.
We were all glad to get out of there i have to admit it was the hardest thing i think i have ever done the double ironman was a blast compared to that, after we came out we had a chance to set of the dynamite our guide had bought a melon to blow up so he hollowed a hole out put the fertilizer in and then the dynamite and fuse he lite it and let us get some photos with it. of he ran and we waited with baited breath for the explosion and then of it went it was a good way to finish the tour.
After showering and eating we chilled around the hostel waiting to get the overnight bus to La Paz