Another early start (we were dying for a lie in!) we headed to catch the bus - it was quite a small bus - luggage was put on the roof and we all climbed on - it was very bumpy and nerve racking as we were driving along mountains with sheer drops! An hour into the journey the bus broke down and had to be pushed luckily it did start again!

After 6 long hours we arrived in Potosi - the highest city in the world! 4070 meters above sea level. It is set against a backdrop of a rainbow coloured mountain called ´Cerro Rico´.

The city was founded in 1545 following the discovery of ore deposits in the mountain. By the end of the 18th century the streets were ´paved´with silver, it grew into the largest and wealthiest city in South America underwriting the spanish economy over two centeries. Millions of indigenous people and imported africa slaves laborers were conscripted to work in the mines in appalling conditions, and millions of deaths occured. Today thousadns continue to work in the mines: although the silver has been depleted, miners work in spine chilling conditions.

We grabbed a taxi to our hostel (taxi´s are so cheap and walking up ateep hills in over 4000m alitiude didn´t appeal!)

We chilled at the hostel for a while then went for a wonder (met the 3 Austrian boys as they were in a different hostel) and went to find out about booking a tour in the mines! We went to 2 companies and Vicky and I had mixed feelings about doing the tour but eventually decided to book it (it only cost 7pound) and we thought if we didnt like the look of the mine we wouldn´t go in.

We all then headed to a restaurant called 4010 had dinner and went back to the hostel for some zzz as we had yet another early atrat (this travelling stuff is so hard haha!)