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96% alcohol and dynamite
We arrived in Potosi at about 3am and asked to be taken to a hostel in my guidebook, hoping they would have availability. Fortunately they did, althought there was a massive turd floating in our en-suite toilet!! I got up early the next morning and booked our mine tour for the afternoon. The Potosi mines were world-famous for their silver in the 17th century but these days they're mined by small co-operatives for zinc and other alloys. I knew they were going to be grim but wasn't prepared for how bad they would be!
We were kitted out with trousers, jackets, boots, helmets and advised to buy bandanas to filter the dust. We then hit the miners market to buy dynamite, 96% alcohol (I obviously invested), coca leaves and soft drinks as gifts. We then were shown a processing plant before heading into the depths of the mine. It wasn't too bad at first, I had to duck a bit (no Bolivians are 6' 3") but there was no trouble breathing. We headed down as far as the 4th level, at times crawling through passages no more than 3 feet in diameter. We met miners as young as 14 years old working in these inhospitable conditions, breathing in asbestos and other noxious gases on a daily basis. I was really hyperventilating at points and couldn't wait to get out. We apparently walked/crawled for 1.8km, going 100m down, having started at over 4200m above sea level. One girl gave up within half an hour, and to be honest I didn't blame her! Having gone down to the 4th floor we had to pretty much climb our way out, it wasn't pleasant. In fact it was a f***ing harrowing experience and made me very greatful for 1 Embankment Place.
On the plus side we got to drink 96% alcohol with miners while we were down there (it was horrible, not that much of a plus) but then got to enjoy oxygen and play with dynamite when we got outside. As soon as we got to back to the hostel we hit the showers (we were f***ing filthy) then headed straight for the bus terminal to get a bus to Sucre. We missed the last bus, but a taxi driver told us there was another company operating from elsewhere so we headed there. Upon arrival we were accosted by another taxi driver who offered to drive us the 2.5 hours to Sucre for 50 Bolivianos (£4.90) each. Deal!!
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