Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hello All. Yes we have been Lazy and have not updated our blog in ages so here i go......
Potosi. We arrived about 12am at Potosi and we went to a Hostal called Kuala Den which is fantastic me and Rob got an amazing warm room with a huge TV with many channels and en suite. Score.
Potosi is a really nice town and its buzzing, and after a day of exploring the place we obviously wanted to do the mine tour. We booked through our hostel because they give 15% of the price to the miners. So not really knowing what to expect we went on the excursion. We first got kitted out on protective clothing with helmets and head torches, before moving on to the miners market. we had to buy presents for the miners. We got them coca leaves, juice and Yes Dynamite..... We then moved on to the processing plant where we saw how all the Zinc, silver and lead was extracted from the rocks.... After this we went to the mine.... The entrance of the mine was covered in Lama's blood, which brings good luck to the miners and it keeps the devil happy. So in we went, we were literally squeezing through dusty tunnels, climing down vertical shafts and trying to dodge carts. It was scary very scary, not for the faint hearted. We spoke to some miners and gave out the presents. it was really emotional to see these men from ages 15 to 50 working 10 hour days with no breaks in dusty hardly ventilated mines. It made you realise how lucky we are. They work so hard it's crazy.
After being in the mine about two and a half hours we had to get back out again. the same way we came in and yes back through shafts and tunnels. We eventually got out which seemed to take forever but we did it...... Then came the boys fun time where they got to blow up Dynamite... Rob made his own bomb and after a few pictures taken with a lit fuse the guides ran like the clappers to bury these bombs.... They were pretty impressive and my word they were loud. The mines were such an amazing and emotional experiance something we shall never forget....
The next few days in Potosi consited of Yaniff, chilling, and mooching... oh and eating. We had a really nice time. The next destination point was La Paz and Me, Rob and Joanna and Craig all left togther. Where poor Joanna got really ill on the 11 hour bus journey, bless her, she is OK now....
- comments