We arrived in Potosi at 1am after a horrible 3 hour bus and went straight to sleep!
On our first day in Potosi we booked onto a tour and visited a working mine. We went to the miners market first to buy the miners some presents (dynamite, water, coca leaves) and tried the alcohol that they drink which was lethal 96% stuff! We got kitted up in our overalls and helmets and went into the mine for 2 hours. We didn’t really know what to expect but the conditions they work in was shocking. They looked so tired and the guide told us most miners die before 55. Miners can’t eat whilst they are down there due to the dust, so they chew coca leaves which give them energy. Within the 2 hours we walked through the mine but had to run if there was a wagon coming, we climbed up and down the tightest gaps and the loosest rocks. They would never allow tourists to a place like this in England!
The next day, we were going to visit a natural hot spring lagoon. But, looking into this it is now closed due to people dying from the under currents. Instead, we went to a man made swimming pool close by which was full of the hot spring water. Next stop Sucre…
Kerry and Jonho's Travels 