POTOSI Potosi / Bolivia

There is not much to say about Potosi. It is one of the highest cities in the world, at 4,090 meters above sea level. For centuries, it was the location of the Spanish colonial silver mine. The mine is still in operation today.

The night before: After approximately four hours bus ride we arrived in Potosi. It was already late, so we ate a pizza and went to our hostel. It was also nice, a pretty three bed room for three pretty people =)

The big adventure started at the next morning. Johannes, Daniel and I booked a silver mine tour. The name of our tour guide was Juan and he was really cracy. He was a miner for nine years. Some of his good friends died in the mine. Actually about 50 people die each year in the mine. I was not aware of this at the beginning.
We were five people in the group. Johannes, Daniel and two ohter german guys, Volka and Chris. On the way there we stoped at a market. We had to shop =) at the mini supermarket we bought: Alcohol, cigarettes, coca-leaves (the coca-leaves are very good for the altitude. It has more than 16 vitamines inside and gets the circulation going. You see people everywhere with hamsterjaws =) it looks funny). We bought also Fanta and dynamite =) it was really funny =) next to the fanta bottle, dynamite =) hahahaha
The reason for the shoping was, we had to give some presents to some mine workers, to show respect!! But the dynamit was for us =) =)

At the entrance of the mine we stoped because first we did some rituals with the local workers. Pray to “pachamama” and to “el tio”, pour alcohol on the floor and pray that nothing will happen to us and pray for the health of our family. At the beginning everything was very funny but after one hour, after 600meters inside the mountain it wasn’t that funny anymore. The air got more dirty and warmer, the air is very thin anyway at 4000 meters. So it got harder and harder.
After a break at the statue “el tio” (el tio is standing for god, the mine god) I wanted to cancel the tour because it was to hard for me. The thin, warm, dirty air, the thinking about that I am in a silver mine, the narrow space…….…
It was really getting worse. I was on the verge of collapse, I didn’t know myself like that. And I never want to experience this feeling again.
After a good talk I continued the tour. I thought “I have to be strong. Step by step and breathing by breathing”. We crawled through caves on all fours and climbed ladders. We were right in the middle of it. Some workers asked us if we were workers because that was not the tourist way =)
I told you, our guide has worked nine years in the mine and he is guide since two month =) He showed us the reality. I met an 25 years old boy, he looked like 55, cracy!! He is a miner since his 15 birthday. Many of the miners are working over 15 hours per day and six days per week. It was really the hardest thing I have ever done and seen.

But not enough. We ignited our dynamite in the middle of the mine, That was really the craziest thing I have done =). The pressure wave was enormous and we saw nothing, there was dust everywhere. I was in exceptional condition. Daniel told me that I sometimes rolled my eyes, I was really in a trance.
But again, thanks for your help!! Daniel, Johannes, Volka, Chris and Juan, thanks thanks thanks. The motivating words helped me a lot!! Whithout you, I am sure, I would still be in the mine =)

After this heavy experience we ate some local food and drunk some beer all together! Juan told as some interesting storys, myths and superstitions. Happy ending =)

Afterwards we explored the city, walked through markets and went to the silver mine museum. It was really interesting, I love this city!!
At the end I want to say, we can be really happy that we were born in a rich, good and safe country like Austria or Germany.

It continued with a night bus to La Paz.

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