Hi,a quick entry from the "City of Silver" - Potosi. The city lies in an altitude of 4.090m, and claimes to be the highest city in the world (as well as a cold one :-) ). The city fomerly was the richest city of south america because of the silver which was found in "Cerro Rico" (the mountain you can see in the background). Nowadays the importance of Potosi has shrunk, but they are still extracting silver - and this with tool, material and under working conditions of the middle age (probably the same with which they have started in the 16th century)! We visited the mine, talked to the "mineros" and could enter the mines pits which were not only narrow and steep but also full of toxic gases and dust! It was really incredible under which working conditions they are working! To drill a hole for a roll of dynmite of about 30cm length the worker needs about 6hours using manual tools and manpower only, they push the trolleys by hand, the temperature varies between zero and 45 degrees ... take a look at the pictures yourself ... they are not from a museum!!!
The city itself is pretty nice with a lot of colonial architecture. Most people work in the mines but the rest of them seem to be advocates (nearly each house has a sign dangling outside saying "Abogado") ????
Today we will continue to "Sucre" ... hear you!
Renate & Mirko
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