Potosi is known not only as the highest city in the world, but also in the 16th Century, it was the richest due to the silver mines. When I first heard about the silver mines, I thought, hmmm... interesting. What I didn´t appreciate at the time was the horrors concealed within those mines. 8 million people are predicted to have been killed trying to exploit the silver from the mines. And there are still children as young as 10 years old working in the mines. Miners normally live until 35-40 years old max. due to silicosis (a disease that rots the lungs from the inside due to the gases and dust they breath in). And they earn pennies for the privilege. We watched a film called the Devil´s Miner on the first night in Sucre, about a 14 year old boy and his life in the mines after his father died. The film had a profound effect on me. And although it is normal for me to blub at movies, this was part sadness and part horror I think. That these things still take place in the 21st Century makes me shudder.
Anyway, let´s lighten up this blog a bit!!
Sucre is a beautiful city. It´s very different from a lot of the rest of Bolivia, and has a lot of beautiful colonial architecture. We went on a city tour, and it´s interesting to hear how much the Bolivians hate the Spanish, and how they relish in telling the stories of their independance. We went to visit the markets of Tarabuco, which were less touristic than many of the other markets we´ve visited, and were full of locals buying their cocoa leaves, clothes, sandals, food and dynamite (sold to the miners!). In the evening we watched an amazing show of different Bolivian dance styles telling stories from the past.
Then it was off to Santa Cruz. In Potosi some of the group went to see a football match between Real Potosi and Flamingos (a Rio football team) and guess who was on the flight with us. The entire Real Potosi team. This caused great excitment as you can imagine. Although the team was flying economy class with us, and were mixed up with the rest of the rif-raf! We then arrived at our hotel to find the team were also staying there! They are a pretty big team in Bolivia, and the teams are apparently playing for the title of South America cup holders, so apparently they are pretty well known and good at that! You´d never catch Chelsea travelling economy class! And i´m sure there´d be more of an uproar. They definitely wouldn´t have to wait in line, and let us pass through security before them!!!
Santa Cruz itself was a bit dull. It´s a business city primarily! So we went shopping and treated ourselves to massages (5 pounds for 20 mins) and eyelash extensions (10 pounds). So now all the girls are relaxed and fluttering!! Others also had hair treatments (8 pounds) and pedicures (3 pounds 50!).
So now we are in BRAZZZZZZIIIILLLLLL.....
A bit a a hellish day with internal flight, 2 hours wait at the Bolivian Border in the heat and humidity and then a much easier trip through the Brazilian Border. At least the hotel here in Corumba has a pool, with a poolside bar! Luxury!! Off to the Pantanal tomorrow.
Hugs to all :-) x
Football is poo.. seen any snowboarders?
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