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We had all been told about Potosi, it is the highest city in the world (4060 metres) which meant we could literally say we were on top of the world,reason enough to go on its own! But we had also been told about some rather crazy but amazing tours you could do down into a real working bolivian mine to see how they work and the conditions they work in. We were all abit nervous but decided it was an opportunity not to be missed so booked all nine of us on trip (two rather more reluctantly than others). The next morning we were up and got kitted out in full mining gear ready to descend into the mines. First stop was the miners market where we stocked up on all the essentials, coca leaves to help with the dust, 96% proof alchohol to help with the reality of being down there from 9-8 every day (obvisouly we were only going down for a few hours!) and then the final essential....Dynamite! It was so surreal buying our gifts for the miners, coke and dynamite!!! Soon we arrived at the mines and it began to sink in what we had actually let ourselves in for, so after some last minute doubts we turned on our head tourches and headed into the first level of the mine. Our hearts were pumping so hard in our chests as we crouched through the tallest level down there, Rich and the lads were bent over in half already...it was pitch black as we followed the cart track deeper into the mines, the dust was already getting into our mouths and breathing seemed so difficult. Just as we were all thinking this was like some horrrible scary set 4 miners came trudging past pushing and pulling a cart full of the silver rocks they had mined, we couldnt even imagine carrying a bag down here it was so hard to breathe never mind a 80k cart! By this point Lauren had decided that she had seen enough and headed back towards the light that by now seemed miles away.
We then reached what looked like a dust slop down into darkness,unfortunately it turned out to be the entrance to the second level of the mine! Rich decided he couldnt go any further as breathing got even harder at this point so headed back up top. Shell and Rose climbed down on their bums and slipped and slided (into many rocks along the way) down to the second level, everything felt so sureal by this point, you couldnt stand up above your middle and the dusk was unbearable even with scalves around our faces, also because of all the dynamite the heat was getting so firery! Just as we thought things couldnt get any more real we began to come across the miners at work, literally lying on there bellies with only a hammer and chizzle working away at veins of silver, they did not eat down there all day due to the dust and dirt so rely only on cocoa leaves to keep them going, we still werent even sure if we were going to last the full 2 1/2 hours never mind the 6 days a week they work for their whole lives (not that their life expectancy is very long, 40 years mining max!)
Next came the third level of the mine, we clambered down a make-shift ladder and across a suspended piece of wood across a 15 metres old mine drop on our hands and knees, we were all wondering what the hell we were doing but it was so amazing to see we had to carry on. once seeing some more miners and giving our gifts we made our way down to the final level where most of the action was going on... we were now on all fours as there was no more than crawling space on this level, Shell decided that if she'd come this far she was not going to leave without giving it a go herself, after managing 4 hits she was coughing like hell because of the dust and so out of breath because of the lack of ventilation and air down there...the miner had been down there for 5 hours already hacking away at the same 1 inch wide vein and and reckoned it would take him another 7 hours until he could put dynamite in it! The guide then quickly made us scramble out of the mining section we were in and make out way down a long dark shaft to another section of the mine, 1,2,3 BOOM! They had set some dynamite off while we were down there, the smell of fumes was so overpowering we literally felt like there was no air left, it was time to start the climb back up. It was so knackering and painful scrambling back up the same dusty slopes we had slid down but the thought of getting out made us all keep moving as quick as we could.
As we all scrambled out into the daylight we couldnt believe what we had just seen, it was like a set for a film but the reality was guys did this every day for up to 40 years by which point their lungs would give up and that would be the end, they started from as young as 14 years old! Next thing we knew the guides had put something round and sizzling in our hands shouting 'picture, picture!' Bloody lit dynamite! After some VERY quick photos they ran off with them into the field ahead of us and dropped them before retreating back.....BOOOOM! The loudest sound and biggest shake we'd ever heard/felt! So scary! Once back at the base and back in our own clothes we then started asking the questions we really wanted to know the answers to but didnt really dare ask....how many people have died down the mine.....4O THIS YEAR (and we are only in march)! One of the most horrible, scary and intense things any of us have ever done....and one we will definately not forget, amazing!
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