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Hello again,
I spent 30 mins trying to upload my photos at the last hotel with no luck, so it may be a while before you see any.
In my last blog I was in Potosi but I had not even ventured out of the hotel yet so i didn´t have much to tell. Later that day I went to explore the town which was crowded and manic with cars and buses everwhere and cholitas (typical bolivian women who wear a certain type of skirt, genrally wear a bowler hat and wear their hair in 2 plaits) sitting on the street trying to sell anything ranging from hair accesories to homemade pastries. I personnaly felt quite overwhelemed by this town- especially since many of the cholitas selling their products had babies on their back or their little children sat next to them. It just made me appreciate how good we have it in europe. Potosi itself has some beautiful architecture, especially churches (it has 37!) because 100s of years ago it was a very rich city due to the nearby sliver mines. Unfortunately now that there is hardly any silver left the city has become more and more poor.
Some of the others in the group visited the silver mines and told me all about the awful working conditions the workers there have to endure. They can be as young as 10, lying about their age so that they can earn some money. They work 12 hours a day, 7 days a week and get paid the equivalent of about 30 pounds a week. Even though I didn´t visit them myself I found these stories harrowing (if that is how you spell it!) and just can´t even begin to imagine what ttheir lives muct be like. I mean as far as I am concerned that is no life- where is the pleasure, fun and happiness in that? If that wasn´t bad enough they are also shoretening their lives by exposing themselves to all these fumes everyday many of them dying ages 40 or 50.
In the afternoon we looked around the local museum where we learned about how the silver was made into coins and how becuase silver was so abundant everything was made from this, including cutelery, horses hooves, teapots etc. However nowadays all the bolivian currency is produced in spain, france and canada just because Bolivia can´t afford to do so anymore.
In the evening we yet again enjoyed fantastic food for a great price at a lovely little bar restaurant called 4060 (named after the altitude of this town!)
The following morning (yesterday) we took yet another bus north to the most beautiful city in Bolvis- Sucre- its former capital city. It really is gorgeous, with beautiful white buiding, lots of greenary and a lovely central plaza square. After a demanding walk uphill we arrived at a beautiful spot where we we sat outside on a terrace overlooking the city and the surrounding mountains- yet another breathtaking view and a prefect spot to enjoy some lunch in the sunshine.
Last night we ate and partied in the bar upstairs, dancing along to many unheard of spanish songs but lots of fun all the same!!
Our hotel here is by far the best we have had with hot powerful showers, warm rooms, very comfy beds and a fantastic breakfast buffet including fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs, bread, juices etc. A very good start to the day that´s for sure.
Sophie and Miranda have gone horseriding for the day around sucre so I am sure they will come back with some beautiful pictures and stoies. I am about to go mountainbiking with some of the group for 4/5 hours around and outside the city to enjoy the sunchine and observe some more stunning views (no doubt!).
I´ll let you know how it all went x
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