Saturday, June 17, 2006
Potosi
I left Uyuni for a dusty drive to Potosi. It took over 5 hours to do 200 Ks. Arrived at Potosi in the early afternoon and found a parking garage, then a hotel. The next day I started looking for a tour of the local mines. As it turns out, it's the end of the month and there is a party at the mine entrance, so at 10am off we go, all eight of us in two taxis. We are greeted there with a liter of beer, which when opened, the first drop must go to mother earth easy. It is some time before the main show starts
s and all dressed and no place to go...
These people have strong pagan beliefs. This day and these Lamas are the main event
As this was a Pagan event you just stand back and look and se
e
What these people want is safety in the mine, and by splashing the blood around for the sacrifice this will help (though in a town where anyone can buy Dinamyte for $3 a stick one would question whether this works.)The next part is to BBQ the beast, dance and sing (no work today or the next . To help the afternoon go by, people come around with a jug of clear liquor (home made) and shot glass and the first drop is for Mother Earth. The rest is a very interesting drink, not to be confused with anything fit for human consumption! As this was Saturday I would have to wait till Monday for a m
ine tour.
This is on the third level down. This guy chips away with a hammer and chisel 12 hours a day at a seam that has silver, tin and zinc. This work will go on till he has some tons of ore. It will then be taken out with help of others, and all by hand at an altitude of 4000 meters! (I have a hard enough time just walking around, let alone work like that, and here in the mine with the dust and heat ???? ) The job from Hell! I'm just happy I get to leave!
s and all dressed and no place to go...These people have strong pagan beliefs. This day and these Lamas are the main event
As this was a Pagan event you just stand back and look and se
eWhat these people want is safety in the mine, and by splashing the blood around for the sacrifice this will help (though in a town where anyone can buy Dinamyte for $3 a stick one would question whether this works.)The next part is to BBQ the beast, dance and sing (no work today or the next . To help the afternoon go by, people come around with a jug of clear liquor (home made) and shot glass and the first drop is for Mother Earth. The rest is a very interesting drink, not to be confused with anything fit for human consumption! As this was Saturday I would have to wait till Monday for a m
ine tour.This is on the third level down. This guy chips away with a hammer and chisel 12 hours a day at a seam that has silver, tin and zinc. This work will go on till he has some tons of ore. It will then be taken out with help of others, and all by hand at an altitude of 4000 meters! (I have a hard enough time just walking around, let alone work like that, and here in the mine with the dust and heat ???? ) The job from Hell! I'm just happy I get to leave!
