Before leaving La Paz, we tried to visit the San Pedro prison, but we were told it wasn´t aloud anymore and that immigration officers were watching to see if any tourists try to get in. I´m not about to get deported for visiting a prison! So we walked around the market and bought a fish for Michael! His name is Rodrigo. He gave him back to us to look after until we meet up with him again!! We forgot to buy any fish food so we´ve been feeding him cookies and crakers which doesn´t seem to be going down to well! We´ll have to find a vets in Potosi or Uyuni!
So Dave and Paul went off to Lake Titicaca and Peru whilst Michael and Sean went off to do the Salar de Uyuni and other stuff. Liv and I caught a night bus for Potosi. We stopped off at a tiny village called Cha´lampa (or something like that) at 2 am, where I had something to eat and we arrived in Potosi at 5.30 am. We went straight to the hostel, slept a couple of hours and got up to go visit the silver mines. A woman stopped by our room offering us a tour which we took. A mini van picked us up and took us to a small house where we got changed int yellow overalls, boots and a hat. We had to buy ´gifts´ for the miners, which consisted of a bottle of juice and a bag of coca leaves. We went through the mines for a few hours. It was quite impressive to see the miners and makes you realise how terrible their job is! The top of the mines is pretty chilly but they work deeper inside where the temperature can be as much as 42 degres celcius! It was quite unbearable. We met some of the miners too, the youngest we met was only 15! We also saw the Tio, which is the god of the mines. The miners have built a statue inside the mines which they pray to and drink too. Our guide made us taste the alcohol the miners drink. It´s pure alcohol and taste absolutely putred! After finally getting out and breathing clean air again, we looked around Potosi a little. Oooh! I took some silver from the mines too! Its not blocks of silver duh, but very shiny silvery rocks! Very pretty!
Rodrigo is still alive but not eating much of the crackers we´ve been giving him... poor guy! I hope he makes it to see Michael again!
It seems to me that the best place for Rodrigo is in a frying pan. Might not be enough to feed 3 of you but will do as a starter.
ReplyDeletePignans is a bit chilly at teh moment and it si warmer up north. At least I am able to type during the day (it is mid afternoon) and the sun has finally come out!
The little pest has just thrown a handful of dirt on the laptop. I think I am gonna to drown him!! Just kidding...Or am I??
Hope you enjoy your time in Chile. The wine is first class and tell Liv to get some practice before coming to the South of France!
You are going to San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis in the middle of the desert...After the "Road of Death" you can do the "Valley of Death".
Must go. Lots of kisses.