Hotel Gran Libertador Potosi

... t have air conditioning so we had to choose between opening the windows and breathing in dust for 6 hours, or closing them and overheating :o(<br><br>For sure this was my most uncomfortable bus ride so far. In addition to six hours of breathing in dust, it also had the least leg room ever. With my back flat against the back rest of my seat my knees were still digging in to the seat in front of me. The road was also more than 90% unsealed and consisted of a combination of ...

... haben wir unsere Ausruestung bekommen, sprich Hose, Jacke, Gummistiefel und einen Helm. Dann haben wir Geschenke fuer die Arbeitet gekauft. Einerseits Wasser und Sodagetraenke, andererseits aber auch 96% Alkohol, Coca-Blaetter UND Dynamit. Verrueckt eigentlich, dass jedes Kind hier legal eine Stange Dynamit kaufen kann... ein bisschen erschreckend..<br>Uns wurde erklaert, dass die Minenarbeiter sehr aberglaeubisch sind und den Alkohol auch dazu verwenden den Teufel zu ...

... the ¨miners market¨ to pick up supplies. As it was a holiday we didn´t buy gifts for the miners, but for 20 Bolivianos(about 3 bucks) we could get a stick of dynamite and a fuse to play with later.<br>Purchases made and a quick sample of the 97% alcohol and we were off to the mine. We made a comical group as we eagerly entered the mine, bandannas pulled down to protect our lungs from the dust. As we entered on the first ...

... For comparison, cheap name brands like L&amp;M are BS/ 5. Small bags of coca leaves (green bag in my hand) are sold for BS/ 5 and the miners chew them all day. It´s NOT the same as cocaine, but still a stimulant. The miners often work 20+ hours a day and need to counteract the alcohol - not kidding! The alcohol (small bottle in the middle) is BS/ 2 and 96% alcohol - not 96 PROOF, but 96 PERCENT! We got to try a small bit and it ...

... lake and take my swimming trunks off, which I did and have the pictures to prove it, afterall it was my birthday. Later we enjoyed a BBQ dinner by the side of the lake and I was presented with a huge birthday cake... lovely and cakey, which I finished off, with help from the rest of the group!!!! It was a brilliant birthday.<br><br>Heading off to the salt falts at Uyuni next, and hoping to take some funny and interesting photos...<br><br>Blog you later...<br><br>Mark and Kate

... lot. We got about 30 miles in<br>from Potosi and it was about 1pm so no chance of making it all the way<br>(130miles ish) in one go. We decided to turn back. <br><br>Not<br>far after turning back we encountered a couple of deep sand patches on<br>the road we had somehow avoided before. Ian powered through the 1st<br>although we nearly came off / hit the rock at the edge. The 2nd we<br>weren´t so lucky and crashed the bike (left side). Ian bruised ...

... with lots of free-roaming llamas and that great big blue sky you can only see high up at this elevation. We rose up to 4,200 meters or so and stopped along the side of the road where we found a small shelter from the wind and we cooked up some canned spaghetti-o's - one of those prize cans in our stock of food that we saved for when we don't really have good cooking conditions - and with the high winds up here ...