A blow (literally) to the peace process. Our visit to Potosi
Wednesday, 20 April 2005
Mood:
mischievous
Topic: Den's Busman's Holiday
After an interesting night before the bus ride to Potosi.... Den's unforgettable night out in Sucre (he forgot where he lived after a night out with the lads and had to get the police to bring him home!), we arrived at the Silver mines. The 3 hour trip round the mines consisted of a tour around a processing plant and a 2 hour trip down the mine itself. This whole experience would have the Trade Unions and The Health and Safety Executive up in arms. Believe us, the 1974 Safety at Work Act does not exist in Bolivian silver mines.
... Yeah... It ewas tough in there.... But we had a job to do!!
On a sobering note, the average life span of a Bolivian silver miner is 40 and if they opt to retire early they don't get a pension until they reach 65. Temperatures under ground easily reached 30 degrees C in a dust filled atmosphere at 4200 metres above sea level there was not much oxygen to go round. We will never complain about life at the office ever again. Den was in ammunition heaven. A shop full of dynamite and fuses..... For sale......legally!
Check out the video below to see what happened when the dynamite went off!!
Dynamite Den
Check out the look on his face. We left Potosi not escorted by the police and you'll be pleased to hear that all buildings are still in tact.
