Potosi, Bolivia

Some say it's the highest city in the world, others say it isn't. I say, at 4090m it's the highest city I've ever been in. Potosi is famous for its mining. Back in the day it produced enough silver to bankroll the Spanish empire. There are still working mines here and tourists can take tours into them but there are no guarantees about safety. The work conditions are supposed to be horrific and there are also children working in them too. For my time here I just wandered around and hung out watching the locals.

Views on the way from Sucre to Potosi

A statue of miners

There always seems to be some kind of religous parade in every town we go to.

The old mint, now a museum.

There are over 80 churches in Potosi.

San Francisco Church

Same church, different view.

Next and last stops in Bolivia, Tupiza and a salt flats tour.

Sucre, Bolivia

Sucre is billed as the most beautiful city in Bolivia. I reckon they could be right, it's definitly not too shabby. It is a city full of white washed buildings and it even has wide sidewalks in the centre of town, which seemed to make everything look a bit grander (also a bit of a novelty after spending a lot of time walking on the road because there's no passing space on the narrow sidewalks).
Aside from being the most beautiful city, Sucre's other claim to fame is that independence was declared here in 1825.

Our accommodation

The Cathedral

View from our rooftop terrace

Having a bit of a yarn over some carcases.

First time I've seen cow snouts without the rest of the head.

Potatoes galore

Fruit salad or juice anyone?

Fruit & veg

Bet you'd never of guessed without my label.

My favourite place for lunch

Vegetable soup (yes that is meat you can see in it) a whopping NZ60c.

Saltena, an even more expensive 70c.

Sucre

Chewing the fat at sunset.

Great place to watch the sun set over Sucre.

Tana, Glenn and I celebrating Neil's (aka Mr C & Neilith) birthday for him with a bottle of Bolivian wine. Neil was in NZ at the time so couldn't be in the photo with us.

Neil's wine