Dynamite can be bought at the grocery store in PotosiAfter a night in Uyuni, a 7-hour bus ride (200 km, I can forget about the comfort of Argentinian buses) on an unpaved but superb road through the mountains brings me to Potosi. It is a mining town that used to be the richest town in South America during the 16th and 17th centuries because of the supply of silver provided by the mountain the city is built on (Cerro Rico). Incidentally, it is also one of the highest cities in the world (4060 m).
Today, the situation is not as good, mining is still one of the main activities here but no more silver is found. Instead, miners work in horrible conditions (I went into a still-active mine for 2 hours today and thought I was going to die) to extract zinc, tin, and other minerals. It was really interesting to talk to the miners and share their daily life. We brought them some juice and cigarettes and dynamite (that we bought at the store, crazy!). Of course we finished with a little bit of fun: holding up some lit dynamite before blowing it up.
Today, the situation is not as good, mining is still one of the main activities here but no more silver is found. Instead, miners work in horrible conditions (I went into a still-active mine for 2 hours today and thought I was going to die) to extract zinc, tin, and other minerals. It was really interesting to talk to the miners and share their daily life. We brought them some juice and cigarettes and dynamite (that we bought at the store, crazy!). Of course we finished with a little bit of fun: holding up some lit dynamite before blowing it up.
The only fun part of mining
les mineurs t'ont certainement parlé de leur remede contre la douleur, de cette plante qu'ils machonnent et mastiquent pour decupler leur force et oublier la dureté du labeur, tu sais la... je ne retrouve plus le nom de cette erythroxylacée... quelqu'un sait?
ReplyDeleteIls n'en ont pas seulement parle mon cher Thomas, ils les ont aussi partage avec les gringos que nous sommes. Malheureusement, l'ingestion de cette erythroxylacée m'empeche actuellement de me souvenir de son nom...
ReplyDeleterien que de revoir ce magnifique levant sur le salar me rend tout chose...
ReplyDeleteJe me revois avec le Tom, bonnets bien sur les oreilles, à macher nos feuilles de coca (c'est pas pour rien qu'on l'appelle la boisson des dieux) en crevant de froid!
Ca y est, c'est fini les souvenirs de tox ?
ReplyDeleteSinon, un grand merci Max. Emeline et moi venons de rentrer de NYC et tes conseils ont été appréciés et suivis, surtout sur le plan gastronomique. Le restal à burger d'East Village, le viet, l'argentin de Williamsburg. J'ai toujours pas compris ce que représentait un Oz mais je sais que ca permet de te péter le bide avec de la viande trop bonne ...