PotosÃ
Potosi; the worlds highest city (after Amsterdam):
I arrived at 5 in the morning, something I didn't quite expect... Why have a night bus if you don't get to sleep properly? I just happened to think that it was much further away, and my first concern was whether my hostel would be open. I took a taxi in the dark, it luckily drove me straight to my hostel, where the luckily was a night watch, so I took out my sleeping bag and slept in the TV room. Around 8 breakfast was served, and at 10.45 I was allowed to check in.
Having checked in, I walked around Potosi, the worlds highest city, and this place certainly is a lot more beautiful than La Paz, which so far makes it the most beautiful city in Bolivia, although Sucre is notorious for being beautiful, but then again, I haven't been there yet. Before I left for the city, I booked a trip to the mines (the very reason I'm here) for the following day. So when I set out to see the town, it was 12 o'clock, and all the museums were closing, the only thing I got was a cheap lunch (0,5 US). Other South American countries serve empanadas, but here in Bolivia they serve Saltañas; which is more or less the same thing, except the dough is folded in a different way.
But the museums were closing, so I went back to my hostel, watched CNN, BBC and read a bit more (been a good while). The time came around to museums opening,, and I went to see the magnificent "Casa de la Moneda", where I got a tour in English guided by an American, and for once, the signs around were correct (the American guide had translated them). I mainly went on the tour because it is required, but I was very happy that I went, the guide was quite clever and very interesting, he was obviously happy about touring tourists around. The museum showcases the results of the incredible amounts of silver in the mountain, as the name of the museum (and building) suggests, this was where all the coins were produced, and everything had been preserved. From the earliest coin making machines from the 16th century, all the way up till the last one used in 1951. And towards the end of the tour, it was possible to buy a coin blank, and mint your own coin, so now I have a brass coin (30 Bs or 40 US cents) which I have minted myself, and which made a great souvenir.
The tour took about 2 hours, and when it was done, it was already getting late (17ish). When I came back to the hostel, I fell in conversation with 2 Kiwi's (Cameron and Monica), 2 French people (no idea) and a Scot (Allan). It didn't take all that long before we agreed to go to dinner, and a vegetarian place was suggested, so there we went... Okay, so I didn't eat vegetarian food, amongst other animals they also server llama, so I had fried llama with French fries for dinner. After talking with Cameron, Monica and Allan, I decided to go for the 3D/2N trip to Salar de Uyuni, instead of the 4D/3N.