Deadly Mines:

I had gone early to bed the previous day, so I woke with good time to spare before my tour would start at 9. But 9 o'clock came around, and we got picked up, in total there was 12, and our first stop was the deposit, where we could outfitted with mining clothes (to protect us), wellies and a helmet. We then went to the miners market where we all bought some presents for the miners (I bought a stick of dynamite, some fuse, a detonator and some pink powder which makes the explosion bigger), and all bought some dynamite together for a demonstration. We then drove to the top of the mountain, had a dynamite demonstration, what a blast, I couldn't even keep my camera centered.

We then had headlights fitted onto our helmets, and went into the darkness of the mine, where we met plenty of miners at work, got shown around an underground museum, saw them come by with wheelbarrows, mining trains, and just generally being at work. The first we came by (who got my dynamite) were about to crawl through the tiniest hole into a mine underneath. But the different presens were coca leaves, cigerattes, dynamite, different coca based drinks and 96% potable alcohol. The mines were completely dark, with no form of ventilation, and at the least, ankle deep in mud. When they went around to the different floors (we didn't), there were no elevators, so they dug their own shafts, and climbed down there with all their tools.

In the museum we also saw the two gods miners worship, Tio and Pacha Mama. Pacha Mama is worshipped by American Indians everywhere, it means mother earth; but Tio is a go only for the miners, introduced by the Spaniards as El Mal Dio (the evil god), meant to keep the forced labour in order, it changed with the Bolivian independence war, from being an evil Spanish good, to becoming the god of the miners. And on every friday when the miners sell their mineral, they get money, go party and sacrifice alcohol and coca leaves to Tio and Pacha Mama.

I forgot to mention that Potosi is at an altitude of 4090 meters, and the mountains being mined, peaks at 4824 meters.

Back at the hostel I met  Swizz girl named Angela and an American called Aaron. The three of us went to dinner, the same place I had been the previous day. Angela has been traveling for 8 months and is near the end of her trip, whilst Aaron has been traveling for 1,5 years, and has no plans of going home.
Last night I had the fried llama, but this time I had a chicken milanesa, and once again, the restaurant didn't fail to impress, it was wonderful.

After the dinner, we went back and watched The Devil's Miner, a very strong and moving documentary, about a 14 year old boy who works in the mines we visited that day.
Afterwards I was very tired and went to bed, feeling sad about the fate of Basilio.

P.s. I am writing this from Uyuni, and tomorrow morning I am going out on the saltflats for 3 days, during this time I will unsurprisingly, not be able to write here, so please be patient and don't panic, just because there is no sign of life for 3 days.