Bolivia: Potosi (Day 303)

Working miners (minerals such as zinc)

Potosi, the world's highest city (4090m) is not as bad as we thought... On the other hand, the working conditions in the mine are worst than what you can imagine... But they still smile and joked with us! Shocking, hard climbing in very narrow corridors, hot, intoxicating a little but worst it... more than 2 hours in the mine is quite an experience... We bought some present for them (juice and coca leaves to chew). It could have been dynamite too! ....

Dynamites, cigarettes, alcohol (96 degrees) for the miners...

Coca leaves to chew for the miners & for Thierry!

Entrance of the mine

20 bags of 50kgs each, 10 times a day!

Chewing coca...

El T(D)io! The God of the mine (representing the devil)

Our guide, lighting a cigarette to see if we will have 'Buena Suerte' - if the T(D)io smokes it, it is Good Luck, otherwise... we might have stayed in the mine!

Another one (older)!

Potosi, world's highest city!

Bolivia: Sucre (Day 300-302)

Text to come...

Bolivia: La Paz (Day 296-299)

5400 m!

Shopping & 5400 m (very easy one though)! We did not make it for Huayna Potosi (6088m), a shame! We got both a cold... and we guessed we needed to be in a very good shape for the 3 days... I won't know if I would have been able too... hrrrrr... Otherwise, La Paz which is NOT the official capital (but which looks like it) - only governmental, is far nicer than Lima we thought and we prefered it too than Quito but is higher too (3650m)... Up and Down is what you do slowly... We tasted our first Bolivian saltenas (empanadas al horno), went to the cine (for a little change), went to climb the Chacaltaya (5400m) but we only needed to climb 200m to get to the top!!! Normally there is no snow at this season (winter) but we did have it that day! We quite enjoyed the light snow storm up there. Nice view too! To finish off this mountainous day, we went for a little treat... A swissfondue!!! After 10 months on the road, I can tell you, this was delicious... Before heading off, we finally sent an heavy package of 13 kgs! Regalos, mis amigos! 

Artesanias everywhere... View from our room!

13kgs... Quite a story to send it!

Llamas' foetus... for sale outside the witches' shops

La Paz, up and down!

Huayna Potosi, we did not climb it but at least we have seen it!

View from 5400m!

Mountainous suntanned!

Swissfondue! Haihaihai! Hmmm!

 

Bolivia: Isla del Sol (Day 293-295)

Yes, we are in Bolivia... the water was freezing cold but great surprise!

Text to come...

A beach only for us for lunch! Great time!

While I am in bed (a bit sick), Thierry was enjoying a beer... of course!

In front of a beautiful sunset again!

Peru: One last stop - Lago Titikaka (Day 289-292)

Sunset from Pachachamama on La Isla Amantani, Lake Titicaca

Text to come...

Puno from the Lake Titicaca - on our way to the islands (Peru side)

Boats made of tototura... This one is a Mercedes Benz for tourists apparently as the ones they use are not as big!

1h on Los Uros (floating islands)... colourful, informative but very 'ready for you'! But we got some nice shots at least...

La Isla Amantani, 3h30 by boat from Puno...

The families are waiting for us...

Our host for the night...

Hummm... Quinoa soup for a change! This one was good though...

Up in Pachamama...

Pin-up, only when I feel it!

Amazingly beautiful from where we were!

La Isla Taquile... on the way back to Puno

With travellers from Quebec... Lovely family! On the road for a few months... years...

A spanish guy having a siesta!!!

Our waiter... such nice people!

Romantic lunch! It is not often in such places as usually we eat in markets...

Captain Thierry on TITIkaka...

In action... they are producing web and tele clips... We were waiting for a new battery or for some help from others boats... It did not take too long... so only a little adventure!