Bolivia is unobvious. Is a wild, rough around but smiling and friendly. Closed and open at the same time. It is a little bit victim and i have a feeling not cope in today's world.
Through Bolivia I have just slipped and I'm unsatisfied. The Jeep by Salar, in bus to Uyuni and overnight in Potosi. We stopped for 1 day. Friends wanted to see silver mine. The mountain Cerro Rico - named for the wealth of what had her inside. Spaniards doomed to death by slave work thousands of Indians. When silver was lacking, they started to extract tin. Today, the local miners are working hard on a piece of tin. I have to mention that it also chases little children to work. Small, because they come into each slit. It`s not for me - the tourist visit in the mine - so cleverly prepared with the purchase of coca leaves and vodka for El Tio, and dynamite and cigarettes for the miners. Tour with history in the background - mountain which is almost empty.
I was walking around a little bit and I had the impression that this city is indifferent to everything. Sad, poor and overworked.
La Paz. Mess and also indifference - as I remembered as well. Hah - and soroche 🙂 Damned headache, out of breath - so, it's the height of 3600 m above sea level. Girls went for crazy shopping. I tried to follow them and I was dreaming about to sit back and relax. Watching around. As a matter of fact, I only smattered La Paz - as a lollipop by the paper.
Copacabana-Isla del Sol. Hmm maybe I'm strange - but I have nothing to tell. Nothing.
Most interesting were the people. Unfortunately, I was able to talk with few. Marco - our driver, guide and cook at the same time on - a 3 days trip across Salar. He moved with his family from Cochabamba to Uyuni for a work of course. Man, who was as a oasis of peace, without delving into details, in his place at several times during our trip, damn to hit me. I suspect that the natural ease of Latinos and my favourite words “tranquilo” and “manana” allowed him to keep control in any situation. Lovable and very friendly guy. He was a great driver and cook! On the thought of steak of vicuna my mouth is watering!
Potosi. Lost in the maze of alleys going up and down, among buses and cars around we decided to ask someone how to get to the hostel. Route looked simple - according to the map of course - but at 4 000 m above sea level and the winding road was more than strength. And also here we meet a nice young girl who called us a cab and came with us to hostel to show the right way. Even with my medium Spanish It was great to talk.
I'm unsatisfied and feeling that many things are missed. Many of them just went by unnoticed. Boliwia is another place to which I would like to go back. Discover again.