Tuesday the 29th of April 2003 – Day 70
Very little done today due to late night. My thighs were very sore from all the crouching in the mines. Same with the others. I spent a while trying to find a internet cafe with a CR rewriter, which proved difficult as many do not even have CDs. Anyway I found one and download over 700 photos onto CD. Internet access is cheap (3 B or 0.36 EURO an hour). I met rich for lunch. It was a fixed menu 4 course meal for 10 B. Then went to the mint museum. Entry was 20B including and English Guide. Spent about 2 hours there. We had a beer, and rich took the bus to la Paz. Beth, Dominic and I went to dinner and had an early night. It is difficult been at this height. Walking really takes it out out you, and you are tired by 11.00pm. See my earlier post on altitude sickness and its effects.

Potosi – Bolivia
Taken on the 29th of April 2003
Potosi- Bolovia – Mint Museum – a Mummie. Not just a mummy but a child one produced by the soil conditions here. The department of Potosí is in the southwest of the country. It comprises 37,623 sq. km with 709,013 inhabitants (2001 census). It is mostly a barren, mountainous region with one large plateau to the west. It is also home of Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world. The capital is the city of Potosí. The department is divided in 16 provinces.
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Wednesday the 30th of April 2003 – Day 71
Dominic was heading back to Cordoba at 10.00am. Myself and Beth did a little bit of sightseeing. Decided to miss the stuffy bus service to Sucre at 7.00am and 1.00pm and get a shared taxi. Went to the bus station where there were about five touts offering rides to Sucre. As the prices were small and we did not haggle as we should. took a shared car with two locals for 25 B (3 EURO) each. It was a very scenic 2 hour journey. The driver was going very fast though and rarely stayed on his side of the road. The object is to get to the destination ASAP.
We arrived at 3.00pm. Looks like a nice town. Has a large university population. Sucre has about 200,000 inhabitants and is located an an altitude of 2,790m above sea level. More information can be found here . We booked into the La plata hostel for 20 B (2.40 EURO) per person. Walked around town to find a tourist office which proved difficult as many people were leaving work early. Tomorrow is May 1st (Labor Day) which is a national holiday. Spend a few hours updating the web site blog (2.50 B an hour – pennies) and went for dinner in a local restaurant. Had chicken and chips for 6 B each (.72 EURO) in a nice restaurant. It is SO cheap here. Did very little in the evening. Went to the markets area, which sells anything and everything.
Thursday the 1st of May 2003 – Day 72
Its May 1st.. Labor Day so much of the city is closed down and protests and demonstrations abound. The city is quiet. No buzz like Salta and Potosi. Got up at 9.00am and had a yerba Matte. With 2 German girls I had met earlier (Rachela and urika) we got a taxi to the bus station to check out tickets. There are no buses leaving the city today, so I booked the 5.30pm bus ticket (sleeper) to Laz Paz for 70 B. It will take over 14 hours. Along with Urika and Beth, we got a taxi to the cemetery and walking up the Mountain overlooking the town. The stations of the cross are on the way up the mountain. We then walked back (25 minutes) and had lunch.
The city of La Plata was founded by Pedro de Anzures, Marqués de Campo Redondo, on November 30th, 1538. On 1609, the city received an archbishopric, and granted it theological autonomy. That, along with the establishment of the University of San Xavier in 1624. During the 17th century, La Plata served as a legal, religious, and cultural center of the Spanish eastern territories. The first cry of Independence in the Americas took place in the city of La Plata May 25th, 1809. On August 6th, 1825 independence was declared and a new republic was born under the name Bolivia after its liberator Sim?n Bolivar. On August 11th, the name of the city of La Plata was changed to Sucre in honor of Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre, who along with Bolivar, fought for independence from the Spanish rule.
Anyway, sorry for the history lesson. After walking aeound, we walked to the cemetry, but was closed due to it been a National Holiday. Instead we walked to Bolivar Park which was nice. Great weather here at the moment. Went back on the net for an hour and met Beth, Urika and a Canadian for dinner and a few drinks. nice place beside the market. Chinnese owned, we had a massive plate of rice, chicken and noodles for 5.50 CP. Restaurant was also showing Jet Li “hong Kong” martial arts movies. Think it was “The Twin”. Fantastic stuff. Was in bed by 11.00!!!

Sucre
Taken on the 1st of May 2003
Sucre – Bolovia – Overlooking the town. Sucre (population 190,000) is the constitutional capital of Bolivia, located in the south central part of the country. Historically it has also been known as Charcas, La Plata or Chuquisaca.
In the 18th century the area of modern-day Bolivia was known as La Plata for its wealth (Plata meaning silver or wealth in general). After this the Rio de la Plata is named because there were the port facilities.
Too remote after the economic decline of Potosí it was given up as administrative capital for La Paz. It is now named for revolutionary leader Antonio José de Sucre.
Click on the picture to see it in its original size

Sucre
Taken on the 1st of May 2003
Sucre – Bolovia – Overlooking the town. Chuquisaca is a department of Bolivia. Population (2001 census) 531,522. It borders Cochabamba, Tarija, Potosí, and Santa Cruz. The deparmental capital is Sucre, also the constitutional capitla of Bolivia.
The department is divided in 10 provinces.
Click on the picture to see it in its original size
Friday the 2nd of May 2003 – Day 73
Got up early as usual. Bus this evening at 5.30pm, so decided to do very little today. Packed up my bags and left my rucksack in the office. Thankfully, Beth is going back to Potosi. Couldnt stand her. The hostel was fine and the staff pleasant. Went to the Market which was nice – seeing people buying and selling. There is only 1 empty supermarket in town. People do there business on the street. Changing my mind a bit about Sucre, its not Salta but its a living city. People are going about their business as one should. With the poverty level in Bolovia, can you blame them. Bus left promptly. 14 hours to la Paz. The 2 german girls are also going to La Paz.