Potosi Bolivia: Bus from Sucre to
Potosi; though the ride only lasted three hours, still we stopped several
times for vendors to sell stuff to the passengers.
Potosi Bolivia: Bus from Sucre to Potosi; though the ride only lasted three
hours, still we stopped several times for vendors to sell stuff to the
passengers... and to allow a few to make themselves comfortable.
Potosi Bolivia: Bell tower of the oldest church in Potosi, the Iglesia San
Francisco.
Potosi Bolivia: Typical street in the center of the city.
Potosi Bolivia: Replica of the American Statue of Liberty standing in the
center of the plaza central, 10 de Noviembre.
Potosi Bolivia: The main monument in the Plaza 10 de Novembre appears to be
a copy of the American Statue of Liberty. Here the surrounding buildings can
be seen in close proximity.
Potosi Bolivia: One of the more striking fountain sculptures in the Plaza 10
de Novembre, the plaza central for Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: This is the hotel I escaped to after abandoning the Hostal
Compania de Jesus the first night I arrived. Three stars is about right for
this $27 house: not bad, not good... rotten breakfast though. There seems to
be some confusion about the number of stars.
Potosi Bolivia: Main street in Potosi is Avenida Bolivar and is always
crowded with pedestrians and impatient vehicles. Evenings teenagers hang out
here adding to the congestion.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: This is the currently closed entrance to a quite good
restaurant I used several times. It doesn't look like much from the outside,
but inside things are different; always crowded when open.
Potosi Bolivia: One see almost no beggars in this city. I conclude it is a
shameful activity frowned on by others here. This kid is "selling" toilet
paper to drivers stopped at an intersection.
Potosi Bolivia: Entrance to the five star $45 Hotel Colosol Potosi where I
spent most of my nights while in the city.
Potosi Bolivia: View mountain from which so much silver has been taken as
seen from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star Hotel Colosol
Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: Statue honoring the native miners near the mountain that
produced so much silver.
Potosi Bolivia: Statue honoring the native miners near the mountain that
produced so much silver.
Potosi Bolivia: Many stores along the streets leading up into the mines on
the mountain offer various goods needed by the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Along the road to the mines is a small community with its
own church and market area.
Potosi Bolivia: Along the road to the mines is a small community with its
own church and market area.
Potosi Bolivia: Many stores along the streets leading up into the mines on
the mountain offer various goods needed by the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Religious monument in a small park on the hills to the east
of the city center.
Potosi Bolivia: One of the Mining collective offices in the neighborhood
near the entrance to the mines road honoring the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Participants begin a major religious procession honoring the
Virgin of Guadalupe starting after mass in the San Francisco Church. The
silver platform must weigh hundreds of pounds given the number of men needed
to hoist it.
Potosi Bolivia: Participants begin a major religious procession honoring the
Virgin of Guadalupe starting after mass in the San Francisco Church. The
silver platform must weigh hundreds of pounds given the number of men needed
to hoist it.
Potosi Bolivia: Another statue near the entrance to the mines road honoring
the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Another statue near the entrance to the mines road honoring
the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Another statue near the entrance to the mines road honoring
the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: One of the buses at the station in the neighborhood near the
entrance to the mines road honoring the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Another statue in one of the plazas.
Potosi Bolivia: Characteristic second story overhang used in the buildings
on many streets.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city. Here comes the major attraction.
Sucre Bolivia: Ugly thorn buses used as highway obstacles. Bus ride from
Potosi to Sucre stopped abruptly when it ran into another highway blockade;
this time twenty miles to our destination and planned to last until
tomorrow. A five kilometer stretch of road was closed with obstacles like
this.
|
I took a lot of
photographs while wandering the nooks and crannies of Potosi. Keeping them
all with the postcard text makes the page load slowly for anyone without
high speed Internet, so here they are on a separate page.
Potosi Bolivia: Monument dedicated to the indigenous slaves forced to be
miners of the early era.
Potosi Bolivia: Bas relief on the side of a monument dedicated to the
indigenous slaves forced to be miners of the early era.
Potosi Bolivia: Hardware supermarket, Bolivian style.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the window of my third story room in the hotel I
escaped to after abandoning the Hostal Compania de Jesus the first night I
arrived. Three stars is about right for this $27 house: not bad, not good...
rotten breakfast, though.
Potosi Bolivia: Street vendors like this lady are seen everywhere.
Potosi Bolivia: Street vendors like this lady are seen everywhere.
Potosi Bolivia: Street vendor waiting for a customer.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: Two ladies who are also cops watch a street vendor lay out
her selection of jewelry.
Potosi Bolivia: Typical street scene.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: One of some sixty churches in the city.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: View mountain from which so much silver has been taken as
seen from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star Hotel Colosol
Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: Statue honoring the native miners near the mountain that
produced so much silver.
Potosi Bolivia: Off duty miners Sunday having a Chicha party invite the
passing gringo to join them. They were not ready to take no for an answer
and grabbed me showing me gourds of the yellow liquid.
Potosi Bolivia: Along the road to the mines is a small community with its
own church and market area.
Potosi Bolivia: Many stores along the streets leading up into the mines on
the mountain offer various goods needed by the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Participants get ready for a major religious procession
honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe starting after mass in the San Francisco
Church.
Potosi Bolivia: Participants scatter confetti along the major religious
procession honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe starting after mass in the San
Francisco Church.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city. This guy holds the support used to
relieve the enormous weight of the platform from the shoulders of 28 men
carrying the thing when the procession stops.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: One of several offices selling bus tickets for Uyuni; there
is no real terminal in the city for anywhere. Just wander around until you
see someone listing the destination you want.
Sucre Bolivia: Bus ride from Potosi to Sucre went through this little town.
Sucre Bolivia: Bus ride from Potosi to Sucre passed many Jacaranda trees
like these.
Sucre Bolivia: Bus ride from Potosi to Sucre stopped abruptly when it ran
into another highway blockade; this time twenty miles to our destination and
planned to last until tomorrow. A five kilometer stretch of road was closed
with obstacles.
Sucre Bolivia: Ugly thorn buses used as highway obstacles are tough enough
to do damage even to truck tires! Bus ride from Potosi to Sucre stopped
abruptly when it ran into another highway blockade; this time twenty miles
to our destination and planned to last until tomorrow. A five kilometer
stretch of road was closed with obstacles like this.
Sucre Bolivia: Ugly thorn buses used as highway obstacles. Bus ride from
Potosi to Sucre stopped abruptly when it ran into another highway blockade;
this time twenty miles to our destination and planned to last until
tomorrow. A five kilometer stretch of road was closed with obstacles like
this.
Sucre Bolivia: At the other end of the blocked section of road I came upon
this peaceful gathering of protestors. Nearby police did not interfere.
Sucre Bolivia: At the other end of the blocked section of road I came upon
this peaceful gathering of protestors. Nearby police did not interfere.
Sucre Bolivia: At the other end of the blocked section of road I I found the
traffic backed up in the other direction. Another kilometer after that
several taxis waited for desperate passengers willing to pay 25 Bolivianos
for a ride into the city some 15 Kilometers further on. I paid.
|
Potosi Bolivia: People stroll around the main monument in the Plaza 10 de
Novembre. It appears to be a copy of the American Statue of Liberty in New
York.
Potosi Bolivia: Typical second floor overhangs on buildings near the center
of town.
Potosi Bolivia: The main monument in the Plaza 10 de Novembre appears to be
a copy of the American Statue of Liberty. Here the surrounding buildings can
be seen in close proximity.
Potosi Bolivia: Replica of the American Statue of Liberty standing in the
center of the plaza central, 10 de Noviembre.
Potosi Bolivia: Replica of the American Statue of Liberty standing in the
center of the plaza central, 10 de Noviembre.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the window of my third story room in the hotel I
escaped to after abandoning the Hostal Compania de Jesus the first night I
arrived. Three stars is about right for this $27 house: not bad, not good...
rotten breakfast.
Potosi Bolivia: This medical information seller had attracted a small crowd.
Potosi Bolivia: This medical information seller had attracted a small crowd.
Potosi Bolivia: What? Large bags of coca leaves for sale? The bag I hold
only costs three Bolivianos or about thirty-eight cents.
Potosi Bolivia: What? Large bags of coca leaves for sale? The bag I bought
only costs three Bolivianos or about thirty-eight cents. The shop keeper
didn't want me to take a close-up photo of her, so I grabbed this one of her
shop from a distance.
Potosi Bolivia: What? Large bags of coca leaves for sale? The bag I hold
only costs three Bolivianos or about thirty-eight cents.
Potosi Bolivia: What? Large bags of coca leaves for sale? The bag I hold
only costs three Bolivianos or about thirty-eight cents.
Potosi Bolivia: One of some sixty churches in the city.
Potosi Bolivia: Typical street scene.
Potosi Bolivia: Typical street scene.
Potosi Bolivia: Lobby bar in the fabulous $45 five star Hotel Colosol
Potosi. Until I managed to get a room here I had about decided to cut my
stay in this unusual city short. With enough luxury in my bolt hole I can
tolerate just about anything for a while. The welded sculpture of the miner
and the restored carts from old mine operations add an authentic historical
flavor to the place.
Potosi Bolivia: Painting hanging in lobby of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: View from the fourth floor of the fabulous $45 five star
Hotel Colosol Potosi.
Potosi Bolivia: Religious monument in a small park on the hills to the east
of the city center.
Potosi Bolivia: Religious monument in a small park on the hills to the east
of the city center.
Potosi Bolivia: Many stores along the streets leading up into the mines on
the mountain offer various goods needed by the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Many stores along the streets leading up into the mines on
the mountain offer various goods needed by the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Many stores along the streets leading up into the mines on
the mountain offer various goods needed by the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Typical second floor overhang along a street near the center
of town.
Potosi Bolivia: One of the streets in the neighborhood near the entrance to
the mines road honoring the miners.
Potosi Bolivia: Entrance door of the San Francisco Church.
Potosi Bolivia: Participants begin a major religious procession honoring the
Virgin of Guadalupe starting after mass in the San Francisco Church.
Potosi Bolivia: Participants begin a major religious procession honoring the
Virgin of Guadalupe starting after mass in the San Francisco Church.
Potosi Bolivia: Participants begin a major religious procession honoring the
Virgin of Guadalupe starting after mass in the San Francisco Church.
Potosi Bolivia: This little girl is more interested in me than the major
religious procession honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe winds its way through
the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city.
Potosi Bolivia: The major religious procession honoring the Virgin of
Guadalupe winds its way through the city. Notice the sturdy support used to
take the weight off the shoulders of the carriers while they rest.
Potosi Bolivia: Huge door knockers on the mammoth doors of the mint. Hmm...
wonder if they are made of silver?
Potosi Bolivia: Huge door knockers on the mammoth doors of the mint. Hmm...
wonder if they are made of silver?
Potosi Bolivia: Candid shot in the breakfast dining room of the two
Argentines who refused to stop smoking in a small enclosed chamber where the
Internet terminals are located in the Hotel Colosol Potosi. The Hotel manager
also asked them to stop and got an argument. Finally, the hotel posted a
large notice: Fumar Prohibido - No Smoking!
Potosi Bolivia: One of several offices selling bus tickets for Uyuni; there
is no real terminal in the city for anywhere. Just wander around until you
see someone listing the destination you want.
Potosi Bolivia: Interesting sculpture near the entrance to the airport.
Potosi Bolivia: Interesting sculpture near the entrance to the airport.
Potosi Bolivia: Breakfast bag handed out by Aerosur to passengers boarding
the flight to Sucre: two yummy filled rolls.
Sucre Bolivia: Bus ride from Potosi to Sucre stopped abruptly when it ran
into another highway blockade; this time twenty miles to our destination and
planned to last until tomorrow. A five kilometer stretch of road was closed
with obstacles. This is the bus that abandoned me.
Sucre Bolivia: Ugly thorn buses used as highway obstacles. Bus ride from
Potosi to Sucre stopped abruptly when it ran into another highway blockade;
this time twenty miles to our destination and planned to last until
tomorrow. A five kilometer stretch of road was closed with obstacles like
this. |
