The tour to one of the mines in Cerro de Potosi was one of the most interesting but also one of the most shocking experiences during this trip. Cerro de Potosi is also called Cerro Rico (rich hill) because it is very rich in silver and other minerals. There are so many tunnels and holes in Cerro Potosi that people call it a Swiss cheese and are waiting that it will collapse. After putting on protective clothes and helmets, our first stop was the miners market. Here we bought coca leaves, dynamite (only in Potosi it is allowed to sell dynamite at the market and in stores), water bottles and alcohol (96% alc.) as presents for the miners. Then we went to one entrance of the mine. There are lot of different cooperatives and everyone has it's own system inside the mountain.
The deeper we got into the mountain it got warmer and warmer. 
We met a few miners. All were very happy about the water and the coca leaves we brought with us. The working conditions are inhuman and it felt not very good watching other people doing a very hard job. Sometimes they work 24 hour shifts without leaving the mine and with no food. It's hot and dark inside the mine and the air is very dusty. And some of the guys working there are still kids. 
Unless they are very lucky and find a silver vein, they earn very little. And life expectancy is very short once the guys start working inside the mine. It's very sad that nowadays people still work under these conditions. After two hours inside the mine I was happy to be outside again and exhausted although I didn't do anything else than walk. I can not imagine how it is possible to work in the mine.
We met a few miners. All were very happy about the water and the coca leaves we brought with us. The working conditions are inhuman and it felt not very good watching other people doing a very hard job. Sometimes they work 24 hour shifts without leaving the mine and with no food. It's hot and dark inside the mine and the air is very dusty. And some of the guys working there are still kids. 
Unless they are very lucky and find a silver vein, they earn very little. And life expectancy is very short once the guys start working inside the mine. It's very sad that nowadays people still work under these conditions. After two hours inside the mine I was happy to be outside again and exhausted although I didn't do anything else than walk. I can not imagine how it is possible to work in the mine. 
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Oh, thanks for the link :-)
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