After visiting the silver mine at Potosi, I’m quite sure I don’t want to be a silver miner.
The work days are really long and the miners don’t eat anything during the day. Instead, they bring bags of coca leaves with them and stuff their mouths with leaves throughout the day to give them energy. The boys of Potosi start young and the life expectancy of a miner is very low by our standards.
Manja making her way down the narrow mineshaft on a sketchy ladder
This mine is the real deal, and as a tourist you don’t get to visit an area set up for tourists. You go where the real work is being done and experience first-hand what hard working conditions really are. The mine doesn’t slow production just because tourists are present. Our guide was listening at the entrance to the mine for the sound of any rail carts making their way out of the mine. When all was clear we had to run while crouched down to make it to the first “pull off” to let carts coming out pass without us being run over.
The main tunnels in the mine are just big enough for a rail cart to fit through. You have to crouch down to pass while walking… or running.
Our guide led us to the market before heading into the mine and we were encouraged to bring the miners some gifts for interrupting their day. I decided to buy them dynamite because, well, how often do you get to go to the market and buy dynamite?
Each of the crews has their own little headquarter outside the mine and they work as a small team separate from the others while inside the mine
Location: Cerro Rico, Potosi, Bolivia