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Today we leave again at half past eight. These time for a four hour drive to Potosi. After a small breakfast in our room I leave for a very fast search to get postal stamps. Stamps seems to have adapted to the Western prices: 6bs (45fr.) for a postcard to Europe.
This time the road is paved, resulting in a more comfortable trip then yesterday. Including short breaks to look at the gardens of some richer habitants and to see the well-known old Inca bridge. Then the road leads through rough and endless mountains to Potosí.
It's 1 pm when the city reveals itself in front of the "Rich Mountain". This mountain is the reason the city is founded here in 1545. The presence of silver, zinc, tin and other minerals attrack miners for several centuries.
The bus turns through the narrow streets to reach our Hostel Colonial. Our camp for two nights. Again a lovely patio, but the chambers do not connect to it. The (heated) hallway faces outwards. We are at 4000m altitude, and nighttime can be very cold. But right now the temperatures are very pleasant. Willem informs us about activities during the days to come.
Then it's time to go to Casa de la Moneda (1772), we don't even have enough time for a quick lunch.. An English speaking guide is leading us through the different rooms of the museum. There are of course a lot of paintings from the colonial time, with main topic the "Cerro Rico". But also the devices to make coins during several centuries, have been guarded here. As well as the coins themselves of course.
And then we have time to grasp a snack: hamburger or pizza without any problem. And then we can walk through the shopping streets, to find some postcards and little Spanish books.
At 7pm the whole group goes together for dinner in a small Bolivian restaurant. We are the only visitors, but the place has never been that crowded I think.This is real Bolivian cuisine: delicious soupe and lomo with vegetables and rise is on the menu.
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