Potosi

6.12.

Let's go to Potosi. The three hours are only marred by a bus accident that happened on a mountain road. We suspect bad tires or driver error as the cause, because the roads here are in great condition. In Potosi, it takes us a while to get to the hotel. There is a lot of traffic, many one-way streets, and our hotel is in the pedestrian zone. But it's worth it. The room is two stories, the courtyard is very cozy, and the restaurant is good! We meet a Swiss couple who are on an 8-month trip through South America. Lukas and Lidia are relaxed and we arrange to have dinner together. In the meantime, we enjoy a private tour of the Franciscan monastery, including the crypt and the view from the roof. The explanations are very interesting and entertaining, and we can ask Valeria anything about Potosi. After that, we stroll through the alleys. Potosi is alive and so far the most beautiful city in Bolivia. It is thanks to the Spaniards, who transported all the silver (more than 60,000 tons) to Europe and made Potosi, with its 200,000 inhabitants at the time, the richest city in the world. The wealth has faded, the mines are still in operation, but the old town remains. The exchange with the Swiss is great and we can help them a bit with Peru. They also love wine and the two bottles disappear quickly. The main square of the city has already been decorated in the afternoon. But what is happening in the city tonight is incredible: everyone is out and about, there is music, dancing, drinking chocolate milk, and celebrating Saint Nicholas' Day. There are Santa Clauses and various mascots, with whom you can also take photos, like in Disneyland. We are interviewed by a television station for the festival and we make an effort to speak Spanish. After a nightcap in a bar, we happily go to sleep.