Potosi

Potosi is one of the highest city in the world (4050 m., 13290 ft.) and it used to be the world's largest producer of silver. The mines are now open to tourists and their safety regulations are somewhat relaxed...













The work of the miners is difficult. To stay under ground for long periods of time, they chew coca leaves.










They feed the "uncle of the mountain" to keep them safe.
















Our guide to the mines invited us to attend a miner's wedding.  It apparently is "good luck" to have foreigners at one's wedding.  We certainly felt welcome.









Dancing seems to be everywhere on my trip :-)













Here are the happy bride and groom. I would be happy if I were getting married AND people were pinning money on me :-)















Congratulations to Teofilo and Juana!














This is the entrance to the mint where the silver was processed (la Casa de Moneda).















In this painting the virgin is merged with the mountain which produced the silver.  The combination of religion with precious metals seems appropriate for the Spanish colonization of America.














A peculiarity in Bolivia is the popularity of bowler hats.











I must say they look cool :-)  The indigenous influence in Bolivia is dramatically different than in Brazil and Argentina.  The people of Bolivia were so interesting.