Several members of the group have fallen prey to food poisoning so for some it's a painful six-hour bus ride to Potosí. On the way we pass through stunning mountain scenery, slowing winding round dust tracks until we reach the town and paved roads.
Arriving into Bolivia is like entering another world. Bolivia is poor, the infrastructure is undeveloped and many people look much older than their actual years. I'm saddened to see children with faces of middle-aged people. There are holes in the road, rubbish is dumped everywhere and beggars are on every corner. Despite the evident poverty, it's lively and colourful.
Potosi, the highest town of its size in the world at 4,070 meters has a population of 112,000. The town centre is comprised of twisting cobbled streets with brightly painted houses and beautifully restored colonial churches. Dominated by the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain), Potosí has survived due to centuries of mining, although this is another sad story. I explore the centre of town taking in the bustling streets and market stalls on every corner. Walking up and down the hilly streets leaves me wheezing like an asthmatic.
(Photo - Potosí and Cerro Rico)
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