BOLIVIA: A Lesson in Gratitude

Mining has shaped Bolivia's history for more than 450 years and remains one of the country's most important industries.

The discovery of silver at Cerro Rico in the 1500s helped make the Spanish Empire enormously wealthy.

It also turned the city of Potosí, Bolivia, into one of the largest and richest cities in the world.

Many of Bolivia’s mines are located high in the Andes at elevations above 3,650 m (12,000 feet).

Mining co-operatives are where groups of miners operate mines collectively, sharing costs, equipment and profits among members.

Co-operatives employ a large share of Bolivia's miners. 

We toured one of Bolivia’s co-operative mines in Potosí.

We had to get geared up to enter the mine. The safety features are minimal.

John wrote a FB post following our tour.

“My lesson in thankfulness…

We did a tour of a working silver mine here in Bolivia. It was shocking.

The powerful miner’s union sets the rules for how this mine is run. In exchange for the miners being paid for all the silver they extract - they have to buy all their own supplies and work in a shockingly antiquated and dangerous environment.

The hazards they face: tunnel collapses ( they have to pay for all the support timbers), toxic gas ( mostly carbon monoxide), breathing in silica dust (Silicosis), accidents while drunk (a heavy macho culture that accepts drinking on the job), extreme heat ( the deepest parts of the mine are at 50 DegC (they strip down and work in just their boxer shorts), and more

Before entering the mine we stopped at the “miner’s market”. This is where the miners buy their supplies. (Guests may buy provisions to leave behind for the miners.) In this case blasting caps with a 2 minute fuse.

They aren’t allowed to eat in the mine (arsenic in the mine could contaminate their food) So they chew on coca leaves as a stimulant. They work 8 or 12 hour days with no food - just coca leaves. And it is heavy, dangerous manual labour. 

We made some purchases at the miner's store. We then walked uphill to the mine entrance.

Hanging at the entrance for good luck.

Narrow tracks for ore cars to run and a compressed air pipe for the pneumatic drills.

Supports to hold up the tunnels. Because it is a co-operative, they were built and paid for by the miners, with different safety standards than we are accustomed to.

A loaded ore car BEING PUSHED BY 2 MINERS!!!

We had to flatten our bodies against the walls of the mine as they passed.

A local “good luck” shrine with offerings to the Mine Gods.

When we turned around to head back and could see the light at the end of the tunnel, it was a welcome relief.

I am so grateful for where I was born and the opportunities I have been given.” 

JK

 In so many ways, traveling is a great way to open our eyes to the world around us.

The impact can vary depending on the exposure. Touring a silver mine high in Bolivia’s Andes Mountains gave us a lesson in gratitude.

We are so grateful for where and when we were born and the opportunities that were available to us just by the virtue of our place of birth.

 We are not special, we are just very fortunate and very grateful.