Cochabamaba

We booked a 3 day 4x4 tour through the salt flats and the Bolivian desert. The first day we went to the salt flats. I looked like snow, but was all salt. It went for hundreds of miles and was up to 9 meters deep. In the middle there were volcanic islands that had cactus that were over 1000 years old. After lunch, we headed on into the middle of nowhere. the following day we continued on past volcanoes, green and red lagoons, there were flamingos everywhere and rock formations that were very unexpected. The second day we ended up at laguna Colorado. It was a red lagoon at about 14,800 feet. The town was so small. It had no running water and everyone from the tour shared one room. This is where i spent my birthday. Thanks to katie i had wafers with 24 matches in them for a birthday cake and a sip of wine. due to the increase in altitude no one was feeling very well. Everyone was in bed by 8pm, including myself . I think that was the earliest i have ever been to bed on a birthday in the last 15 years. So, even though the day was short lived, it was amazing. I would have never expected to have celebrated my birthday in Bolivia, let alone is some small town with no running water in the middle of the desert. We finished the tour back in Uyuni and headed straight to the showers. they were much needed. Eventually, we made it to the bus station where we had to find our next destination. We ended up on a bus to Potosi. The highest city in the world.
In Potosi we went to the mines where they are mining for silver, lead and zinc. It was a working mine and was really intense. I do not think i would do it again, but i would recommend anyone coming to this area to do it. Seeing the working conditions of these people was really hard emotionally. They have short life spans due to the gases and other things found within the mines. At times they work 24 hours a day just trying to get by. They make an average of $150 a month if they are lucky. When we asked them why they choose to work in the mines they said it was due to tradition and lack of other options. They usually work within families, with the children starting as early as 12. Before we went to the mines we stopped by the miners market to buy some gifts for the miners. They were letting us see what their lives were really like. We presented the miners with everything from water and soft drinks to coca leaves (which the chew all day long to suppress the apatite since they can´t eat within the mines due to the fumes) and dynamite. yes, anyone is able to buy dynamite in the streets. so, that is what we did. each different group of miners we would offer different gifts. The dynamite was always a big hit, since they have to purchase there own supply of dynamite everyday. I don´t know how they do it, and i sure know that never again will i complain about a job i have. Over all the people in Bolivia are some of the most wonderful and warm hearted people i have come into contact with. just by looking at them you can see the hardships and the thousands of stories they have endured.
Now we are in Sucre where we took a Spanish class and have been checking out the museos. We are trying to head into La Paz but all the roads leading into the city have been closed. So we may have to get a flight in, which actually only cost about 27 dollars.
We both have finally successfully gotten our tickets home to Ohio. Whit will be home on the 20th, and katie has to unfortunatly take a very long bus ride and then will be in Cleveland on the 22nd. Happy Turkey Day and we will try to get some new pics on soon, we are having a bit of camera difficulty. Suerte.