¡Hola!

When travelling to Sucre we stopped at a city called Potosi - the highest (4600m above sea level) city in the world. The adobe brick city clings to steep, rocky, barren, brown hills. The climate is very harsh. The city is steeped in tradition and history - tragic and true. It´s where huge silver deposits were found in the hills in the 1500s. Thousands of people still work deep under ground - mining these deposits, many of them children. This city was once the wealthiest city in South America - underwriting Spains economy. (¿Oscar, did you know this?)

It´s common to see Bolivians with wads of coca leaves in their mouths. They suck these leaves as they help them cope with altitude, temperature fluctuations, and overall good health.
¡¡¡¡Jarki has taken a liking to coca leaves - I´ve caught here surreptiously stuffing them in her mouth!!!!! I´m not worried because I´ve been told Jarki needs to chew 5 kg at once to get the same buzz as 1g of cocaine. ¿Is her mouth big enough?

The farm land is not divided into paddocks or fields. There are no wire or wooden fences to define bounderies , instead the people gather rocks on the land and make pens to keep the animals in. It was common to see a man , woman or child sitting minding a group of pigs, goats, or sheep as they grazed. The animals grouped close by their shepherd.

Jarki and I spent a few hours at a market close to where we are staying. We were intrigued with the wide variety of goods the people had for sale - spices, grains, fruits, clothing, food, shoes and utensils. These people have my upmost respect - they are very, very hardworking. Their food is
nutricious, infused with different spices and herbs. Their clothing is beautiful - woven and colourful. Their music is heavenly - uplifting and very happy. The people have a happy, gentle disposition.

Tomorrow we fly to La Paz, then bus to Copacabana (Lake Titicaca).

Hasta leugo
P.S Thanks for your comments. Not sure how to answer each one personally.