Potosí

I told you my sandals are mountaingear. Last week, after breakfast I got the luminous idea to get to the top of the Cerro Rico in Potosí. Now I know that there are trails you can follow, as people are excavating the entire inside of this mountain of silver since 1543, but it is nicer to take the straight line, feels more adventurous. When after a couple of hours, I believe, still haven't got a watch, I reached the top at round about 5.138m, I sat myself down and smoked a cigaret. For these five minutes this mountain was mine!!!!


I know it's a lousy picture, but as I said, it was one of these impulsive ideas straight after a cup of api, without camera or sunscreen. This picture has been taken the day after when I was trying to capture the side effects of mining. The next picture probably doesn't show you very much of what it is irl, but gives you an idea of where to stay with your leftovers after getting the silver out.


I climbed up this "mountain" as well, to see the better of the colours, but was disappointed by the fact that the view from close up was a lot uglier than this one from above. In the next picture you might be able to find a white Jesus, this is from where I've taken both previous pics. I've taken a sample from the waste water as well - you see the little grey canal? - still contains a high percentage of metallic dust.


Last comment on the colours: it appears I better switch back to using agfa or fujicolor film, as the konica-minolta is too blue.

Coming to get you

Take into account that I don't have macro equipment anymore - means size of the animal hasn't been inflated - and as well a slight problem with the curtain of my camara - means picture slightly altered. Several people in the hostal were scared to death (according to the srceams) after discovering this beautiful creature, with legs about the size of my hand. Presume is linked to the palmtrees standing in the parque San Martin across the road.

Foto van mijn ex

Why Argentina is a 3rd world country

I should write this in spanish, as it are mainly the people from argentina that really believe today's title. At the same time i have a good reference being in bolivia right now. Please feel free to add more reasons ...

1. It's in south america
2. the free national health service is worse than the private healthcare
3. there is corruption in the country
4. too many of it's exports are raw materials
5. average wages are lower than in europe
6. people don't panic nor go rioting when there is a powercut
7. the most important person in our country is a retired soccer player
8. look at the cars that drive around