The trip to Bolivia - Peru - La feria de Potosi

Now something that you will find everywhere in Bolivia are "Ferias" as in many places around the globe where you can buy fresh produce and other nic nacs. Actually you will notice that outside the big cities there are very few supermarkets, as most of the trade is conducted in these popular markets.

Besides the practical aspect of buying supplies you will see many different shapes and colours that a are a photographers paradise.

Here in Potosi my main purpuse was to have lunch, since I was in a hurry and in the ferias you can seat and have a hearthy plate served in seconds.

Of course you will eat local delicacies cooked mainly by ladies that live off that trade. If you are worried bout the cleanliness of the pots and stuff, I can tell you that at least you get to see everything opposed to other tourist to restos that hide their kitchens along with their roaches.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - La casa de la Moneda - Potosi

When in Potosi you´l get tired of people telling you to visit "La casa de la moneda", and you´ll be wise to follow their advice. This national mint was responsible for coining a great percentage of the Spanish colonial coins.

Its beautiful colonial architecture house a museum and historical archive which can be visited daily for a small entrance fee.

one of the highlights is the mechanical press that dates from the 1700s and is said to be the only one of its kind left. made entirely of wood and powered by animal traction, it was the machine responsible for pressing the silver plates into coin size thickness.

I must add that the museum and guided tours are quite well laid out and organised.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The city of Potosi

The beautiful city of Potosi, Once Bolivias capital is one of the most picturesque cities in Bolivia.

Originally founded beside a hill packed with silver, it is also one of the highest cities in the world sitting at more than 400mtrs. high.

Its main income always came from mining, specially silver and its famous mint which crafted more than half of the Spanish silver coins of the empire. Thus enriching its people who built beautiful churches and palaces that still stand.

The trip to Bolivia - Peru - The day trip to Potosi

Even though I am fluent in Spanish, something that does help a lot while travelling South America, there is always a nuance that messes up your plans.
i was planning to continue my trip to La Paz from Uyuni the nest morning, so i went to the shacks that operate as ticket offices and asked for a trip to La Paz next morning. the girl said there was one at 9, so i grabbed it and went on happy with my visiting.


later on talking to some Germans I said I was leaving next morning, to which they replied that the buses only left at night. So I double checked the paper slab they give you as a ticket, and It said 21hrs, darn, that's 9pm.

So I had a whole day in my hands. What to do, maybe take another Uyuni tour, dunno, the sunset was pretty amazing, I do´nt think it can be topped off.
So i decided to go to Potosi for the day, which is 3 hours away.
the scenery was very pretty so it wasn't that bad.