Dangerous Jobs, A tour the Silver Mines of Potosi, Bolivia

After purchasing dynamite at the local tienda, we head up into the mines of Cerro Rico, in Potosi, Bolivia that, at one time, was the riches source of Silver in the world making Potosi the wealthiest city in the world. Those days are gone but the poor miners still spend their lives trying to earn a living the old fashioned way in these mines.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• silver
• mine
• dynamite
• explosion
• explore
• Potosi
• Bolivia
• locals
• poor
• manual
• labor
• south
• america
• travel
• world
• geography
• bomb
• dangerous
• jobs

[skeilty101]

@Cvillemac great video dude just a couple of questions, why is your guides cheeks swelled like they are and why did they instruct you to take the cocaine?

[Cvillemac]

@skeilty101 He is chewing coca leaves, many coca leaves. What he offered was not cocaine, he was joking. It was a mineral that is chewed with the coca leaves. Most miners chew these leaves, it helps the miners lubricate the throat in the dusty environment and help give them a boost of energy in their work. The effect is like drinking lots of tea. I tried it too, it helps. Coca leaves are very good for the digestive track.

[OdysseusAres5500]

Shit quality.

[Cvillemac]

@OdysseusAres5500 I was contacted a couple of years ago by a News Network to use some of this footage in a documentary. The producer said when they went into the mine to do a story on a local miner all of their equipment failed. Considering the mine is over 100 degrees with 100% humidity and full of dust particulates, I would say the footage from my 350 dollar Canon camera is pretty good. Thanks for the thoughtful comment.

[Cvillemac]

@desertstorm21 What a shame. When I think of South America, I think of amazing landscapes, beautiful people, rich cultures, incredible music, and a land full of adventure. The small drug producing areas would not even exists in South America if the United States were not so a veracious consumer of illicit drugs.

[mw2ice1]

lol wtf e got cocain

[ibvocean]

Thanks for the video. This makes me appreciate much more what I have ---- those precious silver coins for the coming financial collapse.

[BlackbeardArghh]

@Cvillemac I just got back from Peru, where they also chewed the heck out of the coca leaves... Apparently, it does contain a very small trace of cocaine and provides pain relief and also helps with altitude sickness (probably why the miners were doing it)... Cool video! You take any silver home?

[theshyguitarist]

That one dude's Iron Maiden shirt was so appropriate. ; )

[AmberCorwin]

@Cvillemac No, it's GREAT footage, you're correct, but it's in 240p on youtube in the days of 1080p, surely that's what the dude meant. Despite that, though, for 240p which isn't that bad, to me, it looks spectacular.

[Woppage28Montages]

yes just smoke while you re making bombs thats safe

[jaandrade11]

hiroshima bomb

[Cvillemac]

@estesoyojajaja Not cocaine, coca leaves. There's a big difference...