Days 57 - 60: Dinosaur Footprints and Silver Mines

We arrived in Sucre after a long night bus and set out to explore the city. Sucre is a pretty university town that once was the countries capital but has recently been stripped of all but it's judicial responsibilities (to La Paz).

On our second day we headed to the outskirts of town to Cretaceous park where hundreds of footprints of multiple dinosaur species can be seen along a 1.5 kilometer wall. They were only discovered due to cement mining and can now only be viewed from a distance due to erosion.

The next day we hiked to some lesser known footprints in the hills. While not as expansive as Cretaceous park, it was really cool to touch the places where dinosaurs once stood!

Next we headed back to the altiplano to Potosi, the highest city in the world and the location of one the worlds most significant silver mines. First up we headed to the old Spanish Imperial and National mint, where we saw how they made coins from the local silver.

Today we headed up Cerro Rico, to see first hand the working conditions of the cooperative mines. After suiting up and being instructed to buy dynamite, coca leaves and alcohol for the miners, we drove up the mountain to one of the mine entrances.

The group spent over an hour exploring and learning about the mines and the unique culture of the miners. Except for Sarah and a couple of others, who preferred safety and fresh air, and didn't go too far past the entrance!

Tomorrow we are off to Uyuni for a 4WD tour of the salt flats and national parks. So the next time you will hear from us will be in the north of Chile! Ciao for now!

Sam Fact for Potosi: The ridges on the circumference of a coin were originally designed to prevent people from trimming the coins and stealing the silver.