More Photos From Potosi
Here’s one last group of photos from Potosi, Bolivia. As you might guess by the volume of pictures, I really liked Potosi. It had an intense energy about it, and combined with its considerable history, I found it to be a fascinating place.
Potosi uses crossing guards dressed as white tigers to help people cross the busy streets. I caught these two on break, and they were kind enough to allow me to photograph them:
Crossing guards posing for a picture, Potosi
Here are a variety of other photos of Potosi, I hope you enjoy them.
Dog, Potosi
Church and bus, Potosi
Convento San Francisco tower with Cerro Rico, Potosi
Dog, Potosi
Dog, Potosi
Vote for Joaquino!
Crypts under Convento San Francisco, Potosi
Motorcycles prohibited
Street view with bus, Potosi
Convento San Francisco tower and Cerro Rico, Potosi
Street view with Cerro Rico, Potosi
Cerro Rico, Potosi
Street view with Cerro Rico, Potosi
Street view with Convento San Francisco and Cerro Rico, Potosi
Street view with Cerro Rico, Potosi
Street view, Potosi
Street view, Potosi
Hotel Central, Potosi
Looks amazing! How did you find out about this place? I love Latin American countries.
Potosi came up time and again when reading about the history of Bolivia. It used to be one of the richest cities in the world. The Spaniards discovered silver there in 1545, and during the 16th Century, over 60% of the silver mined in the world came from Potosi. The silver was minted into coins and hauled out on the back of llamas, to the Pacific, where it was put on boats and taken to Panama, then mule-trained across Panama to the Atlantic, back onto ships and off to Spain. Some of the wealth that was generated it still visible there today — beautiful churches and colonial homes. While some benefited, others sufferend — the mines took an incredible toll on the local population, as well as slaves who were brought there to work in them. Today, they are still mining Cerro Rico (“Rich Hill”) — albeit on a smaller scale, with local cooperatives. It’s a really interesting place with a long and complicated history. It’s also one of the highest cities in the world, at a breathtaking 4,067 m (13,343 ft).
Wow! I knew about the Spaniards finding silver in South America but I didn’t know it was from here! Thank you for providing some of the history.