la paz to potesi

ride from la paz to potesi was a long one... left in morning got here around 8.

350 miles more or less take much longer than interstate back home.

felt good though as S.A. has been slow going.

first part was flat highlands alongside a range...off in the distance you could see another range that looked off the horizon separated from earth as there was a lake in between...very cool!

as in all mountain ranges i suppose the weather changed on a wim...went from cool overcast to cool sunny to rain...to hail on the ting ting helmet and knees (sucked) then sun into amazing redstone mineral rich mountain landscape to finish up. just as sun going down huge unearlthy looking canyon areas occasionally coming accross little villages that blended into the landscape....clearly dont have to go far for building materials.... clutch is still holding but im anxious about it and the slaeve needs to be replaced. simons bike acting up quite a bit too as the high altitude isnt agreeing with his carb/jets so it spits and sputters a fair amount..

City of Potesi... unexpected appreciated slice with rich colonial feel.... claimed highest "city" in the world at 4030 meters.

small cobblestone streets...vibrant atmosphere...

much of architecture still in/from original 16th century state.

before coming Potesi knew nothing of the place...found out it was the richest silver mining mountain in the world and the spanish found it mid-1500's....for two hundred years this was the funding for their conquering and allowing them to be biggest world empire at the time... found mountain by incan who told them about it....described in story...coming up the canyon to see sunshining on a solo unmolested sparkling giant silver mound. FUNDED THE ENTIRE SPANISH EMPIRE FOR 200 YEARS! thinking about history had the incan not told....