A trip down the mines, a face full of teargas - Bolivia is done!

At the moment I am in a town called Tupiza in South Bolivia and today is my last day in Bolivia.
Since my last post I have been to the cities of Potosi and Sucre. Potosi was a nice city but bloody cold as it was over 4000 metres high. The main thing I did here was a visit to a working mine. What an experience that was! After getting kitted up with the overalls, boots, miners hat and lamp we set off for the mine, stopping off at the miners market to buy some supplies for them. You could buy pop, coca leaves, fags and some dynamite which was nice and cheap. Once down the mine it was hard to believe that there was actually people working down there. The conditions were rough as, with thick dust and Christ knows what gasses in the air. At times we were crawling down small tunnels where you could hardly fit. The miners were pulling and pushing carts full of rocks which must have weighed a couple of tonnes sweating their asses off! I was knackered just walking and crawling, especially with the altitude. No wonder the life expectancy of the miners is around 40 years old. Next time I am not happy at work I will think of them Bolivian punks down the mines. I was well glad to come out of there after a couple of hours to get some fresh air and blow up some extra dynamite we bought. Christ that dynamite has got some kick!
After Potosi, it was just a few hours journey to Sucre which most of it was downhill. First impression was how good the climate was as we were now well below 3000metres. Great to walk around at night without loads of layers on. Sucre was a nice laid back city even though there were a few demonstrations going on. One afternoon I was out for a quiet coffee in one of the many lush coffee bars. As I approached the main square I could see a large crowd had gathered and the atmosphere was looking a little strained. There was shouting, smoke & fireworks going off, kind of like a Stoke / Cardiff game. I was just thinking if there was another coffee shop away from the plaza when my eyes starting stinging and I could not breath. The smoke was obviously tear-gas that the police had fired into the mob and it had blown down in the bear's direction. That stuff is sodding lethal, it took me ages to get away from it. Back at my hotel I was throwing water all over me stop the burning. I thought sod the coffee! It all died down later and I could get my coffee or should I say large cold beer!
I took a night bus to Tupiza which took less time than they told me and I ended up in Tupiza at 3.30am. The night porter at the hostel did not seem a happy bunny when I woke him up to let me in. Tupiza as a town goes has naff all but there is some descent surrounding scenery. Believe it or not I was persuaded to do some horse riding, Yes! - you heard right horse riding!
It was only for 3 hours and let me tell you my arse is still hurting. Actually it was a good laugh as the stupid horse kept on running for the fun of it. Picture me with my camera trying to take shots, bouncing around on the back of a horse. I now know there is no way John Wayne could shoot other blokes while galloping on a horse - impossible.
The following day I did a jeep tour (a lot easier on the old arse) to the surrounding mountains, which was good with great scenery of coloured mountains. Tomorrow I take a bus to the border and into Argentina where my first stop will be Salta.
Shall be in touch soon after so take care... the bear