It was a day to visit the mines of Potosi! They were the largest silver mines in the world. More than 8 million people have died in these mines since the beginning of their exploitation and even today, just from being destroyed, about 14 people per month die, by the way, when we arrived at the mine they were transporting a miner who had his foot and leg all destroyed, from a stone that fell on him! These workers do not eat anything for more than 8 hours of work, they only chew coca leaves and drink pure sugar cane alcohol, 96% in volume, to withstand the crazy heat inside the mines, the lack of oxygen that exists in the tunnels and the altitude of more than 4000 meters! The average life expectancy of these workers is 40 years due to the gases and chemicals present in these mines!
Our group took us to offer the workers coca leaves, juices, cigarettes and dynamite, I had the opportunity to work a little from stone with a sledgehammer and I almost got a lung out with the heat and lack of oxygen inside, the coca leaves saved me! xd
Undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life, but I could see the inequality in these poor countries, which lose half of their life expectancy just to feed the family … totally unfair!
Without a doubt the worst job in the world!