Uyuni to Potosi

We left Uyuni at about 10:30 am yesterday. It was a complete shit show as we left. It seems that the company that booked the bus either double booked the bus or another bus broke down, we are still not sure but it seemed as if there were two people for every seat. A woman from the company got on the bus and cleared up much of the mess, ie kicked people off the bus but just before we left the Quebecois couple that was sitting in front of us got kicked out of their seats by these two Bolivian dudes. So as we left Uyuni for a 6 hour rocky trip to Potosi there were about 4 people standing in the middle. It was a dirt road the entire way winding down and up mountains through desert plains. Just before we got to our only stop Anna gave up her seat to the Quebecois woman but was promptly seated again as the ticket collector kicked this other guy out of his seat. He was getting off at the next stop but I didn't really understand it. The stop was just this tiny village where the washroom was a corn field that we all piled into. Pretty hilarious. Then we got this amazing soup with mystery meat at the "restaurant" for about 50 cents and Anna got the complete meal which we split for about 1 dollar, it was actually pretty good and amazing hot sauce, you all know my love for the hot sauce. Then we were off again rolling though the mountains listening to the oddest Spanish Bolivian music that sounded a bit at parts like star wars sound effects smashed with Spanish singing. At this point Anna and I are travelling with Kaye from the Tour, Huge and Madeline headed off to La Paz because Hugh had to fly out soon but we might meet up with Madeline again ( I hope). I finally trade seats with the Quebecois guy (who ever says that french and English Canada don't have good relations can kiss our ass!) so I settle in on the floor for at least the last hour of the trip. Ouch that will hurt the bum. We finally arrive in Potosi, an old mining town that in the 16th century rivalled the largest cities in Europe ie Paris for size and richness. It is a crazy town built on a huge hill. With the mountain looking over it. We get a cab to our hostel. The cab is hilarious, it is a right side drive car where someone ripped out the steering wheel and just put it on the other side but the dashboard is still on the right. We reach our hostel and settle in, there is a TV and we find some English TV and watch for a while. It is really nice to actually understand something completely for once. Finally we get hungry and we set out. The town is amazing at night, stuffed with people and stands. We find this market and wander around for a while then get some street meat, burgers and fries. Then I we find this weird little cart with this old woman selling what at our best translations is " Natural Medicine". Really there is a big pot of boiling plants, water and honey and a whole bunch of old Jack Daniels bottles filled with oddly coloured liquids (one being dark green) that the woman adds to your glass like an alchemist. We order one and drink up, it is actually good. Anna leaves us to make a phone call and Kaye and I wander around more. I get a street stew which was good too for less than a buck and we go back and get some more Natural Medicine but this time the woman gives us this shot of stuff which is "good for our stomachs" for free and it is the most bitter stuff I have ever tasted in my life!!! she laughs at our expressions and gives us some extra of the liquid in the pot with the plants, which is sweet and balances it out. Over all a great night. We finally reached the hostel again and hit the sack. Kaye got sick today but we dont know what from because we eat all the same food? I think today we are off to the mint museum and tomorrow we want to take a tour of the mine which is supposed to be intense since the miners conditions have not changed much since the mine was founded.