Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The blood of the llama is splashed around the mouth of the mine to ensure Pachamama's
attention, cooperation and blessing.
For the next three hours the men chew coca and drink while the women prepare a plate
of grilled llama. The meat is served traditionally with potatoes baked along with
habas
(fava beans) in a small adobe oven. When the oven reaches the right temperature, it is
smashed in on the food, which is baked beneath the hot shards. The stomach, feet and
head of the llama are buried in a 3m hole as a further offering to Pachamama, then the
music and dancing begin. In the evening, celebrants are taken home in transportation
provided by the miner who bought his mine's llama.
Fiesta de San Bartolomé (Chu'tillos)
This rollicking celebration takes place on the final weekend of August or the first week-
end of September and is marked by processions, student exhibitions, traditional costumes
and folk dancing from all over the continent. In recent years it has even extended overseas
and featured musical groups and dance troupes from as far away as China and the USA.
Given all the practicing during the week leading up to the festival, you'd be forgiven for
assuming it actually started a week earlier. Booking accommodations for this period is es-
sential.
TRADITIONAL
Exaltación de la Santa Vera Cruz
This festival, which falls on September 14, honors Santo Cristo de la Vera Cruz. Activities
occur around the Iglesia de San Lorenzo Carangas and the railway station. Silver cutlery
features prominently, as do parades, dueling brass bands, dancing, costumed children and,
of course, lots of alcohol.
RELIGIOUS
Sleeping
If you are arriving in Potosí from Sucre you'll doubtless be pretty disappointed by what
you get for your money in terms of accommodations. It gets very cold in winter so choose
where you stay carefully. Usually only the top-end hotels have heating and they some-
times need to be persuaded to use it, despite what they tell you when they are trying to sell
you a room. There may be blanket shortages in the cheapies, so you'll want a sleeping
bag.
HOTEL
Hostal Carlos V Imperial $
