Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BARS
Pub La Casona
Frias 41.
The liveliest nightspot in town, housed in an eighteenth-century
mansion whose inside walls are decorated with contemporary graffiti. The atmosphere is
friendly, with ice-cold beer and good food (Bs20-50) including excellent trout. Live music
on Fri nights.
Mon-Sat 6pm-12.30am.
SHOPPING
Unsurprisingly, Potosí is home to a fair number of
silversmiths
, though they tend to produce
traditional religious ornaments and household items rather than fashionable jewellery. There
are several silverwork shops on Bolívar and Sucre, but be careful when buying silver from
street stalls as purity is often low. A wide variety of beautiful
textiles
(
tejidos
) can also be
picked up: they're hand-woven by different indigenous groups in the region; the most fam-
ous weaving communities include Potolo, Chayanta and Calcha. Textiles are sold from shops
on Sucre and in the
Mercado Artesanal
on the corner of Sucre and Omiste, where you can
also find a good range of hand-crafted
musical instruments
. There's also a cooperative shop
selling weavings from Calcha beside the Ingenio San Marcos on La Paz.
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange
The Banco Nacional de Bolivia on Bolívar changes cash and travel-
lers' cheques. There are numerous ATMs, including the Banco de Crédito, on Bolívar and
Sucre.
Internet
There are plenty of cyber cafés: try the nameless place near
Cherry's
cafe on Pa-
dilla (Bs2/hr).
Laundry
Lavarap, corner of Quijjaro and Matos (Bs10/kg).
Post office
Correo Central, a block south of Plaza 10 de Noviembre on Lanza and
Chuquisaca.
Telephone office
ENTEL, Av Camacho and Plaza Arce.
Around Potosí
There are several worthwhile excursions from Potosí, most notably to the
mines
of Cerro
Rico. Immediately southeast of the city, the
Cordillera Kari Kari
is a good place for hiking
amidst the lakes that provided water for the silver-processing
ingenios
(smelters). To the
northwest, the natural
hot springs
at Tarapaya are a calming place to relax.
Cerro Rico
There are those who, having entered only out of curiosity to see that horrible labyrinth, have come out totally robbed
of colour, grinding their teeth and unable to pronounce a word; they have not known even how to ponder it nor make
reference to the horrors that are in there.
