IN STEREO

I go to the mines every day. Normally, I go in the morning and the afternoon. I am the guide who organises the groups [into] English and Spanish. We go to the miners’ market first, to show all the materials that the miners use to work. The dynamite, the shovels, the chisels, hammers, you know? Also the oil lamps, the alcohol, coca leaves… And we tell them that the miners have to buy everything, because the miners are working for themselves. I want [them] to see what work is like in the mine, right? Because perhaps in their countries, their mining is more advanced, isn’t it? More technology, less effort. We carry on almost like in those times of forced labourers. We continue wheelbarrowing, we continue working. So that is what continues to differentiate us from many companies. And I like for the foreigner to see that kind of work – our work. Sometimes improvised tools, improvising clothes [and] safety, right? It’s true. Nobody tells you nothing.

I mean, you work however you can, with whatever you have. The work of the miner is a sacrifice. Many tourists give them shovels – they greatly respect the work. [The miners] are happy when the tourists buy a lot of gifts for them – some drinks, coca leaves and dynamite. They feel angry when the tourists didn’t buy anything and then the tourists are taking photos. They don’t like that. They say, “Why are you here?” [The tourists are mainly] interested in dynamite. Five to seven years ago, it was allowed to make explosions outside the mines for tourists, for fun. Now some tourists ask about that. And I tell them now it’s not allowed, because there is a law against that. But there are some companies that offer it as part of the tour, for money. Some crazy tourists offer me 200 or 300 bolivianos [~US$30-40] extra, just to make an explosion. I tell them, “No.” They always ask that. Always “Explosion, explosion.” – Ronald