IN STEREO

For me the main tradition is the Cerro Rico [Rich Mountain]. The basis for the formation of this city, for its creation, for the existence of this town, is the mountain, right? When they found – when Diego Huallpa found – the silver, then the Spaniards arrived and found the wealth. And they formed a camp, a mining camp. According to history, that’s how this city began, one of the largest cities of the time. I don’t know the year… In 1500 or so. It was one of the largest and most populated, more than anywhere. That’s the story that I know. And they exploited everything to yield that valuable mineral, silver – they could even have made a bridge to Spain, a bridge of silver. Imagine the wealth. More than 500 years on, this is the base: the Cerro Rico still maintains the silver economy. From what I have experienced and what this city has given me, I can relate to that history.

I definitely live well economically, thanks to the rich mountain, thanks to all the mines that are close to this city. Actually, thanks to those people too. Maybe there’s that same ambition the Spaniards had. I have that ambition to get a way to live, but not like them, who have taken and left. I have my children here, I have a home. It’s something different. Many people also have exploited the Cerro Rico without leaving much. They have taken the wealth; they have left almost nothing here. They have taken it to other Bolivian cities. And I would not like to leave my city that way. I don’t know, I want to fight for something, for that economic stability, somehow. I want to fight for that while I am alive, or maybe pass that idea on to my children too. That’s what I associate with the Spaniards: they took everything away and didn’t do much. I don’t want to think like them. – Lorenzo