IN STEREO

I want [visitors] to take away the warmth and the quality of the way we treat them. Not that they are deceived because they are a tourist: “Are they gringos? We are going to charge double.” The Potosíno is a warm, friendly, hospitable person, so let them go with that image. Let the Potosínos always be ready. I mean, they need to leave impressed, because the best reference to discover a city and to know it is not a guidebook or the Internet. It is that they say, “I have been in a city, Potosí. They say it’s cold [and there’s] nothing for me to see. [But] the quality of the people makes you warm [and] there are beautiful, picturesque places.” So that they go happy, content, and do not say, “The horrible hotel; the museum guide… A disaster!” or things like that to make them say, “Better not go to that city; pass right by.”

But many do not know Potosí. Forgive me if I use this word, but they come by coincidence. They come to Peru [then] to Bolivia. But now in this time, I think that Potosí is known more for the Uyuni Salt Flat. The referent now, whether you like it or not, is the Dakar [Rally], which has created opportunities. So they go to the salt flat and therefore pass to Potosí. But the sad thing is that they do not stay two or three days. They do everything in a day. They do a full day tour, but without appreciating it, and they do not stay. They’re rare, those who stay one night. Very rare, two nights or three. This means Potosí is not very well known, unfortunately. This important city! It should not be like that – it should be the opposite. It is not just another city they are visiting. But it is like that, in reality. – Gris