IN STEREO

The point is that we know how to keep it [and] take care of it, but on the contrary, [we don’t do it]. Patrimony is important for us and it is also very beautiful for the visitors to see nice things – that you see a well-kept street, well-kept churches. It is very nice for the tourist. But [also] for ourselves, as we are the ones who live here. We would also feel prouder, to be able to show visitors that we know how to take care of our heritage. In the end, heritage is important; of course it is. That’s why I complain that our Potosí is neglected. Our authorities do nothing. They all come to Potosí with beautiful promises. But none make them reality. Do something for our Potosí. Our 6th of August square, the way it’s going, what will be left? This famous square, and the [one with the statue of] Alonso de Ibáñez: I saw through the crack [and] they were pouring cement.

That is no longer colonial Potosí, whether we like it or not. We all love our colonial Potosí, but once more they’re changing it. And I thought [since] it’s already been three years that the Alonso de Ibáñez square has been closed, they would be doing something good. Those arches that they are reconstructing were not made of cement in the past. They were made of pure stone. These arches are not being made of pure stone. They are pouring cement, and do you think that attracts tourism? Answer me, does that attract tourism? That does not attract tourism. I wish they had made Potosí like it was before, pure stone. But they are not doing so. They are doing cement and are showing pictures of how it was before. They will not attract tourism with that. – Don Freddy