Ritchie's surprise stop

From time to time, Ritchie stops somewhere that is not on the itinerary.  Today was one such occasion.  Thirty minutes before we arrived in Uyuni, he stopped the truck so that we could visit Pulacayo, a virtual ghost town that was once the site of several thriving silver mines.  The last of these closed in 1959, and today only a few hundred hardy souls remain in the village.

Aniceto Arce, the 22nd president of Bolivia, was the original owner of the mines.  In 1890, he commissioned the construction of the first railroad in Bolivia to connect the mines with Antofagasta.  Today, visitors can pay 10 bolivianos (about £1) to view a collection of decaying steam locomotives that were originally imported to transport ore.  They include Bolivia's first steam engine, El Chiripa, and the train that was robbed by legendary bandits Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, including a wooden rail car that bears the bullet holes from the attack.

It was fascinating to look around.Read more