THE GREAT GASP
We got a late jump out of Sucre due Erin's need to recover from food poisoning and other gynecological disequilibriums. The road was nice, still not a lot of motorist. However, people were still in carnaval mode tossing water balloons from fast moving vehicles...one hit Erin smack on the left ear. She bursted into tears from pain and anger, not a pretty sight.
Leading out of Sucre the grade was pretty tame but that wouldn't last long. Day two we encountered over 2,000 meters of climbing in just 70K. There was a particular 10K section that was quite steep before reaching the high elevation pampa (savanna). There was very little water and options for food through the section of Millares and Betanzos. When we reached the peak there were some school kids who asked if we had anything to give them (begging); when Erin responded that we didn't even have food for our lunch much less chocolates and candy for them, the sweet children offered us their subsidized school breakfast. We forcefully declined their cookies, but the sweet girl insisted saying "I'm about to go eat lunch at my house, pleeaaase take them!".
Betanzos was not the friendliest town so we kept rolling after purchasing the minimal needs. The mountains were getting larger and steeper as well as more arid. As we reached Potosi we were approaching 4000 meters above sea level. It was quite difficult to cycle around the city as the roads were steep and the air was thin. We were definitely partaking in the coca. We found a nice hostel in Potosi with plenty of other travelers to share stories with. We toured the working mine which was quite the experience. We didn't migrate far from downtown which, as expected, caters to the tourist.
On the political spectrum, we crossed through Potosi right when Evo Morales was giving his speech to the nation...more like a debate with a well informed and eloquent reporter. Evo Morales did a half ass job at presenting his case to be president for a fourth term (when the constitution states - a person cannot be president for more than two terms in a row), while the reporter did an outstanding job at pressing him on all the weak points in his arguments and brining to light the concerns of the nation. I am proud to say Bolivians came together and voted "NO"...Evo Morales cannot be re-elected for a fourth term in office!
