The Mines at Potosì: An Illustrated Essay
Note: With apologies for any inconvenience, I’ve taken down this essay because a revised version of it will appear shortly in another venue. (I’ll post a link when it’s up.) A slideshow of the photos that accompanied the piece is still available here, or you can click on the thumbnails below.
Sweet story, Bobby.
Wow. Great stuff, Bobby. I gotta say, it looks to me like I’d definitely freak out in the tunnels.
Amazing!
Why isn’t this on Slate, or something?
Fabulous, Bobby.
Kent
I’m so interested in the renewal of this form– the travel essay that avoids the cliches of “the travel essay.” A point of view that is self-conscious and articulate re. its own implication in negotiations of language and cultural constructions. Because if we aren’t investigating what David Lewis calls a plurality of worlds, we condemn ourselves to parallel universes of unrelated meanings. I also love the technology of the essay: the photos assembling themselves out of darkness. And the unresolved but considered ethical dimensions. I’ve got a standing invitation to attend peyote ceremonies in another Potosi, San Luis Potosi (another mining town) in Mexico. I suggest you, Bobby, y tu mujer, y El Kent, y yo….
Thanks, everyone, I’m glad you liked it.
As luck would have it, I was browsing the one of the SeaTac Hudson News stands today when the cover of this month’s Utne Reader stopped me quick with this headline: “The Mountain That Eats Men: A descent into Bolivia’s dark heart.” I’ve only glanced at the article so far, but it’s about the same mountain, so if my 3,000 words on Cerro Rico weren’t enough for you, there’s more to be had.
And Forrest: yessir, I’m in. Mi mujer tambien. Can we wait for the swine flu to pass, though?
Forrest & Bobby,
I think I’d be scared to try the peyote. What if I turn into a raven and can’t change back? But I’ll certainly go along and sit in the local bar while you guys trip out in the sweat lodge.
Just let me know…
Kent
Bobby…
I loved your story and was afraid for you as I looked thru the pics. How can anyone have the courage to visit the mines let alone work there?
Hope to see you soon,
Sara
Bobby….
That well-written essay accompanied by the fabulous photos must have given your folks plenty of thrills and chills. I know I couldn’t sleep for a few days after seeing the pics of the tunnels! Great work, Kiddo!Love,
Sue
Robert, are you related to a bobby baird from chico, cal?
Hey Rick,
Intimately: he is me. (And that’s your daughter up there ahead of you!)
Hold tight and I’ll write you backchannel…