In such a big world, and think that right here, southwest of this Caribbean island, in the province of Barahona, about 700 meters above sea level, in a town called Los Chupaderos.
First thing's first. The road to reach the mine. Making a little graphic how is the road, imagine for a moment that we go up a dry river, full of rocks, for about 30-40 minutes. Speed no more than 10 kilometers per hour. 4x4 drive.
Arriving at the mine, you can see some houses of wood and zinc where the mining community lives that has been established there. For us, one of the modest houses was very impressive. There was a family that just watched us arrive. At the moment we felt that we were perceived as being from another galaxy. That house possibly has one of the most exclusive views of the Caribbean Sea.
Already in the mine, a little disoriented at first, we approached one of the workers, who with great kindness told us a little about the mine, and the process of collecting the famous Larimar stone. It was amazing to see that show. Hundreds of men working in a job that demands enormous physical effort, the risk involved in working in the mine, and the conditions for such work. Wheelbarrows, picks and shovels, men enter and exit the holes, over and over again. Where you least think about it, there are men working.
It was impressive to walk through one of the holes and see with our own eyes the hard work to extract as a raw stone the Larimar, which is then processed by jewelry artisans. I do not think we'll ever forget this experience. From that moment we see the Larimar with a much higher value. For our children it was not allowed the access to any of the holes for security reasons, but they certainly appreciated from outside where that semi precious blue stone comes from.
We witnessed a unique place in the world. Another story to tell. It is an experience that gains value over time, it is not devalued, and no one will take it away.
