today are quite tired after climbing to the Quebrada San Lorenzo.
So rather than tell you about the wonders of the other tours (it takes me more time) I will tell of this local custom.
A little 'everywhere here in the Northwest are written Andean "coca y haystack" in newsagents, kiosks, bars of service stations in drugstore. Coca was intended to refer to the leaves of the infamous plant, cultivated in the nearby Bolivia and Colombia in a little more distant. Here, in fact, growing coca is illegal, as it is illegal to import, and in fact there are tight controls on the roads.
While consumption is not illegal, at least in the provinces of Salta and Jujuy, there is a law in 1989. And even the sale, and it is everywhere.
Indeed, speaking of course, only the leaves are allowed to have with him a quantity of consumption, which reaches up to a pound! (At least according to what I said) I did not know how to judge
this situation, then Martin, the best guide of what I had in those days, told me that chewing coca leaves is an ancient Andean tradition (it has just those 4 thousand years old) to fight fatigue and altitude sickness.
Indeed, Martin there has magnified the impact by helping to keep awake, do not feel the tiredness and hunger, improves concentration, is a potent anesthetic, is good for the prostate (and for some reason) and has no side effects, including course of addiction. In fact, it takes hundreds of pounds of leaves to produce very little cocaine, and as Martin said, is a bit 'like grapes, the wine can do evil, addictive and even kill, the grape no, even if eaten in quantity (and on the other hand, the only company licensed to import coca leaves in the U.S. is that we extract the substance that is then used as an ingredient of Coca Cola ...)
I was reminded of the recent stance of some South American presidents, Chavez Morales in the head but also in favor of the use and cultivation of coca leaves. And there were even those who, the president of Peru I think, has called for the use of coca leaves in salads too!
Anyway, here comes the kiosks and there are plastic bags of leaves selected from the smallest to largest. Starting
for the excursion on the Puna, Martin told us that those who wanted to could buy some 'and that would have explained how and why to use it. Rather we say that there has recommended to combat altitude sickness, having to climb over 4000 meters.
I was not convinced (partly because the lonely planet was alarming, as usual, on police checks, giving wrong information) but I tried and I must admit that actually works: the two days preceding the two trips, between 2000 and 3000 meters , had left me tired and aching, with headache and sometimes nausea.
But this time everything went well and I did not even come the usual abbiocco on the way back.
how it works: you take a bit 'of leaves (I just took 4-5, but here I normally use about twenty at a time) and forms a ball of leaves, once in the mouth. The moves with his tongue between his molars and the cheek and held there, sucking from time to time. The taste is not bad but the smell is mostly a surprise: it is very strong and even when the leaves are closed in their plastic bag, you feel the same (now I understand why the drug dogs work so well: yet I feel it 's smell!).
After a lot 'of time the leaves exhaust their stimulant effect, and which is why (or to increase even more power from the beginning) you use baking soda, which, being an alkaline substance helps the leaves to give "the best of self. "
Finally he spits it all, and I finally explained what those green leaves were crumpled on the floor that I saw from time to time ...
One side effect: when the locals take in their mouth "bolus" gigantic, with a lot of leaves, and they start to talk, you can not always understand that they say, is like talking with your mouth full!
ps: do not make stupid comments!
pps: no one has guessed the quote! Shame on you!
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