Enough With The Coca!!!!!

While we were down in Peru, a friend mentioned we should keep our eyes out for coca leaves. The friend mentioned these were reputed to help with altitude sickness. We laughed, because of reasons.

There were coca leaves in the airport as free samples when we arrived in Cusco. Every store had coca leaves, and coca candy (sometimes five or more varieties). The chocolate museum sold coca chocolate, and coca liqueur.  Most of the tourist shops sold coca liqueur as well. Every place we visited offered coca tea. Coca tea was offered with breakfast. The altitude sickness pills in the pharmacies contained coca. People on the street sold coca leaves and coca candy (and a few pot and cocaine, but we walked past them fast and we won’t talk about them).

ENOUGH WITH THE COCA!!!!!

Seriously, I understood that this was a big part of the culture historically. The Inca cultivated coca. It’s said to help with altitude sickness, though I personally had no problems with altitude sickness so I didn’t need anything.

But does it have to be everywhere? It kind of seemed like a gimmick, a thing for tourists.

Regardless, it was amusing when the friend said to look for it. Look for it? We couldn’t get away from it.