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During summer the horse races are the highlight in Cochamó. It's more a social event than anything else. It's a showdown of seen and to be seen. Who is the owner of this fantastic horse? Which food mix is the best for the winner? Who married Maria from the neighbour village? All these important questions find an answer during the horse races on sunday afternoon in the villages. The men drink "chicha" and play "truco", a card game where some lost yet more than a cow. And the horse race itself? Betting is the real sport. Who will win? The nobody from the neighbour village or our unbeaten star runner?
And what happens after sunset? Cowboys have to drink and fight. That happens when children and women are at home, so you can wonder to see a cowboy on monday morning with some stitches in his head.
It doesn't hurt. He did not start and it was for honnor.
Next Sunday is the next race, who will win?
The CUECA dance and guitars are as popular as the famous horse races every sunday during summertime. Cueca is Chile's national dance and an essential element of Independance day, 18th of September. At these fiestas, the "pisco", a chilean strong drink is never missing. Of the 60 million of bottles produced every year, 90% are consumed in Chile.
Real "Huasos" drink every day their MATE tea, not to confuse the plant with Matico. The indians already didn't miss their Maté every day, drinking Maté is a social event with very specific rules. The host pours the water and passes it to the guests, who drink it dry and pass it back to be refilled. Nobody but the server moves the straw, and you don't say "thank you" until you don't want any more.
> Yerba Maté (Ilex paraguariensis) is rich in vitamins, but also a very caffeinated herb. It grows wild in Argentine, Brasil and Paraguay.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, DETAILS AND PICTURES ABOUT THIS ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT VALLEY ORDER THE BOOKLET ABOUT
COCHAMO VALLEY, CHILE'S NATURAL SECRET, edited by campo aventura, 38 pages, full colored, photos, english language
Order by e-mail: info@campo-aventura.com |
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