My dark horse of a book High Hitler has brought me to Latin America for the third time this year. After Colombia and Brazil, it is now Mexico - and slowly an image of the whole continent is forming in my head - puzzle pieces coming together.
Mexico! I can hardly express how much I enjoy taking part in its sophisticated discourse, if ever so slightly. Talking about bad leaders and their hypocrite war on drugs, has a special ring here, touching on severe implications that trouble especially this – but also other – societies. I have enjoyed very calm days in Querétaro, enjoying the good mood in its alleys. Calm days that were spiced with sudden crazy outburst - suddenly there were fried crickets in my guacamole. And over the course of a few days I experienced the full range of human emotions, from devastation to calmly writing on my new book with clear focus to letting go at a ‘coctel’ late at night on a windy roof top.
The war on drugs is a policy fashioned to suppress countries like Mexico, Colombia, and others. The US is scared of the possibilities and potentials of its Southern neighbours, which are full of potent substances, and fresh ideas. I count myself lucky to have experienced a least a few drops of its wonders.
Norman Ohler appeared at Hay Festival Querétaro on Saturday 9 September 2017