but no matter. the boys in our group wanted to go horse back riding. i knew going into this trip that there were to be some adventures and i told myself i wouldn't back down, no matter the challenge (remember, i'm a WIMP). so monday morning we found ourselves in charming vilcabamba outside the tour guide's office with our five horses ready to be mounted. i can't remember the last time i was so nervous. my horse looked like the size of mount everest (in my mind), but up i went.
and up we continued for 3 1/2 hours on the mountain. it was pretty steep at points and the ground was wet which made for some scary, but beautiful, moments. the views were unbeatable. we stopped for two hours to hike up to two waterfalls. that was such a nice break off the horse and so fun. post-hike back on the horse we went for the 3 1/2 hours down.
other highlights included our darling tour guide who let me practice my spanish on him when i asked challenging questions such as "de donde eres tu?" i'm pretty sure it was a deep and meaningful conversation for him. that and when we were getting back into town and galloping on the horses i felt like the prodigal horseback rider returning having not killed myself on the mountain.
some times i looked like this:
but most of the time i looked like this:
our cute tour guide leading the way on our hike
about to start off for the day. i loved the hat they gave me.
this was my view for most of the day:
the gang.
i LOVED the hiking through the jungle. it was so fun!
ah yes, the kissing pose.
