Horseback Riding in the Desert

We saved the best for last in Atacama.  At least according to the girls.  But we knew if we let them ride the horses on day one, we would have to hear about them riding the horses every single day of the trip and we would not be able to get any other sight seeing in.  So we left it for the last morning, but that doesn't mean I didn't tell them about it a couple of days before.  And they were so excited they couldn't stop talking about it - and telling everyone.  MadHatter even decided she wanted a black horse, all black with no other colors allowed.  Mind you, she had no idea if there was such a horse at the property, but I was praying that there was.  If you have ever been around a 4 year old that has their mind made up that something is going to be just so, and then it doesn't happen, you would have been praying with me.  Luckily, they did have such a horse and it was small enough (and gentle enough) for MadHatter.  Meltdown averted.

But before we could mount our steeds we had to get all geared up.  Helmets were a given but the chaps they provided were a nice surprise.  And they added a bit of authenticity to the ride.  It didn't make us better riders, it just made us look a bit more experienced.  And it made the girls look so adorable I could hardly stand it.  Nothing like seeing a 4 year old and 2 1/2 year old in full riding gear for the first time.

It took us a couple of minutes (and a lot of hands) to get everyone into their gear but soon we were on our way out back to the pasture.

 I was very excited about this adventure.  The girls had both been on horses before but only ponies and only the kind that are led around in circles while someone was walking next to them. This would be their first time on a big horse, and for MadHatter, it would be the first time she was on it alone outside of a controlled environment.  She sure seemed excited but I also know that sometimes the idea sounds great and then when she is faced with the reality it can be a bit daunting.  She has been known to want to zip line (until she was next in line), to jump off the diving board (until she was up there) and ride the roller coaster (until she was strapped in).  So, I had precedent and I was a bit worried that once we got up there and she was standing next to this HUGE animal (to her, it was HUGE) she might be just timid enough to back out.  But she didn't even hesitate.  She just hopped right on, turned to me and smiled!  It's like she was waiting to do this her whole life.

So happy on her horse, named Bicicleta, yep - Bicycle.

 They mounted B and Stinkerbell and then me and the two guides.  I didn't really worry too much about Stinkerbell.  She had her Papa riding with her and if he was ok (and he was - he grew up riding horses) she would be ok.  They tried to take a picture of all of us before we left - to no avail.  The horses kept moving.  They wanted to go already.  So we did.

{Be forgiving of my pictures here - I was mounted on a moving horse while taking them.  Makes focus and holding the camera still very difficult - much less trying to frame a shot}

Heading out of the hotel...

The only way I was going to get a picture of me on this adventure...

Riding through town and heading for the desert and mountains.

These two were a pair.  They sang songs.  MadHatter talked his ear off.  I just sat back and listened to my oldest speak Spanish better than I do!

This is a safety fence.  In Santiago, spikes.
In San Pedro, twigs.  Guess which is safer.

Corn Fields.  I am from Illinois. I can find them anywhere.

I love this tree.

The ride was about an hour.  And we covered quite a distance and crossed a few rivers.  We had a blast.  Especially the littlest ones.  Stinkerbell kept calling "again, again, again" every time B took off at a gallop.  And MadHatter now wants to go horseback riding every week.  It was such a fun experience for them.  And for us.  I love watching them have fun and get to do new things.  The only downside is that they are so young and it may be hard for them to remember these things as they get older.  But I have the pictures and I have the memories and I will make sure that they re-live it again and again.  And we won't stop creating new memories and having new experiences with them.  I believe they will have a lot of great things to talk about as they get older.  They already do.

Our group picture - after the ride.

And suddenly it was over.  We walked back to the lobby to take off our chaps and helmets and headed off to the showers.  We had to leave for the airport in about an hour and the girls wanted to get in one more outdoor shower.  I wanted them to just shower.  No way were we going to be those people on the airplane.  You know, the ones who ride horses and then hop into an small enclosed space, squished between 80 other people, that are all breathing recycled air - that now smelled like horses and manure.

It was a wonderful way to end a spectacular vacation.  Atacama was welcoming, showed us a good time and left us wanting more.  Maybe we will go back again someday, maybe not.  We have so many things to see while we are here in Chile and we have barely scratched the surface.