Dec. 12th - Living it up in Paradise

Carrie is now at 98%, and it is likely that the homemade ravioli had much to do with that. We enjoy a simple breakfast of eggs and toast at the restaurant, and head off for our horseback riding adventure. We met our traveling companions (two women from Seattle and Alaska and a man from Finland, all very nice) and our guides Diego and Laurena, and set off down the trail.

Our route would last 3 1/2 hours, and wound up steep switchbacks to a green mesa overlooking the entire canyon. There were a bunch of gauchos working the mesa to provide enough feed to supply the horses and the goats (the eco lodge sold goat cheese) for the entire operation. The mesa itself was very pretty in addition to providing our views of the nearby Andes.


After a brief rest overlooking the edge of the canyon, we headed back down the steep switchbacks to the corral.


Dave´s horse threw a horseshoe at the top, so he was treated to much slipping and sliding on a steep rocky incline as his horse continually favored his back leg. Good times, indeed.









Upon returning to the resort, we enjoyed tasty sandwiches in the restaurant before adjuring to the swimming pool for an afternoon of loafing and reading. Of course, their pool was filled the day before with fresh water from the river, so there was a lot more dangling of legs than actual swimming, but it was very refreshing nonetheless.

More fresh fish and pasta for dinner, and we retire back to the cabin where Betsy and Carrie gossip about old high school boyfriends while Rich and Dave play gin rummy and roll their eyes. Again, mucho vino is enjoyed.