Thursday we stopped in Puerta Vallarta. Lisa had booked a shore excursion for us that day.
It was an activity that I honestly never thought I would ever want to do. Zip Lining.
I don't do well with heights. They make me feel dizzy and I have a great fear of falling to my death. Over dramatic? Possibly. But that's how I feel whenever I get up high somewhere.
When Lisa asked me if I wanted to do it and I said yes, Joe was pretty skeptical. He kept asking me if I was sure I wanted to do it. I actually wasn't that sure but Lisa and the kids were going to do it and I didn't want to be left behind so I said yes.
But I was nervous.
Our trip started out with an hour and a half ride straight up a mountain into the jungle of Mexico. That in itself was a bit unnerving. I'm glad I didn't know about the tour group that had been robbed(that same day) or I would have been much more uneasy than I already was.
As it turned out, our bus driver was super nice and funny and the ride was uneventful.
The first thing we did when we got there was use the restroom, apply some bug spray and meet our guides to be fitted for our harness. I wish I had gotten some pictures of our guides. They were so funny. And hot! As in, really good looking. And ripped. Pure muscle. Oh, sorry, was I drooling a little there? Anyway, our guides were quite good looking.
First we got in line so they could fit us for our harnesses. All I kept thinking when I stood in line staring at this equipment was how my life was dependent on that small piece of nylon.
I became a little more nervous.
Then they began their instructions on how to zip line. The procedure, the form you need to use.
I started to freak out a little bit. Then we started our trek up the mountain to the first tower.
And I started to freak out a little more. I was wondering at this point if I was going to be able to do this.
Lisa and the kids were excited.
I was seriously considering chickening out. There was another person in our group who felt the same as I did. He was older and had been dragged there by his whole family(it looked like some kind of family reunion). He started saying he didn't want to do it and that he might sit it out. I realized if I didn't do it that I would be sitting behind with him while everyone else went. I decided there was no way I was going to be left behind with some old guy. I put on my big girl panties and started the trek up the mountain to the first line.
Climbing the tower to the first cable. Gulp.
Lisa and the kids went first. Here is Lisa on one of the first lines.
I figured she lived, so maybe I would too. The first one was the scariest. I think I closed my eyes the whole time. And when it was done and I was standing on the next tower the first thing I thought was "I want to do that again!".
Which was good, because I had 13 more lines to go after that to get down to the bottom of the mountain.
There goes Gracie
Lisa gets ready for another ride. I don't have any pictures of me doing it. I need to get some pictures off of Lisa.
This was one of the tallest lines on the tour. 360 meters =1180 feet.
That's slightly less than the height of the Empire State building!!
It was awesome. Exhilarating. Awe inspiring.
And I can. not. wait. to do it again.
Afterwards I was sore. Tired. Sweaty(it was a lot of hiking straight up a mountain carrying an 8 pound attachment-the handles strapped to our bodies).
The first thing we did when we got down to the bottom was have a margarita. A Mango flavored one, to be exact. It was the best margarita I have ever had. :)
Then I decided since I was conquering my fears, I might as well try to conquer one more. I hate spiders. HATE them. Today seemed a good day to face that fear, so I held one. Just long enough to take a picture. Then I handed that guy right back to the guide and backed slowly away. Don't feel the need to do that again.
This what he *wanted* me to do with the spider. I kindly(snort) told him no thank you.
I think what I actually said was "Are you freaking crazy?! No I don't want to do that!"
Grace got up close and personal with a snake.
Overall the day just rocked.
We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Puerta Vallarta. It's such a pretty city. Pictures of that coming next.
