After spending all last summer in the mountains of Arizona, I thought that I had seen many of the most breathtaking sights known to man. I thought that nothing could beat the view from the top of Spruce Mountain after the end of a day-long hike, unless it was the view of the sun setting over the Grand Canyon. I have to say, however, after experiencing pony trekking along the beaches of Wales, I may have been wrong.

I don't mean to be disloyal to Arizona or to my wonderful friends from there. Perhaps it wasn't the views alone that swayed my vote to the side of the Welsh; the views were also combined with an adorable little bed and breakfast and a lively pub just down the road. Both of which made our stay that much more enjoyable.

Our hostess for the weekend, a sweet elderly woman by the name of Olive, greeted us at the door upon arrival and immediately led us into the dining room, where we broke bread with several couples on holiday. The food was amazing, and the company even better.

While we as Drury students have made many friends from other schools and even other countries, we haven't gotten to know everyone who attends our school by any stretch of the imagination. The group that came with us on this trip was an absolute delight, and I am grateful to have so many options for vacationing and visiting friends after this amazing experience is completed.

In the meantime, though, our horses were beckoning. We woke up early the next morning and received our riding assignments. My horse, Digger, was described to me as "lovely" and "gentlemanly"; unfortunately, not all my friends were as lucky.

Jon's horse, Joe, provided all of us with uproarious laughter when he practically tried to buck Jon on numerous occasions. Jon faired better than another member of our group, Allison, who actually got thrown. However, despite a few minor bumps and bruises, everyone got back up on their horses and enjoyed the rest of the ride.

It sounds cliché, but the sights were awe-inspiring. Since arriving in Europe, I had yet to feel as deep a connection to nature as I did riding along the cliff that afternoon.

While London has many wonderful things about it, undiluted countryside is not one of them. In London, we are constantly in motion: sightseeing, rushing to catch the subway, and fighting the crowds on the street.

In Wales, we had a few brief days to catch our breath, breathe in fresh, unpolluted air, and relish the delights of home-cooked meals and genuinely interesting, unrushed conversation. It was a pleasure I will not soon forget.

Kind of like my entire study abroad experience thus far.