Heights. Can't really remember the first time I realized I was pretty much terrified. But I do know that most times were on mountains. Where the opportunity to plummet to your death was literally one wrong step away. Heights in general aren't apart of my enjoyable things list, I can tolerate heights with fences and high plexiglass walls where there is (almost) no possibility of falling off. Like the Eiffel Tower, the CN Tower, and even the Burj Khalifa is tolerable. The sides of mountains and cliff edges are not my thing.
One of my most terrifying height encounters was in Cinque Terre Italy. I think I was 11 or 12 and we were on a family vacation, and the one thing my dad wanted to do was hike. Literally the entire time. I agreed naturally, thinking that these hikes would not be terrifying. At first it was alright, not anything I hadn't really done before, but then we hit the mountainside. A bit too early in the hike for my liking. You would think I would be interested in the beautiful view and not be focusing on my slight fear at the time. But I could feel myself starting to hyperventilate and start to freak out, and the cliff side could not have come at a worse time. There was a clearance on this so called path of about half of a human foot, from the side of the cliff to the edge and a straight drop down to the water. You could not walk facing forward. You had to stand sideways and shuffle along the side of the mountain with your toes being off the edge. I honestly don't know how people considered that to be safe, and a path. But then again it could've been just me. I've always wondered since that hike if anyone has ever fallen off that mountainside. Because it was so ridiculously thin, there is pretty much no way that anyone hasn't fallen.
Italy is beautiful and such an amazing country, but if I was offered a certain amount of money and special privileges or something like that if I completed that hike. I wouldn't do it. That trip has scarred me and basically ruined most height sightseeing experiences. Yes the city was beautiful and the food was to die for. And I would love to go back, but I would never do that hike again. Too close to the edge for comfort.
