Ok - one last post about our trip.
Even though we had previously pre-paid for transportation to the airport from our original "resort", I was unable to get anyone on the phone to assist in scheduling a new pick up location. They kept telling me I had to make changes through my travel agent. Even though I said I wanted to pay the difference. And even though the travel agent was only available from 9-5 Monday - Friday.
Don't worry. I'm leaving scathing reviews everywhere I can think of.
So we had to arrange other transportation. Remember - we are about 2 hours away from our original "resort". We got lucky on the previous Uber but what now?
We asked Natalia (the person we booked the Saona Island excursion with) if she could help us arrange transportation. And she did! It was a lot more than our trip there but at least it was done.
So we lingered as long as we could, soaked up as much of the sights and sounds as possible, and left our little slice of paradise. We are already talking about making this a yearly tradition.
So in summary, if you plan a trip to the Dominican Republic, make sure your are not staying in Boca Chica (even if it is really fun to say), brush up on your Spanish, and bring cash - you don't have to convert to pesos, they will take USD, but credit is not as easily accessible.
I forgot to mention, one of the couples on the excursion was from Frisco! Can you believe it? They were much younger and seemed to not be interested in becoming besties - it's fine - so we didn't talk to them a lot. But the guy did seem surprised when Rob mentioned we'd only been dating for 7 months. And already going on a trip together.
I'm not going to lie. This was a little bit of a test.
Rob's a pretty easy going guy. He's reached the "life's too short to let little things bring you down" part of his life and that's one of the things I love about him. But he can also be quick to anger (not with me). He seems to get easily incensed sometimes. To be clear, he is not violent nor is he verbally abusive in anyway - obviously I would not put up with that. If that switch ever gets flipped, I will be out in a heartbeat. He just gets really vocal for a minute when something makes him mad (especially when driving). I'm not suggesting it's without reason, but also I just don't get that upset about little things.
Unless I'm hangry. But that doesn't count, right?
But he also has a quick cool down. He gets cut off while driving? He yells and then he's fine. It doesn't linger and that's important. But I've also been chased down a couple of times for yelling at people from the safety of my car with the windows rolled up - and I live in Texas - so forgive me for being a bit nervous about that.
So yeah, I wondered what 5 straight days with him would be like. And I certainly did not intentionally book us in a shitty "resort" for our vacation but it was also an opportunity to see how he would handle it.
And he passed with flying colors.
I mean. That place was not pleasant. The food was barely edible. But he didn't really complain about it. It was just more of a statement of fact. This place sucks, we are leaving. And he never once complained about the extra expense. He took it all in stride.
And you know what else? After 5 days in a row, I wasn't tired of him. He didn't get on my nerves. He was fun and adventurous and generous and loving and caring and basically everything I could ask for. Hopefully he feels the same.
Is 7 months a little early to be vacationing together? I don't know. But I'm not getting any younger and I need to know if we have any insurmountable differences sooner rather than later. I don't know what the future holds. No one does. But it's nice to know we are on the same page for now.
I'm looking forward to many more adventures with him.
Also neither one of us came back with a sunburn! My back and tummy got a little pink but not so much that it peeled or anything. I barely got hivey. I miss the days when I could at least try for a tan but c'est la vie. Better to not get skin cancer again. I guess.
AND....no injuries! See? I can go on vacation without hurting myself. So there.
And now it is back to reality. I have posted all my photos on Facebook for those interested and with access. It's a lot of beautiful blue ocean if you like that sort of thing. And I did post a few of me in the bikini.
Oh a few words about that.
Thanks to everyone for the kind comments on my bikini pic, but you have to know that there are literally dozens of photos that are not flattering. I can look good from the front. But that profile? Woof. Man I have got to do something about that. I'd like to say I feel good enough to post any of the pics from that day, but I don't. It was still a huge step just to wear it in public though.
I mean that. A couple of years ago I thought about buying a bikini just to wear in the privacy of my own backyard and I couldn't bring myself to do it. So this was huge.
Obviously no post about this getaway can be concluded without an enormous expression of love and gratitude for Rob. Thank you so much for going on this adventure with me. Thank you for taking it all in stride and not getting mad at me.
Thank you for everything.