May 2000 - Working a trade show near a London airport, England, looking at the signs for the aiport wanting so desperately to get away. Wasn't going through anything really bad, but was not happy in my life. So I decided right... I'm off... I was going to go somewhere in Europe but (thankfully
) a friend said, as you're going last minute & on your own you can go to the Caribbean for the same price!!....
GREAT - So I looked into it - next thing I knew June 4th 2000 I was on a plane to the Dominican Republic, no idea which Hotel (however I did book an all inclusive but mainly as I was on my own so thought that would be best)... Ended up at the Bahia Principe, San Juan.
Met some other ladies on their own, made several friends had a great time... Then it happened... the 2nd week of my stay I was sat up the Pueblo Principe and this great looking Dominican came to ask me to dance... The music stopped, he took me back to my seat barely touched the chair and he pulled me up again for the next song... this happened again and again - lol
......
We spent some time together although with very few words said as my Spanish was very limited at the time & he did'nt speak English either... (was very amusing looking back we just sat and smiled or found translators) or just danced all night long... Turned out he was responsible for painting & setting up the sceneries for the shows, created the signs for Pueblo Principe & did the murals around the Hotel & Shops, but he stuck around to dance along with the animacion in the evenings.
The bus arrived to take me to the aiport
- he gave me a photo of himself which someone (turned out to be his sister) had written on the back "This is not the end, just the start of my love for you" Get the tissues quick - the waterworks started.. everyone was so sweet & said I would survive but all I could think about was I DON'T WANT TO GOOOOOO
I took it all with a pinch of salt - thought I'd never see the guy again - just a "Holiday Romance", but did arrange to go back with 2 other ladies that were there alone, they backed out but I decided to go anyway - I had only had 1 phone call with him from June to Sept, I could not flick through the dictionary fast enough to try and translate lol
- mad, we did send several letters and faxes though!....
I went back in Sept '00.. He was still there (Danny is his name)- it was like we never seperated - We left the Hotel a few times to go to the beach and also to meet his family (my Spanish had improved a little - but still had a lot to learn) everyone was asking when we were getting married
- HUH - What!.. You're all crazy we only just met... But thats all I heard. I explained to Danny that when I have all my bills & house sorted out in England I could rent it out and move over here and see how we get on - perhaps 2 years time, he joked saying "too long", but I could see no other possibility.
(sorry for babbling on - I will try to shorten the rest)
By the end of the 2 weeks - I got home (again with all the waterworks) decided right thats it - House on the market - I had decided to sell it and move to the Dominican Republic - Everyone thought I was mad - for some strange reason though my parents (who I thought would flip) (they were living in Florida) were very understanding - and said well let us meet him - don't leave us out - so we all decided to go and meet there in December....
December '00 we got engaged... Got a buyer for my house - then in March '01 I packed as much as I could and left the residence of England bound for the Dominican Republic
I wont go into all the details now (can discuss further at a later date if necessary) - but the short is moved to Rio San Juan -then Oct 19th 2001 we got married - the following year we decided to move to Florida... and we have been here ever since (with as many trips to the DR as we can).. Just about to return to the Dominican Republic on Oct 10th '07 to celebrate our 6th Wedding Anniversary.
We have had our ups & downs - but he is the best man I have ever known -
I love him sooo much, we get on so well we are best friends as well as hubby & wife
xxxxxx