Rise and shine! Let's get to stepping, sight seeing, and finding out what we can get into. Let's call today, exploration. The AIR BNB was in a gated community and shared the same property space as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. Due to the AIR BNB listing I knew I was able to get a day pass to the resort which would give me access to the full lay of the land if you will! But, there was one little issue...I had no idea where the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino was located. In all honesty, I didn't really have a lay of the land. So, today would require me to have mustard seed faith. I needed to look around and try and figure out where everything the gated community offered was located. I locked up the condo and started walking. I didn't know where I was going but I was sure that I would somehow find where I was going. There weren't any sidewalks, lots of shuttles, vans, and buses driving up and down the street. There were people at the pools, walking around, and the occasional security guard walking around.
I turned down one street but began to get nervous because I did not see anyone else, I didn't see any cars, but I saw a sign for the beach club & the empty tennis courts. I was worried I was venturing off in the wrong direction too long and doing so in the heat wasn't the best idea. I texted the husbae along the way to ensure he was able to track my location via the air tag. But, I hung up as well because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do this and I should do it without fear.
There was one lone gentleman standing on the opposite side of the road. As I walked he started talking to me, in Spanish , of course. I tried my best to relay that I didn't understand him and I didn't speak Spanish. He continued to talk and point down the road. I think he was trying to tell me how to get to the casino. I could hear the water from the water rides so I knew I was going the right direction. I begin to see what I always see on vacation "beauty for ashes". I swear the places we seek out to find beauty and view as an oasis seems to always have poverty. As I walk I see crumbled buildings, new construction, incomplete buildings and on the other side there is the Hard Rock Casino and Hotel that has so much life, land, and possibilities.
I approached the entry gate to Hard Rock and spoke to the man at the front gate. Through broken English, broken Spanish, google translate loosely used he allowed me to enter and proceed to the front door. As I walked pass the valet and greeters I walk thru this very dark foyer area. I don't know what the ambiance was suppose to give but it was giving darkness. LOL. As I tried to find my way through the lavish, dark foyer I was stopped and pretty much asked what was I looking for. I told him I was looking for a day pass and he escorted me to the counter. As I waited for the first available agent the man escorted me to a gentleman at the end of the counter who really wasn't available. I waited and soon the gentleman was able to speak to me. I inquired about the day pass and got the run down. I asked if it was too late for me to get a day pass for the day since it was already nearing 1:00pm. (Day pass are 10am - 6pm). He tried to convince me to get an evening pass but I wasn't interested and I had already walked 8 minutes in the DR heat. I might as well stay and enjoy restaurants, pools, and swim up bars.
The young man at the counter said he needed to see if a day pass was available as he checked the computer. A few moments later he spoke to the gentleman next to him in Spanish. Following their brief conversation he told me he would be back because he needed to speak to his manager. This was strange and I started to rethink this. It didn't feel like the grocery store incident from the day before but it felt different. He returned and told me he could get me a day pass. YAY! He starts looking around the counter for something but I wasn't sure what at this moment. He finally found an "old school" receipt book. (Now, my spidey senses were going off) I'm trying to figure out why is he using a receipt book and he just appeared to look everything up on the computer that's in front of him. He started to talking to the young man next to him and he wrote a price higher than I was previously told when I first inquired about the day pass. But, I'm still contemplating going because I'm already here and I need something to do for the day.
But, that quickly ended when he asked for my passport. Yup, he asked me to give him my passport. He said they needed to keep it at the front desk while I was on the grounds with a day pass. Now, my Tik Tok research told me never to leave my passport with anyone because often times they will try and find something to charge you for your documents back.
I told him I did not have my passport on me at the time he looked at me as to ask if I was sure and I looked at him as to say you heard what I said. After a momentary stare off he says ok no worries we can continue without it. He doesn't ask for another form of ID and at this point I think it's best for me to leave. I know I'm not staying, I don't feel comfortable and think something is completely off. The couple next to me aren't being asked for their passports. He must senses this because he shows me the old school receipt and tells me the price. I explained that wasn't the price he first shared and remind him of the said price. He tells me he never said the price and I shared I'm no longer interested in purchasing the day pass for the day. At this point he tells me it's already in the computer, he can't change it and I need to pay now. I looked this man dead in his eyes and said but I'm not paying for it. He asked me to wait while he went to speak to the manager. I waited. (I have no idea why I didn't just walk off but I waited and called the husbae.) I give him the low down on what's going on and as I am doing so the young man returns and said everything is good I can leave.
Thank GOD! I walk out and it just feel right! It may not have been that big of a deal. It may have been small. But, for me being by myself and typically willing to just go with the flow because I know I'm behind, I'm at a disadvantage, I can't communicate, I don't know what I don't know, this was major. In that moment as I talked to the husbae I thanked God because I truly believed that it was the spirit of discernment that gave me the courage to walk away. I was ok with missing out on something greater, flashier, nicer, and presumably better. Which was hard, because traditionally I question myself. And the what ifs tends to fill me with regrets. What if I was walking away for nothing? What if I missed out on a great opportunity? What if I overreacted? But, there were no what ifs! I had joy in knowing that I walked away with peace in my heart. I was proud of myself for acknowledging and acting on the spirit of discernment. This was something big for me. I've been in situations where I second guess the gut feeling, I questioned if what I was feeling was actually true, and even questioned if God would give me the spirit of discernment like I've heard so many others speak of.
Continued Journey
I walked back to the AIR BNB still talking to my husbae, with my head held high, and a smile on my face. As I walked back the man that was on the opposite side of the road flagged me down. I stopped and this time he had a message on his phone using google translate. He asked me for money and said he was homeless. I said sorry and walked away because I didn't have any cash on me. I made my way back to the AIR BNB and decided it would be a pool and relaxation day. I spent the remainder of the day chilling by the pool, finished reading my book, and made the best pool side sandwich with chips. It was bussin, bussin as the young folks would say. I talked to the husbae, shared photos with him, before spending the evening at the pool. As the sun went down I returned to the AIR BNB, I spent the remainder of the evening coloring and I started the new Netflix show, BEEF. I believe I stayed up the latest this night, I felt confident, but still nervous, and if I'm honest a little fearful. I was sure to stay consistent with my morning prayer and devotion. I prayed throughout the day as well. I reminded myself to continue to push spiritually and mentally. I got this because God's got me.
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