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The Daily Dish The Real Housewives of New Jersey

Inside Dolores & Melissa's Epic (Airport) Reunion Before the Emotional RHONJ Finale (PIC)

RHONJ cast members Dolores Catania and Melissa Gorga had a surprise encounter at the airport as Dolores headed to South Africa.

By Casey Suglia

Dolores Catania is getting a much-needed vacation after that explosive finale for The Real Housewives of New Jersey Season 14.

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The mom of two must need a break after playing "Switzerland" and mediator between her feuding RHONJ cast members throughout the season. Luckily, Dolores was able to get out of town quite quickly for a family vacation to South Africa. But, she couldn't escape her cast members for long.

Dolores' boyfriend, Paulie Connell, took to his Instagram Story over the weekend, where he posted the most epic RHONJ reunion at the airport between Dolores with Melissa Gorga. Although there won't be an official Season 14 reunion, Dolores and Melissa had an unplanned mini reunion while traveling with their loved ones.

Dolores Catania and Melissa Gorga's family members pose for a photo.

In the photo, Dolores and Melissa can be seen wearing their comfy travel clothes, sandwiched between Dolores' daughter, Gabrielle Catania, one of Paulie's sons, Brooklyn Connell, and Melissa's husband, Joe Gorga. Paulie listed out the destinations each person is heading off to from the airport.

"Safe travels to the NJ crew(s)u," he wrote over the photo. Paulie noted that Dolores and Gabby are headed to South Africa, Melissa and Joe are headed to Italy, and Brooklyn is headed to Spain where he will be playing soccer.

Inside Dolores & Gabby Catania's Trip to South Africa

Dolores is not just going to South Africa to relax — she's going to help animals. Gabby, Dolores' oldest daughter, works as a veterinarian and helps a number of animals, including international ones.

"My plans for the summer are pretty amazing; I'm going to Africa with my daughter Gabby to work on Rhinos," Dolores revealed in a May interview with BravoTV.com.

Dolores Catania's Best Parenting & Friendship Advice

Although Dolores and Gabby are about to be very close to one another while on their trip out of the United States, it shouldn't be a problem. Dolores relayed her best parenting advice in an interview with BravoTV.com, proving that she is the queen of discipline and setting boundaries — whether it comes to her children or her RHONJ cast members.

"The best lesson I learned from my mom is discipline, but sometimes patience is needed more," she said. "So don't always get so mad at kids because sometimes they're just venting, and you have to let them."

Dolores Catania and Gabby Catania at Watch What Happens Live in New York City.

Needless to say, Dolores is very in tune when it comes to balancing the relationships in her life. "There's so much drama in my life, and the one thing I want to set the record straight on — it's not that I'm Switzerland, it's just that I'm smart."

Although Dolores will be spending time in South Africa this summer, maybe she can finally spend some time in Switzerland next summer. 

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