When I think of great, grand, bone head type mistakes I've made while traveling, this heads the list.
We'd just gotten off the 12 hour flight from Chicago to Amman, Jordan on a stop-over en route to Cairo, Egypt.
I needed to use the bathroom so I left Art with my things and went to search for the facilities.
Well... blame it on the 12 hour flight. Blame it on the cylinders in my brain not firing properly.
Sigh...
I passed by a closed door because I (for some reason) thought it was a family room for parents with children.
The other washroom door was wide open and nobody was there. I guess I must not have looked at the Men-Women symbols carefully or whatever. I went into the stall and sat down.
Uh oh...
Somebody came in and that person had a deep voice. More deep voices speaking Arabic. What to do? What to do? I sat there thinking about the lower status of women. I started thinking of the International incident I could be causing for daring to invade the MEN'S bathroom. Would they maybe leave so I could come out without anybody knowing?
No such luck!
I realized that I would need to leave before Art got worried and started looking for me.
I opened the door, dropped my head and ran out saying, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry" while a torrent of shocked Arabic exclamations followed me out to the hall. I scooted into the Women's bathroom and was completely floored by the difference in atmosphere. The Men's bathroom was austere and rather smoke free. I think. (I don't remember clearly.) The Women's bathroom was packed and cloudy with cigarette smoke. Women were in various stages of dishabille, relaxing with cigarettes and chatting happily. Many had removed their abayas and were enjoying the freedom. I could barely get to the sink to wash my hands. Nobody seemed to pay any attention to me.
Back at the terminal gate, I met Aya who was returning to Egypt after getting her PhD. in the states and Mari from Peru. It was the BEST fun! Aya loved telling me about her beautiful country and offering lots of helpful advice. Mari was meeting her tour group in Cairo and we compared what each of our tours were covering. My heartbeats returned to normal.
After that bathroom incident, I felt that the worst part of the trip was behind me. Little did I know about the camel ride that awaited...
POSTSCRIPT: Many of you kindly asked about that camel ride. I've added links to that post.
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| Page 1 of our Egypt-Jordan 2007 photo journal |
I needed to use the bathroom so I left Art with my things and went to search for the facilities.
Well... blame it on the 12 hour flight. Blame it on the cylinders in my brain not firing properly.
Sigh...
I passed by a closed door because I (for some reason) thought it was a family room for parents with children.
The other washroom door was wide open and nobody was there. I guess I must not have looked at the Men-Women symbols carefully or whatever. I went into the stall and sat down.
Uh oh...
Somebody came in and that person had a deep voice. More deep voices speaking Arabic. What to do? What to do? I sat there thinking about the lower status of women. I started thinking of the International incident I could be causing for daring to invade the MEN'S bathroom. Would they maybe leave so I could come out without anybody knowing?
No such luck!
I realized that I would need to leave before Art got worried and started looking for me.
I opened the door, dropped my head and ran out saying, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry" while a torrent of shocked Arabic exclamations followed me out to the hall. I scooted into the Women's bathroom and was completely floored by the difference in atmosphere. The Men's bathroom was austere and rather smoke free. I think. (I don't remember clearly.) The Women's bathroom was packed and cloudy with cigarette smoke. Women were in various stages of dishabille, relaxing with cigarettes and chatting happily. Many had removed their abayas and were enjoying the freedom. I could barely get to the sink to wash my hands. Nobody seemed to pay any attention to me.
Back at the terminal gate, I met Aya who was returning to Egypt after getting her PhD. in the states and Mari from Peru. It was the BEST fun! Aya loved telling me about her beautiful country and offering lots of helpful advice. Mari was meeting her tour group in Cairo and we compared what each of our tours were covering. My heartbeats returned to normal.
After that bathroom incident, I felt that the worst part of the trip was behind me. Little did I know about the camel ride that awaited...
POSTSCRIPT: Many of you kindly asked about that camel ride. I've added links to that post.
Oh dear, how embarrassing. What I hate are the unisex loos that seem to be abounding. Why I should be embarrassed if I meet a man coming out as I'm going in I don't know, but I always am.
ReplyDeletesounds like a reality show...lol~
ReplyDeleteOoops ! Now I am curious about your camel ride.
ReplyDeleteVery funny - though not at the time, of course:-)
ReplyDeleteThat would be embarrassing and it is always a worry when traveling to try to make sure I go into the ladies' room. In some parts of the world, they require payment to use the lavatory, so the opportunity to go into the wrong one would be immediately removed. I like the privacy of single unisex lavatories, but some people are messy--sticky floors on airplanes, wet seats, etc. I don't like to have to clean the lavatory before I can use it.
ReplyDeleteMy most outstanding boo boo was when we missed a tour one day because I had thought it was the next day. I called them and we were able to take the same tour the next day and the tour company wasn't concerned. I was baffled that I could have overlooked the correct day. Tourism can really keep us on our toes. I'm always on autopilot around familiar surroundings at home.
The image of you running from the men's room is very funny, though I'm sure there was nothing funny about it to you at the time. That is probably a mistake that you have not made again.
ReplyDeleteThat's funny, Kay, in retrospect at least. I cannot imagine how it must have felt at the time. It sure made an impression! The difference in atmosphere between the two bathrooms is interesting...
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, how embarassing for you and a bit scary for sure. The Hubby did that in Ireland and had to scoot out with head down.
ReplyDeleteStaying tuned for the next segment! Interesting bathroom experience though...
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, now thats a day to remember for sure, how did the camel ride go??I would think it would be a breeeze after that experience for sure!!!
ReplyDeleteI used the men's room once at a high school craft fair. Nobody was in it, whereas there was a line to the women's room. No regrets! Lol.
ReplyDeleteLOL
ReplyDeleteYou made my day. I'm very unwell and needed a laugh. Of course, if I think of it from your point of view, it is not at all funny.
Has happened to most of us, somewhere, I'm sure.
K
Kay: I'm so sorry you're not feeling well, Kay. Please feel better soon. I'll bet Dick could come up with some great chicken soup.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry..this made me laugh..sounds like something I would do totally...
ReplyDeleteThat was awkward. LOL
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how relaxed you found the women. That is interesting.
Tell us more - camels?
Oh my gosh Kay!! I would have been mortified too! Funny how the women were all so relaxed and had the freedom to be in the ladies room of all places!!
ReplyDeleteGirl, your gonna leave us hangin' with a cliff~hager like a camel ride???
ReplyDeleteI've dipped into the mens room a couple times myself. It never turns out good! Heehehehee!
God bless ya and have an amazin' day sweeite!!! :o)
Now that was funny and I would have thought like you. Sometimes breaking a taboo can land you in jail in some countries.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting on the different atmospheres.
Looking forward to the camels.
lol, it's an easier boo boo to make than it may seem especially if the restroom happens to be empty just at that grand moment. And unless you've been in the same situation, ahem, not easily conveyed in writing.
ReplyDeleteOh, Kay, what an embarrassing and frightful experience. but at least you had the anonymity of being where know one knew you.
ReplyDeleteI can relate...we've wandered into Mexico by accident and thought we would never get out of there alive. It was scary to be where you're not supposed to be...on foreign soil.
ReplyDeleteL. from W.
L. from W.: Whoa! How in the world did you do that?
ReplyDeleteYour a great story teller! It was hilarious! In march I am going to Israel and will meet Dina, who will be my guide for two weeks! I am looking forward to seeing her.
ReplyDeleteYour camel ride was an ordeal, I think. At least when you get seasick it must have been awful!
Wil: That is absolutely terrific, Wil! I know Dina is ecstatic about meeting up with you. I've told her to be sure to post a photo of the two of you together. I can hardly wait to see the adventures you two will have together.
ReplyDeleteKay, it was by car going from San Diego to Tijuana, but we took the wrong road in. We assumed there would be a parking lot stop along the border where you could park your car and walk in. We saw several large signs that told us we must turn around, this is the border, but no gate with a person or anything, so we headed straight into Mexico. It was miles into the city before we could turn around (we don't know Spanish, so couldn't read the signs there either). No GPS, no maps...what an experience. This was at least 7 years ago. Today, no passport means no coming back to the states.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out alive, Kay.
ReplyDeleteNo camel riding for Wil and me.
Wow. Those pictures of Petra are amazing. And what an insight on Arab culture you got from visiting both the men's and the women's.
ReplyDeleteSIGH. There are SO MANY knee slapping, raucous jokes hovering near the forefront of my brain about Kay's Wild Ride and Kay's Adventure in the Men's Room, but I can see her stern look at me already so I bettah shut up.
ReplyDeletealoha,
walt
you are well traveled!
ReplyDelete