I was telling my friend, Diane about this following travel story and she said she hadn't heard about it and that I should blog it. Well I checked and I did write about this 2007 travel boo boo in 2012. I hope you don't mind, but I decided to reprint it. Here it is:
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.
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...
When I think of great, grand, bone head type mistakes I've made while traveling, this heads the list.
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.
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...
oh Kay,,, I'm blushing for you lol,, I think we need these mess ups once in a while to keep us on our toes lol,, at least thats what Itell myself,, as you know I am legally blind and make many slip ups but I will say yours was a doozy lol,, hard to top that one !!!!!
ReplyDeleteScary then and funny now. What a learning cultural experience and what a telling tale that the only freedom women have was in the bathroom!
ReplyDeleteglad you didn't miss your flight...i almost did once in 1971 when returning from brazil with my three sons who were asleep on the plane, i went into the airport in peru to bring some souvenirs and almost missed my plane. their dad was remaining in brazil so they could have gotten to california, woke up and no mom...lol!
ReplyDeleteWhat a story. So glad you made it out alive. What a beautiful new picture too. :) That image isn't a blunder at all.
ReplyDeleteWe had one crazy woman walk into the wrong bathroom at work. I was in a stall at the time and I stayed until she left. Most people try to run away ASAP, she told the guy at the urnial he was in the wrong place.
ReplyDeleteOh my! No, I don't remember that story, and I think I would. Must have missed it. I don't think you will ever forget it either!
ReplyDeleteWhat a memory!
ReplyDeleteMy hand just went straight to my mouth to cover my gasp! My story about pressing the HELP button in a Japan restroom pales compared to this.
ReplyDeleteInteresting the difference in the men's and women's washrooms.
ReplyDeleteYikes, that had to be scary but time makes it funny. Kind of sad that the bathroom was where the women felt free to indulge and that smoking was their form of rebellion.
ReplyDeleteNow that was scary, considering the part of the world you were in. Glad it all turned out okay. What a story! :-)
ReplyDeleteHilarious! Happy Christmas!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story! Can't wait for more!
ReplyDelete