Urgency Abroad: An Accident in Spain
In January I trekked off to Europe for a two week excursion to Spain. Although I have traveled and even lived abroad, this was my first trip to Europe and I was thrilled for the adventure.
A travel adventure of a lifetime
A robust schedule was in play including visiting seven different cities and experiencing all we could while in each city from guided tours, food tours, horseback riding, flamenco shows and beyond. I could barely contain my excitement when we arrived, as my heritage is Spanish.
Being in my “Motherland” was electrifying. I was swept up in the culture, the weather, the scenery, the food, the music. All was swell, and each day was a new adventure.
At first, my IBS behaved itself
One of the best parts was that my stomach loved the food and all was agreeing with me. I even indulged in red wine and found it to sit well in my stomach. Spanish wine is just different compared to the wine in America; and I was having cheese, ham, bread, all sorts of other delicacies meanwhile my digestive system was happy and cooperating. Until we took a day trip to Ronda, Spain.
The drive to Ronda was just over an hour and from the moment I sat in the car my stomach felt off. I made sure to relieve myself before we left but even still, something wasn’t right. Regardless, off we went and I made sure to distract myself on the road.
IBS comes along on the trip
But then it hit me. I just had to go. And here we were in the middle of a highway in the countryside. Winding roads, only two lanes and no place to pull over. As the urgency increased I prayed for a way for this to be resolved and I began my breathing techniques. To my surprise there was an area up ahead with space to pull over. Throughout the entire ride we had never seen such a space—this was the moment to seize.
My fiancé expertly pulled off the road, and in lightning speed I had the door open and flung myself out of the car to pop a squat. What else was I to do? Graciously, the road was not busy, maybe only two cars passed while I was in the act of relieving myself and it really wasn’t a big fuss. I had my emergency bag on me with everything I needed and swiftly we were back on the road again, heading to Ronda.
A second episode leads to embarrasement
But that experience was only the start. After some sight-seeing and eating lunch, we decided to head to a historic site. On our way there, walking on the cobble stone of this quaint town, the urgency hit me yet again. This time however, it was severe. I had seconds. There was no finding a restroom. No figuring out if there was a hotel or restaurant nearby. It was now, or soil my pants.
I ran behind a parked car on the side of the road and relieved myself. Frankly, this was mortifying. There were people walking, and although I was behind a car it was clear something was going on. I was prepared with my emergency bag and was able to clean up but still, this instance was too much. My fiancé was trying to cover me from the side as much as he could but it wasn’t as seamless as when this occurred earlier on the road. When there were zero people walking about and only a car or two passing by at 60 mph.
To my utter horror, as I was finishing up, an old Spanish lady walked right in front of me to enter her apartment. She couldn’t believe her eyes. A young thirty-something year old woman, having a bowel movement behind a parked car in the middle of the street. She certainly had never seen that before. And I wanted to disappear.
My fiancé and I were paranoid that the police were after us for indecent exposure. Looking for the two Americans who have zero regard for decency. We were on edge for the next hour or so.
Now, we laugh about it because sometimes you just have to laugh at the absurdity. I can’t believe I went to the bathroom on a cobblestone road in Ronda, Spain and had an elderly Spanish woman witness it. But at least I didn’t end up behind bars! At least, I ended up unscathed.
Can you relate? Have you ever had an emergency in a public place? Or perhaps I am on my own with this dilemma? Share below.
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