Culture Shock

Erin: USA to Buenos Aires

When nature calls in Buenos Aires, it can turn into an international incident. One expat's story of bathroom desperation, cafe confrontation, and the legal right to pee.

Travel Blogger

Various

10+ years in BA

3 min read

Source: Sol Salute blog

Key Highlights

•Desperately needed bathroom in subway station
•Found public bathroom locked
•Stormed into cafe bathroom after being refused
•Screamed 'call the police' at waitress
•Turns out it IS illegal to refuse bathroom access

## The Bathroom Drought

Needing to use the bathroom in a city can often feel like being thirsty on the ocean - water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.

In Buenos Aires, "Baño exclusivo para clientes" (Bathroom exclusively for customers) is plastered on every restaurant door. If nature calls and you aren't near a McDonald's (the holy grail of unlocked bathroom doors), then you're shit out of luck.

The Emergency

Erin found herself in need of a bathroom on the subway. No problem, she thought - her stop at Ministro Carranza has a public bathroom. Always has!

False. They've locked the doors now.

Up to street level she went. No McDonald's. No Burger King. Forced into the first cafe she saw.

The Confrontation

The waitress asked what she needed. Erin asked to use the bathroom.

"No."

"Too bad," Erin said, and went into the restroom anyway. She mumbled something about how it's illegal to say no, but wasn't being very coherent.

When she opened the bathroom door to leave, the waitress was standing there waiting.

"She's all on me about trespassing on her private property and that I have to ask permission first. The two tables of diners have now stopped eating and all eyes are on me."

Escalation

"Well, ok then, call the police!!"

Things had escalated quickly. They screamed at each other until Erin was on the sidewalk, laughing (the waitress was NOT laughing).

"Did this just happen? I hope the people eating breakfast enjoyed their little show."

The Legal Victory

"Oh, and it IS illegal for her to tell me no. I have now saved the law to my pocket app just in case I find myself in this sort of situation again."

In Buenos Aires, businesses cannot legally refuse bathroom access to people in need. Erin was right - even if her delivery was questionable.

The Lesson

Sometimes you have to stand your ground. Sometimes that ground is a cafe bathroom floor. And sometimes, just sometimes, you end up screaming at a stranger while tourists watch you like a performance art piece.

God forbid it happens again. But if it does, Erin is legally prepared.