<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

See original posting in the CELIAC Digest  for 23 Jan 2006 to 24 Jan 
(#2006-25)

I had asked for information for GF and Lactose free travel In Egypt & 
Libya in March.
Did you miss the original posting?  Please take time to respond now!  
Thanks.

I was seeking specific info from travelers to either country, about 
actual experiences in communicating GF requirements to airlines  and to 
tour companies, Nile cruise ships, hotels, restaurants, etc., and 
recommendations w/r to whether & how much GF food to carry with us.

  I was particularly concerned to get help on finding or creating a 
"Gluten Free Information Card" in the local languages, (Egyptian & 
Arabic), AND especially that use the real ethnic and local language 
terminology and refer to foods & ingredients indigenous to those 
countries, that are not simplistic & not just translations from 
American-English cuisine oriented Cards.
---------
NOTE: - There must be more of you out there who have actually travelled 
in Egypt & possibly Libya,  so please take time to share your 
experiences now.   (Please do not reply with generalized celiac travel 
advice - we do know about that.)  I will re-summarize.
----------
Summary:
To date, I've received 3 responses,  and had hoped for more people to 
respond -- surely lots of you have gone to Egypt!?  --  so have been 
waiting to summarize.  Two of the three people who responded have also 
very generously replied to further direct  emails asking them 
questions. (I hope everyone how very helpful it can be and how much we 
appreciate it when you are willing to engage in additional  direct 
email correspondence and answer questions about your experiences & 
knowledge.)

  So here is what I've learned so far:

Michael:
Been to Egypt 15 years ago, before he was diagnosed CD.  No specific 
CD/GF info for those countries.  General travel advice about getting 
vaccinations & medications, especially anti-diarrheal meds from "travel 
medicine clinics", who know the specific meds for each area.  Cautions 
that in Egypt, not only to drink bottled water, but be sure not to get 
water in mouth in shower.  Declares that "virtually everyone gets sick 
at some point on trips to Egypt. I subsisted largely on their excellent 
yoghurt with fruit preserves [jams] mixed in."

Brenda:
"I too, will be spending time in Egypt in April, and as a Celiac share 
your concerns.  I will be traveling with a Grand Circle Tour  so will 
have a tour director to run interference for me, and have requested 
gluten-free food on the 7 day Nile cruise portion of the trip-Grand 
Circle owned ships do great things for the gluten intolerant. Still, I 
will be on my own much of the time during the longer land portion of 
the trip when it comes to choosing from a menu and like you, am 
searching for the right language to avoid getting sick."

Trish:
Hasn't been to Egypt or Libya, but had bad experience flying on British 
Airways in July, 2005, with her 3 year old celiac and lactose 
intolerant daughter.  BrAir did not offer a GF/LF meal option.  They 
claimed to have GF breakfast, but then served ordinary non-GF Kellogg's 
Rice Krispies!  She says: "I told the [flight] attendant this, and 
although they were super all around, they did not show real concern for 
this matter. Moral is: don't trust what they serve, don't expect that 
the attendants will be in the know about the food and take GF food 
along to supplement."

 >>> NOTE:  Trish & her family are moving to England in June 2006.
  She is hoping to get good, specific information about English celiac 
(coelic) support groups & chapters & celiac clinics and on-line support 
groups like the LISTSERV, and also,  "information about celiac 
specialists in Surrey/Berkshire so I don’t land without knowing 
anything about who her doctor will be, etc. We will have enough to 
worry about with this transition!"
  I will forward any replies to her.

 >>>  Brenda and I hope that more of you will respond now with Egypt & 
Libya info.

Marshall

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