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Hello Everyone,

   We will be taking a family vacation in August for 3 weeks.  It will be
our first time to visit Europe.  We are very excited.  Our travels will
take us to London first for 1 week.  We are staying in the suburbs in a
town called Walton on Thames.  Close to the train so that we might visit
the city when we want yet be far enough away from the crowds and noise to
spend some time relaxing.  Then off to Austria to Vienna for a few days
stay and after that on to a little town called Hart still in Austria.  We
will be there for another week attending the World Barefoot Waterski
championships.  We will spend a lot of time in Wallsee Austria.  Then we
drive to Italy and will visit Milan and then stay for another week in Como
Lake.

   I've searched the archives and found out that Schar is a supplier of
gluten free foods throughout Europe and is said to be sold in the
Pharmacies.  This makes so much sense to me since we have what is
acknowledged as a medical condidtion and other people requiring help for
medical problems can go to Pharmacies for medications and such. Wish it
were that simple here in America.  So, I feel hopeful about this
information.  We will travel light as each person who we have spoken with
who has been to Europe says to do so.  This means that I will not be
packing my food as I usually do when I travel.  I go the whole 9 yards when
we go anywhere and even check-in a large cooler and put my foreman grill in
my suitcase.  On road trips, I've been known to pack my microwave as well.

   I really need your help and advice as to where to shop, eat, etc. and
any other information or tips you may think of.  I realize that I may need
to learn how to translate words in Italian and German so that I can read
labels so I have been practicing with Michael Thomas CD's.  I've also
ordered the book "Against the Grain" and will utilize the restaurant cards
which will be included in several different languages.

   Each time I have sent out a plea to the folks on this list, I have
received so many generous offers from others extending that helping hand
which has made my trips and travel so much more enjoyable and less
stressful.  I really do appreciate anything, even the smallest helpful
hints you may have to offer that are just those kind of things that can be
overlooked if you've never been to Europe.  We travel aboard American
Airlines and I have ordered the gluten free meals, but I will still plan to
use much caution in eating what is provided and also plan to carry some
sort of food to sustain myself through the flight.  Any ideas?

Thanks again so much for your previous help and also for any help which you
may provide me at this time.  My prayers go out to you all

Gina