Going On Vacation Wednesday...

[love2travel]

After cancelling our trip due to my intense ongoing pain we have rescheduled and are leaving Wednesday. We are flying to Italy then renting a car to drive to our house in Croatia for three lovely weeks. So, now we are doing about 392 last-minute things. However, I am still in much pain - I always am - so could you use your prayers. The flights are brutally long and excruciating but I am still doing it. I bought a portable TENS machine and have as many prescription drugs as I can take together. One of my sisters is coming with us this time and I absolutely cannot wait to live this trip through her eyes as she has never been to Europe before. We will be spending our last three nights in Venice so she can experience it. I have been playing tons of wonderful Croatian klapa music lately as I am trying to learn the language.

The thought of the gluten-free airplane food makes me nauseous but I am organizing lots of yummy snacks. Once we are in Italy and Croatia it will be fine - I just must plan for delays, layovers and so on. I am thankful that other countries are more advanced than ours when it comes to celiac disease knowledge.

So, I may be posting the odd time for the next couple of days but then we are so OUTTA HERE! It is wonderful to go from winter to paradise! Take care of yourselves, all!

[jerseyangel]

I'm so glad you were able to go! Have a safe trip, and I hope it's not too difficult for you. Enjoy!

[jswog]

What wonderful news!!! Can you adopt me as a sister and take me along? My husband has traveled Europe extensively, having lived in Germany for 6 years, but I have never been. We're truly hoping that his job will take us to Germany or Italy soon. Have a GREAT trip!

[BabsV]

I'm so glad to see you finally get to take your trip. Enjoy! I hope it all goes smoothly and you have lots of sun and good times. We are headed to Athens, Greece in less than a week and while I am also dealing with pain issues and at times the thought of travel terrifies me (this is my first trip since diagnosis) I REFUSE to cancel this trip and let Celiac 'win'!

[kareng]

Have a great trip!

[Bubba's Mom]

I'm happy to see that you can go after all! Have a great trip.

[wheeleezdryver]

Enjoy your trip, and be sure to tell us about all your great gluten- free finds when you get back!!

[love2travel]

What wonderful news!!! Can you adopt me as a sister and take me along? My husband has traveled Europe extensively, having lived in Germany for 6 years, but I have never been. We're truly hoping that his job will take us to Germany or Italy soon. Have a GREAT trip!

Germany is so wonderful - more of my family lives in Germany than here in Canada. It was so interesting to go and trace my roots. I went to a cemetary where many of my relatives were buried, six or more people deep. I also went to my ancient ancestral home - it was a huge mansion built many hundreds of years ago. My family still lives in it but it is about 1/4 the size as the rest was lost in a big fire.

Oh, I hope you get to go to Germany and Italy! I love them both but would pick Croatia as my favourite country on earth as it is far less commercialized than much of Italy. You are not charged for every tiny little thing such as toilets. It is too amazing for words.

[love2travel]

I'm so glad to see you finally get to take your trip. Enjoy! I hope it all goes smoothly and you have lots of sun and good times. We are headed to Athens, Greece in less than a week and while I am also dealing with pain issues and at times the thought of travel terrifies me (this is my first trip since diagnosis) I REFUSE to cancel this trip and let Celiac 'win'!

Thanks so much! The weather forecast looks pretty perfect. We have not yet been to Athens but really want to. Where else are you headed? I honestly think that Celiac is pretty much a non-issue for travel. It is not even on my radar because it was so easy last trip. But then we have a house there so purchase groceries to cook at home. However, we did go out often, too, and were so impressed with their awareness. So, you have nothing to worry about celiac wise EXCEPT I would highly recommend taking lots of snacks with you as gluten-free airplane food is absolutely deplorable in my opinion. Makes me gag.

Pain can truly be debilitating - not only physically but mentally so I know how you feel. I am absolutely fearful of this trip knowing how awful my pain is. In my travel journal from the last trip on the first night I wrote, "DO NOT EVER EVEN CONSIDER DOING THIS AGAIN. SO NOT WORTH IT. THE PAIN IS TOO GREAT. IT WAS LIKE BEING IN A TORTURE CHAMBER." However, after massage treatments and lots of drugs on the fourth day I wrote, "This is SO worth it. Do this again." My pain comes from accident injuries (multiple) and fibromyalgia and herniated discs. I am not kidding when I say I cannot sit longer than 30 minutes - literally. So, when we had lots of turbulence last time I begged the flight attendant to let me lie down in the aisle. I was desperate and crying and rocking back and forth in agony. I will never, ever forget that.

I tell myself that pain really sucks but I would rather be in pain in Europe than here. It is just GETTING there that is soooooooo rough.

The best of luck on your trip. Friends of ours were in Greece this year and traveled with a friend who has celiac. She was absolutely fine. (They spent several days in Athens.) Do you have travel cards printed for restaurants? I have them in several languages - they outline what we can/cannot have and describes preparation of food. They can be very helpful.

[love2travel]

Enjoy your trip, and be sure to tell us about all your great gluten- free finds when you get back!!

Thanks! I will be taking along some Genius bread as the gluten-free bread there (Schar brand) is very, very bad. It is like a cross between cardboard, drywall and crazy glue. However, I did read that recently they came out with fresh bread that you heat. Will have to try that. Will be going to a certified gluten-free gelato place in Venice as well as a gluten-free pizzeria. Now THEY know pizza!

[jswog]

Do you have travel cards printed for restaurants? I have them in several languages - they outline what we can/cannot have and describes preparation of food. They can be very helpful.

Can one purchase these somewhere? Or did you have someone make them for you?

Jen

[love2travel]

Can one purchase these somewhere? Or did you have someone make them for you?

Jen

I used a combination of www.CeliacTravel.com cards (free but a donation is happily accepted) and added a bit extra on preparation (i.e. a blurb on checking stocks in risotto for example). I had my husband laminate them and carry them to each country.

[jswog]

I used a combination of www.CeliacTravel.com cards (free but a donation is happily accepted) and added a bit extra on preparation (i.e. a blurb on checking stocks in risotto for example). I had my husband laminate them and carry them to each country.

Thank you!

[love2travel]

Thank you!

You are welcome! They are a great aid.

[BabsV]

Thanks so much! The weather forecast looks pretty perfect. We have not yet been to Athens but really want to. Where else are you headed? I honestly think that Celiac is pretty much a non-issue for travel. It is not even on my radar because it was so easy last trip. But then we have a house there so purchase groceries to cook at home. However, we did go out often, too, and were so impressed with their awareness. So, you have nothing to worry about celiac wise EXCEPT I would highly recommend taking lots of snacks with you as gluten-free airplane food is absolutely deplorable in my opinion. Makes me gag.

We're renting an apartment in Athens -- it was recommended by a friend and will allow me to cook. It is less than a 15 minute walk from the Acropolis with a view of the Parthenon from the balcony! I cannot wait...even better, there is a large supermarket right nearby so shopping won't be a hassle. As long as the air traffic controllers don't go on strike we should be ok! We will probably try a couple day trips, one to Delphi at least.

I have my travel cards for Greece (and Germany since we fly through Munich) and from what I've read eating gluten-free shouldn't be a big problem.

I figure I am far from 100% but not bad enough to miss out on this chance to see Athens (due to work and school schedules, etc. it was now or never!). If I have a bad day my husband and daughter can head off without me. At the very least I can sit on the balcony and look at the Parthenon!

I'll report back on the travel forum once I'm back.

Oh, that Schar bread is pretty bad isn't it?!?! Schar is one of the big gluten-free options here in Poland and while my family does ok with the pasta and some of the crackers the bread is a no go. Scarily enough, it is better than some of the local gluten-free bread products we taste tested before I went on an elimination diet. Those were ghastly.

[love2travel]

We're renting an apartment in Athens -- it was recommended by a friend and will allow me to cook. It is less than a 15 minute walk from the Acropolis with a view of the Parthenon from the balcony! I cannot wait...even better, there is a large supermarket right nearby so shopping won't be a hassle. As long as the air traffic controllers don't go on strike we should be ok! We will probably try a couple day trips, one to Delphi at least.

I have my travel cards for Greece (and Germany since we fly through Munich) and from what I've read eating gluten-free shouldn't be a big problem.

I figure I am far from 100% but not bad enough to miss out on this chance to see Athens (due to work and school schedules, etc. it was now or never!). If I have a bad day my husband and daughter can head off without me. At the very least I can sit on the balcony and look at the Parthenon!

I'll report back on the travel forum once I'm back.

Oh, that Schar bread is pretty bad isn't it?!?! Schar is one of the big gluten-free options here in Poland and while my family does ok with the pasta and some of the crackers the bread is a no go. Scarily enough, it is better than some of the local gluten-free bread products we taste tested before I went on an elimination diet. Those were ghastly.

How wonderful to have an apartment so close to the Acropolis and Parthenon! Wow. I cannot wait to hear all about the trip - I am a travel fiend.

I know what you mean about bad days - they do happen too frequently. But I am also amazed at how distractions can enable one to forget about pain for a moment.

Schar is an interesting company - some things (i.e. the dry breadsticks) are decent but the breads are horrid! I would love to see them come out with new products.

I, too, will report on my trip on the Travel forum. Have a glorious time!

[lucia]

Wonderful news! How delightful for your sister that you are taking her to Venice! Have a great trip!!!

(P.S.: I can't imagine you'd enjoy airline meals, whether they were gluten-free or not. ; )

[mushroom]

Thanks! I will be taking along some Genius bread as the gluten-free bread there (Schar brand) is very, very bad. It is like a cross between cardboard, drywall and crazy glue. However, I did read that recently they came out with fresh bread that you heat. Will have to try that. Will be going to a certified gluten-free gelato place in Venice as well as a gluten-free pizzeria. Now THEY know pizza!

Aaaah, I will be thinking of your enjoyment. Have a great time and beat the pain back!!