Gluten Free on the Nile: Travel in Egypt

by Toni Holland

I’ve at all times wished to go to and expertise Egypt: to enterprise contained in the Great Pyramid, discover temples hidden for hundreds of years, and stroll down into King Tutankhamun’s tomb. How tons of stone have been transported to assemble the pyramids are nonetheless fairly a thriller, and to see these websites firsthand fascinated me.   

As I deliberate our journey, one other thriller introduced itself: how would I eat safely in a rustic that was not well-known for being celiac pleasant? Flour is commonly used as a thickener, and even the rice would possibly include items of pasta. I additionally needed to be aware of washed recent fruit and produce because the water remedy methods are totally different in Egypt. While the Egyptians in Cairo could drink faucet water, my digestive system wouldn’t be used to the native microbes within the water. Even enamel brushing required bottled water to scale back the chance of abdomen irritation.

Embracing Travel While Eating Carefully

Was it definitely worth the bother to journey to a rustic with such difficulties to beat? The easy reply is “yes.” I figured that if I traveled with a bunch that would accommodate my dietary wants, then I’d be capable of eat extra safely. I’d additionally convey protein-rich snacks to complement my meals and carry a journey card informing of my dietary restrictions in Egyptian Arabic. I journey with the mantra, “it’s not my last meal.” Sometimes I may need to eat one thing lower than fascinating, nevertheless it’s only for that second in time. Better meals await me sooner or later!

For the file, I don’t take pointless dangers with my meals. While I notice that consuming out is a threat in itself, I take precautions: I keep away from buffets and can politely ask for a plate to be ready for me from the kitchen; I additionally analysis potential protected meals choices earlier than journey to others nations, use a translation app to decipher labels in different languages, and take a look at to not go hungry to a restaurant so my judgment isn’t compromised by starvation. I do the whole lot inside my management to eat safely, however I refuse to remain at house and restrict myself to consuming inside the security bubble of my very own kitchen. 

Savoring the Journey

For our journey to Egypt, we selected to journey with National Geographic-Lindblad, as I’d had good experiences with them prior to now with their accommodating a strict gluten-free weight loss plan. In Cairo, I used to be in a position to eat safely in our lodge and native eating places, due to our information who made certain my meals have been ready correctly. As the lodge had recent GF pita bread at breakfast, I’d convey that in addition to some recent guava for a snack as we explored; we climbed contained in the Great Pyramid, visited the Sphinx and Djoser’s Step Pyramid, toured the brand new GEM museum, and journeyed via the Khan El-Khalili Market.

In the colourful open market, I realized concerning the lifetime of the folks. While I didn’t threat tasting any spices or nuts, I might admire the smells with out tasting them. I might use my different senses to expertise the open-air museum of the market.

Eating Safely While Cruising the Nile

After 4 days in Cairo, we flew to southern Nubia to the exceptional website of Abu Simbel with its temples devoted to Ramses II and Queen Nefertari. 

Then we boarded our ship, the Oberoi Philae, which turned our house for the subsequent six nights as we cruised the Nile visiting the Aswan Dam, varied archaeological websites, tombs, temples, and even The Old Cataract Hotel, the place Agatha Christie wrote her e book, Death on the Nile.

What a deal with it was to take pleasure in a specifically ready gluten-free excessive tea after which sail on a sailboat round Elephantine Island! Our days have been spent cruising or exploring such websites because the Philae, Luxor and Dendera Temples amongst others with our Egyptologists, whereas our nights have been full of cultural dances and lectures on the way to take the most effective pictures by a National Geographic photographer. 

On the Oberoi, virtually the whole lot could possibly be ready gluten free for me. I even had gluten-free pita bread on the ship, which rivaled the bread rolls my co-travelers have been served.

Off the ship, my meals have been normally absent of any sauce or seasoning, however the meals was recent and scrumptious, and I didn’t get sick. I journey to expertise the world and different cultures, and meaning placing my belief and well being within the palms of others who deal with my meals. 

In Egypt, I at all times confirmed that the meal I acquired was gluten free, and if I acquired any hesitation, akin to “I think so,” I’d ask them to verify it for me. For instance, one individual stated they thought that the rice pudding was “okay,” and one other was virtually certain that it was freed from gluten, however a delicate request for affirmation revealed that flour had been used to thicken the pudding. Reaction averted! When touring, after all, there are totally different meals that I’d like to style, nevertheless it’s by no means definitely worth the threat. Instead, I select to give attention to the folks, tradition, and new experiences that journey opens up. 

Setbacks and Solutions

In an ideal world I’d by no means get “glutened,” however generally I do expertise signs from cross contact. Unfortunately, this did occur the final evening of our journey when two different teams joined ours for the ultimate dinner after struggle broke out. The workers was overwhelmed, and although the chef ready a particular plate for me, I feel the lentil soup had been thickened with flour. Those moments of cross contact, whereas uncommon, do generally happen even with vigilance and precautions. The subsequent few days I drank loads of water, walked for train, and ate complete meals to assist myself heal. Of course, I used to be pissed off by the scenario and with myself for not double checking the soup. While I used to be identified 15 years in the past and am assured advocating for my weight loss plan, I used to be drained on the finish of the journey and had made a mistake. 

Looking Ahead

Despite that closing incident, I had an unimaginable journey. My travels gave me the chance to satisfy new folks and share what it means to reside with celiac illness as they watched me navigate the GF weight loss plan in several conditions. Each new expertise turns into a possibility to assist others perceive what being gluten free really means.  

Egypt should still maintain its historical mysteries, however by the top of my journey, navigating gluten-free choices not felt like considered one of them. Now at house, yet another thriller has introduced itself: the place to journey subsequent! The planning could take further care, however each journey proves the identical factor — it’s definitely worth the effort, and so am I.