Can you guess where this is going?
We had nothing but the clothes on our backs and a bunch of electronics that were about out of charge and 4 plastic lizard toys KT acquired at some point in an airport.
RULE #1
Pack a few things you need for the first night just in case your luggage gets lost. (ie, toothbrush, soap, underwear!)
RULE #2
Don't pack allergy medication in your checked luggage.
RULE #3
The quart size ziplock is meant for some travel sized toiletries not a variety of homeopathic jet lag sprays. Okay, the let lag sprays came in handy but toothpaste would have been great!
RULE #4
When the airplane gives you $150 allowance because your luggage is late, don't go splurge on vegetarian sushi and then wait until after 7:00 pm to try to find gluten free toothpaste, shampoo and soap.
Since we had no luggage to take to our hotel we set out to explore the area without thinking the luggage would never show up. At 7:00 Pm we got a little panicked when we realized we needed to find gluten free toiletries. We did find a homeopathic safe toothpaste and hypoallergenic soap at a pharmacy. Fortunately Boiron is the Merk of Europe and every pharmacy carries homeopathic remedies and homeopathic toothpaste.
We went to our self catering apartment and then realized that we had no clothes and no toiletries.
RULE #5
When using the all-in-one washer-dryer in your Eastern European self catering apartment check to see if there is a handle on the outside of the washing machine before you put all of you remove all of your clothes and put them inside and shut the door.
So here we are now with no clothes! We we went to bed and decided to deal with it in the morning. Maybe our luggage would come. My obsessing mind had it all worked out. I could wear the two items we had not tried to wash- David's jeans and Katie's nightgown (a stretch) and go buy clothes for everyone else. In the morning, no luggage. But we did figure out how to get the washer open. Se we all wore soaking wet clothes to go out and buy new clothes. My husband needed a suit to wear to speak at the conference at noon that day.
The Good News
On our shopping trip to buy clothes we happened upon a Gluten Free Store!!!!
Taplalek Allergia (ALLERGIACENTRUM)
H1134 Uaci Ut 9-15
In the Lehel Piac Hall Shopping Center
Located on the north side of the building on the top floor.
They had dairy free, gluten free and egg free products including fresh breads and pretzels. They also had lots of products for sample. This was gold mine!
Where we ate:
Hummus Bar
Kertesz u. 39
Across from Franz Linzt Music
Metro: oktagon on M1
Great salad bar and hummus.
We took the Tram #72 to the Zoo from here.
Lite Coffee
Andrassy ut 2
Multiple locations. Salad and coffee bar. Fresh salads mixed to order. They had lots of beans, tofu and cheeses to choose from along with a wide variety of vegetables including artichoke, olives and corn.
Govinda
Vigyazo Fernc utca
Near Roosevelt Park and Four Seasons Hotel
Vegetarian/Indian
They spoke English and were familiar with celiac and gluten free. We had a great veg GF meal!
Napfenyes izek (Sunny Tastes)
VIII ROzsa Utca 39
Awesome vegetarian food, staff was very knowledgeable about celiac. We ate here three times. They made us falafel with buckwheat flour instead of wheat.
Bread
We found Schar bread at Tesco and Kaiser supermarkets.
A Vegetarian Apartment and Guide Service
http://www.budaveg.com/
We did not stay here because they were booked. Next time!
List of Healthfood Stores on HappyCow
Gallert Bath: Re-enacting scene from the book Hanna's Cold WinterSights we saw:
Budapest Zoo
FunFair Park (Vidampark)
Szecchnyi Bath
Szechyi Bridge (Famous lions)
Buda Castle
Gallert Bath
In case you are wondering, our luggage arrived on our last day. We managed to have a great time and find great vegetarian and gluten free foods and stay healthy and 100% incident free!
