pmv

Probably a silly question but do the hotels in Egypt serve prune juice? Need it to keep my system going

Any recommendations for "native" food or things not to eat?

Marianna

Thinking the same question myself as we have been told not to eat anything from a street vendor, salads or fresh fruit due to being washed with tap water.

This was link was interesting: http://www.ask-aladdin.com/health.htm

Axel2DP

I don't recall seeing prune juice when I stayed at 3 stars hotels in Answan and Luxor. (I had requested 3 stars hotels but these were very fancy - much more fancy than what I'm used to - so I think they were really 4 or 5 stars).

Question about food also...
Are the juices bars safe to drink from? They use glasses. Do we have to be worry about how the glasses are washed?

How about fuul from street vendor? Safe?

Slightly off topic...There's always someone carrying a glass of water of some sort on a tray and going somewhere in el-khalili. Is this the same as fast-food delivery in the U.S. except that people are ordering delivery of water?

JoanneH

Just back from three weeks there. The hotels do serve various juices etc at breakfast,the one I was at had stewed fruit as well as whole fruit at breakfast. I drank the juices and had some of the stewed apricots and never got sick. However I also avoided eating anything on the street and stuck to mainly cooked meats and veggies as well as rice etc. I found I drank a lot more water than I do at home and it sometimes had a Stella (beer) but never touched water unless bottled and never drank anything with ice cubes.

sf7307

Get your bottled water at a little grocery rather than at your hotel or tourist spots - half the price, and you're going to be drinking a lot of it!

Elainee

NOT a silly question. We have same problem. Never find prune juice at hotels outside US. I carry enough Fiber One ceral for my husban's breakfast for the length of our trips. I also carry dried prunes but they do not work the same for him. We have also looked in food markets in many countries and prune juice seems to be a US thing. Now I am thinking we should bring acidophilus pills...couldn't hurt. Of course, all the extra walking while touring is a good thing. But..is a problem.

MissGreen

Not sure about prune juice but there were many varieties of juice and fruit at breakfast.

My husband drank various fresh juices from a street vendor with our guide and suffered no ill effects.

In regards to washing of glasses. Some were absolutely filthy and you'd never go near it, other's looked sparkling clean. Hubby drank from ones that appeared a bit dodgy to be "hospitable".. and again no ill effects. Me, I went without "just in case".

Axel2DP

The guide books always say how delicious fresh squeeze juices are from the juice bars and never mentioned anything about possible stomach issue from drinking them. I would be more brave to try it if the drink was served in plastic cup.

Has anyone eaten pigeon in Egypt? Any ill effect? I tried guinae pig for lunch in Peru last year and got really sick.

Grcxx3

I used to get fresh squeezed OJ from the local market all the time, and my kids loved the fresh watermelon juice served in some of the restaurants.

But yes, clean glasses are a MUST!

skibumette

Just watch like a hawk to be sure they are not diluting the fresh juice with water, as in commonly done in India. Our travel research organization reports VERY HIGH risk for traveler's diarrhea on all Nile cruises -- no need to be paranoid about it, but this is not the place to "fudge" on your food "dos and don'ts."

BeniciaChris

I traveled with my fiberstore-a powdered fiber. Do like I do at home-every other day in my juice. My husband who NEVER has an ahem-elimination problem did-I gave him a few doses & he was fine. we both had slight tummy issues-I had some anatol that I got in Egypt-didn't seem to take away the pain in my left side so we both took our meds we brought from home-azithromycin,2 x's a day for 3 days & gone.Hope this helps Chris

Casual_Cairo

Living here, I've never seen Prune Juice for sale. It would be something we would have to make ourselves if we wanted it I guess. I'll ask my nutritionist friend if she knows of something they substitute here for it, OR if it is here but known as something else in the grocery stores.

sandi

The mango juice is outstanding and when I found the same brand sold in my local market in NYC, I buy a package every week... yummy! yummy!

Drank this daily, ver ice-cubes which was just the perfect refresher after sightseeing in the heat.

Like others, have never seen prune "juice" but some hotels did have stewed prunes or other fruits.

Thankfully, my system just requires any food at breakfast and I'm good for the day

We never ate street food, but did eat everything (salads, fruits) while in Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and on Nile Cruise... no tummy problems. And, of course... bottled water only which is readily available, if not provided, at inexpensive price if you have to purchase.

Casual_Cairo

sandi - "packaged" mango juice? Ewww? How do they package it? I'm spoiled, I guess. Give me the fresh stuff or don't bother.

JoanneH

Has anyone eaten pigeon in Egypt? Any ill effect? Yes, it was stuffed with some kind of fruit rice stuffing and No.
After a couple days we figured it out re the water and just then bought it by the case. We liked the Nestles over the other brands.

Casual_Cairo

Pigeon is fine, but a lot of work for the meat available. I prefer chicken, but pigeon is something to try when in Egypt. One of those "when in Rome..." things.

Re the Prune Juice - if you have to have it, the Nutrionist said she has seen it ON OCCASION in Royal Market in Heliopolis. For anyone NOT living here, when I say ON OCCASION, that means exactly that - when it is in, it is in. They import it and do NOT always have it in stock. As an imported product it is also VERY expensive. Her suggestion is enough flax seed with plenty of water - will do the same thing.

Here's to smooth sailing for everyone! Pun intended.

sandi

Debbie - "packaged" as it's not in glass bottle. Rather a carton similar to how milk is often sold. The brand is MIRA* which is what Egypt Air serves during their flight beverage service.

*The company has an international distributation operation here in the States; also pear and peach nectar juices.

Johanna - Pigeon was delicious, but agree there wasn't much meat... it's an itty-bitty bird; what was is "dark" (not my favorite), but loved the stuffing.

Casual_Cairo

I guess I am spoiled. Now that you describe it, packaged sounds totally normal.

I drink boxed mango juice on occasion when the fresh isn't available or when it is served to me. Wouldn't buy it, but certainly will drink it.

Sorry I didn't get it the first time.

sandi

... fresh is always better, but when not I'll take the boxed. We're on the same page then.