Hello and welcome to Gluten-Free Globetrotter!
I know I have a bunch of new readers and subscribers, so I thought the new year would be a great time to (re)introduce myself to you all.
My name is Erin Smith and I am a lifelong celiac. I was diagnosed with celiac disease in the 1980s way before “gluten-free” was a trend so I have a unique perspective of growing up gluten-free. I was in the trenches searching for gluten-free food long before it was available on supermarket shelves, before the Internet was invented (yes, I was alive then!), and before many of the national celiac associations even existed. Next year is my 40th anniversary of my celiac diagnosis but until then I am 39 and holding! 🙂
In 2011, I started Gluten-Free Globetrotter after a wonderful solo trip to the Czech Republic. I had my first gluten-free beer on tap at a 100% gluten-free restaurant in Prague and I wanted to shout this news from the rooftops. I knew I wasn’t the only person with celiac disease that wanted to travel the world and so this blog was born.
Nine years later, this blog has brought me so much more than I could have ever imagined. I have met wonderful gluten-free travelers from across the globe. I’ve made gluten-free dumplings with the Singapore Celiac group, had gluten-free pastries with fellow celiac travel bloggers in Paris, planned gluten-free vacations for more than twenty families, and spoken at numerous events about how to be a Gluten-Free Globetrotter. The opportunity to connect with and inspire so many others living with celiac disease has been the most rewarding part of this journey.
Five Facts About Gluten-Free Globetrotter
- I have been to 3 continents, 23 countries, and 37 states all while being 100% gluten-free and living with celiac disease. You can see a list of my travels with links to posts here.
- I drove cross-country twice, once on a southern route and once on a northern route. I have so much sympathy for those with celiac living in the middle of nowhere! I realized on my trips how living in New York City I was spoiled with gluten-free options.
- I have shared my Gluten-Free Globetrotter travel tips with over 1,000 people at gluten-free expos and celiac disease national conferences in two countries.
- I am a lifelong New Yorker, except for a three year stint living in California. I keep the most updated list of dedicated gluten-free restaurants in NYC on my website.
- I am one of the original organizers of the NYC Celiac Meetup group (2005-2015) and hope to get some new events on the calendar soon. I am also the founder of the Santa Cruz (CA) Celiac group.
While 2019 was a slow year for travel but busy in other ways, 2020 promises to get me back into the travel groove. I have a bunch of upcoming blog posts planned for this year as well as some city guides and exciting events in New York City.
What do you want to see from Gluten-Free Globetrotter in 2020?
Thank you for this website and in spite of the food limitations of your celiac disease you travel the globe. You make it seem like it does not limit your traveling and often have related experiences that you share. Experiences you might not have if you didn’t have celiac. You follow that old saying if you have lemons…..! Iadmire your enthusiasm and determination and your desire to help others. Keeping up this website is work and time but I appreciate it as I am sure others do.
Thank you Connie! I appreciate your kind words.