Paris city officials are trying to save the historic Latin Quarter from what they call a global invasion of chain stores. The neighborhood has long been a cultural hub and a gathering place for artists and intellectuals, but locals say these days, the neighborhood is losing its character.
When you travel abroad do you get the impression that everything looks more and more like home?
Is that a good thing? Do you like to see familiar brands in Paris and Rome? Or are critics right when they say this destroys the local character?
I was just in the UK and saw plenty of Starbucks just like the ones here, the next week I was in Holland and saw none. I liked not seeing them in Holland..
On visiting Interlaken, Switzerland, a few years back, we were not entirely surprised to find a McDonald's in the quiet, secluded valley. However, the HQQTERS threw us for a bit of a loop. Though we chose not to dine there, we reached a consensus that, in all likelihood, that branch probably would have the best-looking waitresses in the entire global franchise.
Consider my story as a "no" vote on an American monoculture in Europe. :^)
Last october, I went for the first time to Moscow. What an experience!! While there is still very much a Russian influence, I was shocked at the underground mall just outside of
Red Square. As I was walking through the mall, I could have been in any mall in the US or Western Europe except for maybe the metal detectors at all the entrances.
This did make me feel at home, famliar, especially given the differences in language, however, what I would consider the Local flavor was definitely not there. It wasn't until I searched it out and went to the Russian Flea Market did I really get the sense of being in a different area.
As I walked that streets of Moscow, it was amussing to me to also see the street signs of restaurants such as TGI Fridays, Sbbaro and others. Again familiarity masked the true essence of the culture. It was only found by adventuring into the back streets, going to truly local cafes and restaurants - where english was no where to be found, that we got a feel for the Russian experience.
From my perspective this is sad. While it is occassionaly nice to be able to retreat to a "known" quantity at certain times, it is not why I personally travel the world. I enjoy getting the local culture and flavor. No question it still be found, we just have to work at it.
I spent three weeks in Europe this past March. I was ecstatic when I found a Starbucks in London! When I arrived in Paris, then all throughout Italy, I was disappointed when I did not find any. Then when I got to Spain we went to every Starbucks we found. On our way back to Paris I ran up to a family with the familiar Starbuck's cups and they right away pointed down the street (in the Latin Quarter). They were also American tourists and obviously preferred Starbucks. Apparently, there are none in Italy.
I DO enjoy familiar places while abroad because they not only remind me of home but allow me to take pleasure in feeling the comfort of home. It's not just the white chocolate mocha and java chip frappuccinos but the whole atmosphere. They were crowded by locals too, young students working on their laptops and socializing. Most of the cafes in Europe, especially in Paris, had a very basic menu and were filled with smoke. It felt like I had gone into a casino and I could feel the second hand smoke slowly killing me minute by minute. And language was not a problem; I spoke enough in each language but really it was more Starbucks lingo. An added bonus was a large clean restroom! (Although you had to enter a code printed on your receipt to get in.) Starbucks also includes local pastries/foods such as the croque-monsieur sandwich in Paris.
Ironically, I never eat at McDonald's here in the U.S., but I ate from the 1 Euro Menu at least five times while I was there, it was good and cheap. It's hard to find the best local food when you're not a local yourself (or just follow the locals as you go along).
I loved the Latin Quarter! We ate at a Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai restaurant and I also ate the best Greek lamb gyros I've ever had. I don't believe the Latin Quarter is at all at risk of losing its historic presence, if anything it gives us tourists (as well as the locals) greater options. I was grateful for the familiar places I found. I came back home and nearly kissed the ground as I got off the plane. God sure did bless America! :)
Yes, the rest of the world is inundated with American culture. In today's globalized world economy, attempting to find a destination un-influenced by US corporate interests, like that of Starbucks, McDonald's or Pizza Hut, just to name a few, is more difficult than ever. In my opinion, one of the greatest pleasures of travelling abroad is to experience a culture and environment different from that of the United States. In regards to the Latin Quarter in Paris, this is one area I would particularly hate to see blemished by a giant green Starbucks symbol or a Golden Arch, awkwardly juxtaposed by beautiful, old-fashioned Parisian cafes and cozy, dark bookshops filled with out of print literary jems. The idea of these American icons opening shop in the Latin Quarter starkly contradicts the very uniqueness of both thought and expression which make this area of Paris so special.
I was visiting the Giza Pyramids. After the big hike around I went out the main entrance and across the street to have lunch at Pizza Hut. It was that or KFC.
Actually is Pizza Hut... I was there too visiting. I got to eat in a McDonalds located in Cairo same as in Luxor but the taste of the food it’s not the same as in USA, still it was a nice surprise to find the restaurants.
Yes, I do find everything looking less and less foreign when I travel in other countries. The world is becoming more like us as time passes. I find this disturbing and boring.
Just back from Tokyo. The usual Starbucks and McDonalds, but the funny thing was the chains that seem to have dropped off in the States strong in Tokyo, my favorite: Shakey's Pizza Parlor
10/10/2007 5:29:59 PM
