I ate at a MacDonalds in Moscow. It was a cultural experience. I don't know what they're like in Italy.
Okay, but a) you're not really a USian, b) msbelle would totally get a pass if she came to Venice and wanted to eat at the Burger King here, and c) okay, I kinda wanted to try a MacDonalds in another country too, just to see what it was like.
But COME ON!!!! We were AT a COFFEE PLACE!!!!
I often feel that way about American things abroad. Although, I admit to stopping into a Hard Rock cafe in London and in Rome to get my friend a teddy bear because she collects them. I did not eat at them.
okay, I kinda wanted to try a MacDonalds in another country too, just to see what it was like.
When we were in the Frankfurt airport for seven hours, we found a McDonald's, and I recall their having some very strange sauces. It's definitely worth checking out, for kicks.
When I was in Greece I had an American couple ask me directions to the nearest McDonalds so they "could get a decent cup of coffee".
When I was in Egypt, I was for the most part on board with the cultural differences. There was one day, however, after a distinctly unpleasant experince with a shopkeeper when I snapped and walked for half an hour to find a Maccas for lunch, just so I'd know what to expect. (I figured I'd find one in the vicinity of the American University.)
In college we had mcdonalds when in Scotland--but only the apple pies. Because (a) apple pie and icecream was 99p, and more importantly (b) they're still fried not baked there! Here I just eat them at checkers (sigh, none around here)
My brother tells of being excited to find a place that served tacos in Dublin only to find they were sloppy joes on pita.
We ate at McDonalds in London all the time. Where else you gonna get a burger?
I had a friend I went to Jamaica with who wouldn't eat the free Jamaican food right in front of him, preferring to travel and buy a burger or a steak rather than try new food.
Him, I judged. You're a university student. Be cheap, be adventurous.
I can understand wanting someplace familar on occasion but ... coffee? in Italy? eesh