In the States we rarely eat at fast food joints. So for us to have a craving for fast food while on our voyage was a surprise. I wonder if it was really a craving or just the need to be in a familiar setting…even in a corporate chain of greasy eats like a McDonalds.
The exterior of the franchise with it’s infamous yellow arches, look the same as in the States but some of the menu options do vary from country to country.
- In Bali they offered a side of white rice in place of fries.
- In Italy you could have red wine with your Big Mac.
Sometimes there were slight differences in the ambiance
- Tahiti’s Micky Ds was next to a shore-line park with a beach that had a few topless sun bathers. Looking past the distracting pink nipples, the island Moorea (pronounced in the local dialect as Mo-Oh-Ray-A) was our backdrop. The mighty land mass supports powerful peaks and holds an aura of tranquility.
- Thailand had a life-sized, plastic Ronald McDonald in a traditional Thai greeting posture. It’s obvious that Ronald is a happy international traveler.
I agree with most travelers that look down at visiting American Fast-Food chains while traveling abroad. Try the local cuisine and break out from what you are comfortable with. Yet as a traveler that was away for many years, sometimes the urge for the taste of home takes over…plus it’s a good way to get free WI-Fi.
