Travelling and McDonalds

So this morning after being dumped back in Belgrad after 2 hours sleep at about 6am (long story - see my second Belgrade blog - when I get round to adding it) - I realised that sometimes McD's is actually just what I need. Ok - so I'm not in favour of the globalisation of American corporate culture, and try to avoid eating in the big chains - especially when travelling, but today - I needed something to eat, a clean bathroom, a no hassle atmosphere and coffee - even nescafe. McD's had these things. *

But no breakfast's - no Sausage McMuffins.

I've heard stories that in India you can't get beef in a McD's and in Isreal and Arab countries you can't get pig. Anyone been to a McD's there?

Differences that I've noticed in my travels.

Guatamala: - armed guards and no gun signs!

Bulgaria: - 20s (Stotinki about 10c) to use the bathroom.

Belgrad: - free internet but show your bill for the bathroom.

So this is a bit like that scene in Pulp Fiction where Samual L Jackson, starts going on about how in Paris they call a quarter pounder a McRoyal..

* Disclaimer: I'm not associated with McD's or anyother purveyer of fast food, all trademarks held by associated evil corporate, not me and I prefer Burger King burgers .... mmmm Whopper. Reply to this

Damn global corporations and their evil influences on the way we live!!!!! Reply to this

I really need to post our Paris blog--we went into a McDonalds to check on that very claim in Pulp Fiction. And now I have the photo to prove it!

But otherwise, Ali, I agree with you. I travel to get away from McDonalds, but there are times when when, I admit, it hits the spot. That spot is sometimes filled with shame and sadness, but it is a spot that sometimes need to be hit nonetheless. Reply to this

Its a minor thing but in the American McD's they still do the chocolate Sundae, a dessert whic was stolen away from the British McD's some years ago.

When I was over there, I had quite a few, even 2 in one day lol.

Also their standard chicken burger is different then over here and is yet again different in canada. How can such a globalised brand have such variation between its standard products?? Reply to this

It is true that they don't serve beef in India, or so I've heard from friends. Being veggie I never actually went in one. I did eat at a Pizza Hut (or two!) in India and it is quite surreal. It all looks like a normal Pizza Hut except the western pop music they play is around four years out of date and makes you feel like you slipped back in time! The menu is completely Indian. I didn't see any ham or beef toppings on offer, there was a far greater vegetarian selection than normal and there were endless spicy/curried toppings available. There was a large temple-like bell hanging in the doorway with a sign saying 'Had a Good Time. Ring the Bell.' which everyone did as they left. Reply to this

I went right off McDonald's in New Zealand. Not through eating there too often, it just seemed really bland. Admittedly that was before they tried to play catch-up with other fast food chains and reinvent themselves as having healthy alternatives (healthiER maybe, but are any of them actually healthy?)

I like McDonalds here in Japan a lot more but the nearest one is about an hour away, not that I'm usually tempted when I'm over that way anyway, but occasionally it goes down well :-) Reply to this

I try my very best to stay away from any fast food places while traveling...local places tend to not only have better and more interesting food but also a unique atmosphere. Needless to say I had to check out Mcdonald's while I was in India, since the menu I am used to being from america is jam packed with beef products.

India- Just entering it seemed like Mcdonalds had transformed into a nice restaurant, complete with a door man...which isn't all too odd as Mcdonald's in India is too expensive for the majority of people to eat at the way people eat at Mcdonald's in america. The menu was 90% vegetarian with a few chicken options. I had the Veggie burger meal which was surprisingly delicious and makes me wonder why american mcdonalds doesn't offer these options. Reply to this

I am also someone who hates to admit it but I've eaten McDonald's in foreign lands.

While in Romania, we had so much pork and cheese (breakfast, lunch and dinner) that I was excited to see a McDs. We were all in this club when my friend John walked in with 3 or 4 bags of burgers, fries and ketchup (something they don't quite understand there). You would have thought he was handing out money. It was a fun story to tell when I got home.

When I was in China, I was excited to see the Starbucks and the McDs. We skipped the traditional chinese meal similar to the ones we had for lunch and dinner for the previous 10 days and nights for a double cheeseburger and fries. It was a beautiful place, 3 stories with the counter on the bottom floor. We had a difficult time communicating what we wanted but we got by. It was a nice time and other fun story. Reply to this

I've eaten at a McDonald's in India, and there is definitely no beef! They have mostly veggie burgers-including the McAloo pattie (it's potato based!). I have to say, I kind of really love the spices they use in the breading on the chicken burgers.

Also, re: Pizza Hut in India, when I lived in Jaipur for several months, Pizza Hut and Subway were my little treats out. Pizza Hut was super upscale. It had excellent service, was very clean, and you could get soup, a personal pan pizza, and an ice cream sunday for US$3. And Subway was the only place I could find tuna fish, and unlike in the West, they would load up the sandwiches with tons of meat and veggies-no skimping here!

I feel guilty about eating in Western chain restaurants when I'm abroad, but at the same time I totally agree with Ali. Occasionally I just need that familiarity.



BTW, I've heard that the McDonald's in Israel not only don't serve pork, but there are no cheeseburgers either (you can't have meat and dairy in the same meal under kosher law). Reply to this

Unless it's changed since I was there in 2005 - West Africa was a McD free zone! Also, the Sudan and Ethiopia also seem to be McD free. Reply to this