When I was in Venice with my daughter we asked two young women working in a shop for a recommendation for lunch in the neighborhood. First suggestion was McDonald's.

We declined, said we preferred some place Italian and got a second suggestion, Trattoria Ca d'Oro, Alla Vedova. Great place, by the way.

rex, interesting question.
Is there something about the universal appeal of fried chicken or hamburgers that make global marketing more of a sure thing, say, than hassenpfeffer?
(kidding, kidding)
In the case of Japan, maybe they are content to go global with their traditional strengths like excellent electronics and cars, and save the fast food, of dubuious nutritional value, unfortunately, for the American companies to spread around? Not all food is good or universally attractive.

I've never noticed the McDonald's or Burger King in Venice. So I can't imagine why someone would refuse to go given they certainly aren't ubiquitous? If I wanted to grouse about Venice -I'd focus on the cheap glass and souvenir shops. If your husband refuses to visit where there is US fast food you're going to save tons of money on travel.

julie, he wouldn't actually refuse to go and we do realize that the US fast food chains can be found nearly worldwide. He just figured they hadn't invaded Venice yet as he only recalls a McDonald's, not a BK. His expression was more of dissapointment than actually preferring not to go.

LoveItaly, I meant to add to my previous post that I'm sorry to hear about your accident. That must have been frightening!

Yes, Holly is right. She's stayed at Palazzo Regina Vittoria, which is a stone's throw from Campo San Luca. You can clearly view the neighborhood on the map featured at www.permessovenezia.com.

I've never eaten there but you can't miss it once you enter Campo San Luca.

>...why are there are no similar chain restaurants with worldwide "coverage"...<

>I do believe that this aspect of American pan-global "invasion" is some of what anti-american terrorism factions are hoping to destroy/oppose ..<

Well, while the crazies worry about Mcdonald's (Market Capitalization $40 billion), Toyota ($55 B) is selling cars worldwide.

Which would concern you more, "cultural imperialism" via fast food, or loss of your auto industry?

It's hard to draw parallels to other sectors of the economy... it's not as simple as "service sector". Hotel companies DO exist that have successfully moved across global frontiers. Car rental seems to have a US domination - - and I always thought that this had something to do with their relationship to the "Big Detroit" manufacturers (financing of ownership, tax amortization, who knows, etc) but in that case, you might think that there would now be one or more big rental companies with ties to Germany or Japan. Airline companies - - I am guessing - - have sovereign nation protections; JAL does not operate LAX-ATL because the government won't allow it, and no American company operates DUB-MAD for the same reason, presumably.

It may have - - more than anything - - to do with <i><b>branding</b></i>; perhaps America &quot;invented&quot; advertising success, Madison Avenue-style, and no country/culture has caught up... <i><b>yet</b></i>.

As elaine says... it cannot be that the <i>food</i> itself is inherently superior - - nor maybe even the &quot;food <u><i>preparation process</i></u> (Hamburger U, notwithstanding) is better, cheaper, smarter or more profitable... but maybe, indeed, the <u>brand promotion</u> of McDonald's (or Coca-cola, or Disney) has been unmatched, worldwide.

And in the (veiled?) eyes of some, in many parts of the world... maybe this has been our unforgiveable &quot;sin&quot;.

&quot;Author: Voyager2006
Date: 10/12/2005, 04:18 am
Frankly, IMO, anyone who worries about whether or not it is &quot;permissable&quot; to eat at any place they choose when they travel, and have paid for that travel, needs professional help, and not from a TA, either.&quot;

You got that right.

I loved the comment about being happy to see a McDonalds for the bathrooms. We took a trip to New Orleans (aka city without public restrooms) and we ended up stopping at the McDonalds several times and buying a soda so we were paying customers and could use the restroom.