Not exactly the same thing, but I have to confess I ate in a Pizza Hut one day in Brugge. It was in the most wonderful medieval (?) building, with no improvements other than the bathroom and kitchen, looking over a canal. The experience was wonderful, one I will always remember.

Ursula, One of the things that I miss most about Germany is the Bratwursts. I might occasionally visit a McD's for a coke or one time as I mentioned, get lunch (although I cannot remember the last time I visited a McD's here in the US), I would never do so in Germany. I'll take a bratwurst mit senf every time. I also miss the sauerbraten mit kartofel Kloesse. <BR>Cheers <BR>Art <BR>

Art...what's with the way they eat sausages in Germany?......they only use the bun to hold the sausage, then throw the bun away!

We usually picnic for lunch. Gives us an opportunity to peruse the local shops and/or markets. If we are in route, we will picnic in the car while traveling or, if time isn't a factor, stop at some lovely spot. When in a City and trying to see as much as possible before moving on, we have been known to stop at a McD for a chicken salad, a glass of orange juice and (horrors) split a bag of fries. It's fast, nutritious and, oh yes, there are those rest rooms. <BR> <BR>When we get tired of the food in a given country (can happen after three or more weeks), we usually look for an ethnic restaurant. Can almost always find a Chinese, Indian, Greek, etc., Restaurant to get a dietary change.

The more and more I travel, the more I avoid eating at McD type places at all. However, I do find them good for restrooms and a quick meal. In some places (Mexico, for example), we have stopped at a McDonald's when we ran across one rather than spend valuable time looking for a place that appeals to us (this is particularly important because my wife is a very picky eater, whereas I will eat anything that can't get up and run away quickly enough). I am willing to spend time looking quite a while for a good dinner spot, but for me, daytime is sightseeing time. Now in some places (most of Europe for example), we can pop in any just about anywhere and both be happy with what they serve as long as it is quick.

Laura, when I was in Germany, there were no buns with sausages. You ate them with a fork and knife. They were presented on a plate with a bun and mustard (senf). You cut a portion and dipped it in the senf and ate the roll (usually a hard roll) separately. <BR>Regards <BR>Art <BR> <BR>

We have used a McD's now & then accross Europe for a quick bathroom stop & to get a coke with actual ice in it. But also, we were in Versailles on a day it was raining. On the way back from the Palace to the train station, we ducked into the McD's to get out of the rain. The wife wanted coffee, & our 9 yr old son just wanted a hamburger & fries. So we ate there & sat till it stopped raining.

Sometimes I don't feel like waiting an hour to get the check from my oblivious waiter. Besides, McDonald's overseas has stuff on the menu that you can't get here. How about Chicken McFoo or a full-size McRib?

For those old enough, I'll say one word which justifies trips to Euro Mickey - <BR> <BR>Wimpy

Art....we were in Germany during Carnival and everywhere there were stands set up where they cooked and sold sausages of all types, and the sausages all seemed to be about a foot long. They served them in what looked like a hamburger type bun (or a hard roll) with the sausage sticking way out both sides. And next to the stands were large bins where people threw the entire uneaten bun after they finished the sausage. It was like eating the hot dog and just using the bun to hold it. We saw NO ONE eating the bun. <BR> <BR>Can anyone explain this way of eating? <BR>

I have to confess we stopped at a McDonald's on the autostrada going to the Milan airport. They served us our cappuccino in glass coffee mugs.

Laura, now see, you are a treveler!! I never saw that type of presentation even though I lived there through 7 fastnachts. I also never saw a foot long sausage. Learn something new every day!! I have to say that I enjoyed carnival almost as much as Octoberfest. <BR>Cheers <BR>

Anna - We had that same experience (at the Grand Hyatt Erawan no less) but our ketchup was served in a bowl as a dipping sauce for our pizza..yuk! <BR> <BR>Doug - You can try interesting things at McD's overseas but alas, I usually get a quarter pounder with cheese & fries! <BR> <BR>We probably have McD's for an actual meal once every trip and use them for "to go" coffee and restrooms a few times. <BR> <BR>Lynn <BR> <BR>:-)

Laura: Why don't you join Art at the Oktoberfest in Munich? He will show you how to eat a Bratwurst in Germany! You definitely eat the bun as well. Shame on the ones who throw it away. <BR>The Bratwurst is not IN the bun. Well, maybe in Munich, but not in Switzerland, and we have a lot of places with Bratwurst and very crispy buns. In one hand you hold the sausage, in the other one the bun. The only problem is obviously, how can one get the Senf (mustard) onto the Bratwurst, let's say when you walk around eating. Do you have any idea about that, Art? ;-)

Art: It doesn't even take Carnival. When we there in 1998, virtually every City, Town, villiage had at least one sausage stand as Laura describes it. It was usually in the central plaza. Nurenburg had several. Some were a part of "Market". Others were in pretty permanent trailers. Good stuff. Ssshhh! We ate the bun.

Ursula....Alright! Love to meet Art.....hey, Joe, you, too? We can meet Ursula and watch her try to get the mustard on the bratwurst...lol!

Laura: who said I take mustard with my Bratwurst.. I was just wondering about? <BR>You know, I might prefer ketchup or mayonnaise.... LOL

When we were in London two years ago, the kids had to have McD's---and they did have two interesting items not found in the U.S. "Lamb McSpicy" and an Indian sandwich of some kind that had yogurt dressing. <BR> <BR>I never ate at McD's, but a friend I was travelling with wanted a cheap breakfast in Amsterdam. The McD's there opened early, but didn't serve breakfast, so there we were, eating hamburgers and fries at 9 a.m. Every now and again, now, I get a craving for one of their basic burgers (with pickles and onions).. <BR>

Ursula my love. I've never walked around eating bratwurst so I have no idea how you would handle the mustard. Laura and Joe, it of course has been many years since I was in Germany, but I've never seen bratwurst or any other wurst served in a bun. Its always been a hard roll served along side of it. I almost always had bratwurst in a gasthouse or stayed at the counter during Octoberfest. Maybe I'll see something new when I get to Berlin in September (maybe????). <BR>Cheers <BR>Art <BR>

Bill, first time in France, we ate at that Mcd's too! My husband just wanted to see what a Versailles McDs looked like, but I think he craved the fries too. It was very Mickey Ds typical, like countless others, to me. <BR>But the last time in Paris, he wanted a hamburger fix, I obliged, as usual(even though I craved a crepe). I ended up with one of the worse cases of heartburn ever! I told him never again in Paris, ever....never! Judy ;-)