I arrived yesterday in Sevilla, having decided to come straight here rather than pass through Faro.
When I got off the bus, it was only 105 degrees here at five thirty in the afternoon. This summer is going to be interesting.
Sevilla, if it was beautiful when I studied here in 2000, is now even more so, and it is honestly shocking to see the changes that have occured even since I last visited one year ago. The road before the Cathedral, once busy with automobile traffic, is now solely limited to trolley cars and pedestrians. Palm trees have been planted in once busy round-abouts, as well, adding to the semi-tropical feel of the city.
Unfortunately, Starbucks stores have also cropped up all over the city, and Sevilla's inhabitants may have become even more preppy than they were before.
More soon, as this Internet is costing me "an eye from the face" (as the Spanish say), and my economic situation is quite grim at the moment. Thank God for stipends.
Starbucks, Foot Locker, "Mc Do's", KFC -- I saw it all in Paris a few weeks ago. It is lame, but it's supply and demand. If the Spaniards (or American tourists?) weren't drinking Starbucks, the Starbucks would cerrar. Until now (or as of a few months ago) Starbucks has been unsuccessful in penetrating the Italian market because there is no demand whatsoever for Triple Diple Mocha Fudge Sludge Al Pacinos. Sorry Al, I love you. Es verdad.
ReplyDeletePS: interesting article about McDos in Paris...you might have to cut and paste this...
http://www.nysun.com/article/57654