MCDONALDS
Love it or loath it, McDonalds seems to be a fairly accurate representation of American culture. Though not the best food by a long shot, falling woefully short in anything approaching 'nutrition' and packed with enough calories that a single meal could suffice from the day, all McDonalds serve approximately the same crap and that attracts people in droves.
Years back, someone had submitted a paper stating that no two countries with the McDonalds restaurant had ever been at war. Guessing he got paid a lot for this but how he padded it out to an entire paper as opposed to a memo remains a mystery.
McDonalds is so prolific if we had a real space program it would be interplanetary. Perhaps it is the fear of gaining several unwanted kilos keep alien races from first contact with Earth.
The McDonalds in Tbilisi has quite a veneer of hip on top of the normal Georgian business practices which I term "WTF business". Fashionable chairs, a wooden paneled curving staircase and American street music contrive to give the art deco look to this McDonalds.
The Georgian part comes in with the hiring of four extra pretty women in tight skirts. Two sit behind a desk while the other two roam the floor of the restaurant. Their purpose in the restaurant is mysterious - probably just to give the owner more status by employing extra people. The trendy bathrooms do not include paper towels and to get even ketchup, you will shell out .7 GEL per packet. BBQ sauce is cheaper at .55 GEL.
Many people habitually eat fast food without apparent side effects, but a resistance can be built up to iocane powder as well. A bit of sickness and mopery dog me the day after ingesting this processed crap. It must be done to touch base with the American roots.
ELVIS RESTAURANT
I've always been wary of people who still celebrate Elvis. Too much Elvis paraphernalia gets my Agent Orange up and I start feeling stabby. They were rumored to have a tasty burger there and since no 'Big Kahuna Burgers' were around, off I went.
Lots of Elvis stuff around though they didn't play Elvis music over the PA. I counted myself lucky and figured that the staff would go postal at the 1083rd rendition of 'Love Me Tender'.
It was stylish and clean, an unholy combination of a 1950's diner and 'art deco' stuff made possible with special lubrication.
The burger was alright but nothing to get too excited about. Sure, it was better than McDonalds but what isn't?
HEALTH WATCH
Logan is up to 125 KG. Forced inactivity combined with blisters from distressed footwear have moved the weight up a bit though I still look thinner in kilos than I ever did in pounds.
Since Georgian bandages (plaster) contains some sort of acid. I've had bandages from several countries but these are the first which seem to dissolve the top layer of skin and peel off the second. It is pretty disgusting. Hence, we're no longer using those. Now, I have a giant piece of gauze wrapped around my waist several times, pulled as tight as an overweight girls clothing with my blubber hanging out of the top and bottom. The spherical surface the wrap is on causes it to roll to lessen the protection. The doctor did say to keep it covered and that's what I'm trying to do.
The doctor also said not to get it wet from the shower. In this I have been less successful as this country doesn't stock large sized water proof bandages so as a compromise, showering has become an every other day ritual for awhile. Can't wait until this scar heals. I feel like an American football.
Tomorrow, perhaps, the stitches come out. The second set of stitches, that is.
GEORGIAN HEALTH
Georgia has never been bitten by the 'diet bug'. Healthy food and exercise have never really caught on here and if someone was so inclined they would have to be rich. The cheap food to eat is bread and everyone who knows about health knows bread is not your friend. The average Georgian consumes a staggering amount of bread daily. Call it a loaf or two.
PRICES
McDonalds or Elvis, 10-15 GEL, depending on what you order.
Love it or loath it, McDonalds seems to be a fairly accurate representation of American culture. Though not the best food by a long shot, falling woefully short in anything approaching 'nutrition' and packed with enough calories that a single meal could suffice from the day, all McDonalds serve approximately the same crap and that attracts people in droves.
Years back, someone had submitted a paper stating that no two countries with the McDonalds restaurant had ever been at war. Guessing he got paid a lot for this but how he padded it out to an entire paper as opposed to a memo remains a mystery.
McDonalds is so prolific if we had a real space program it would be interplanetary. Perhaps it is the fear of gaining several unwanted kilos keep alien races from first contact with Earth.
The McDonalds in Tbilisi has quite a veneer of hip on top of the normal Georgian business practices which I term "WTF business". Fashionable chairs, a wooden paneled curving staircase and American street music contrive to give the art deco look to this McDonalds.
The Georgian part comes in with the hiring of four extra pretty women in tight skirts. Two sit behind a desk while the other two roam the floor of the restaurant. Their purpose in the restaurant is mysterious - probably just to give the owner more status by employing extra people. The trendy bathrooms do not include paper towels and to get even ketchup, you will shell out .7 GEL per packet. BBQ sauce is cheaper at .55 GEL.
Many people habitually eat fast food without apparent side effects, but a resistance can be built up to iocane powder as well. A bit of sickness and mopery dog me the day after ingesting this processed crap. It must be done to touch base with the American roots.
ELVIS RESTAURANT
I've always been wary of people who still celebrate Elvis. Too much Elvis paraphernalia gets my Agent Orange up and I start feeling stabby. They were rumored to have a tasty burger there and since no 'Big Kahuna Burgers' were around, off I went.
Lots of Elvis stuff around though they didn't play Elvis music over the PA. I counted myself lucky and figured that the staff would go postal at the 1083rd rendition of 'Love Me Tender'.
It was stylish and clean, an unholy combination of a 1950's diner and 'art deco' stuff made possible with special lubrication.
The burger was alright but nothing to get too excited about. Sure, it was better than McDonalds but what isn't?
HEALTH WATCH
Logan is up to 125 KG. Forced inactivity combined with blisters from distressed footwear have moved the weight up a bit though I still look thinner in kilos than I ever did in pounds.
Since Georgian bandages (plaster) contains some sort of acid. I've had bandages from several countries but these are the first which seem to dissolve the top layer of skin and peel off the second. It is pretty disgusting. Hence, we're no longer using those. Now, I have a giant piece of gauze wrapped around my waist several times, pulled as tight as an overweight girls clothing with my blubber hanging out of the top and bottom. The spherical surface the wrap is on causes it to roll to lessen the protection. The doctor did say to keep it covered and that's what I'm trying to do.
The doctor also said not to get it wet from the shower. In this I have been less successful as this country doesn't stock large sized water proof bandages so as a compromise, showering has become an every other day ritual for awhile. Can't wait until this scar heals. I feel like an American football.
Tomorrow, perhaps, the stitches come out. The second set of stitches, that is.
GEORGIAN HEALTH
Georgia has never been bitten by the 'diet bug'. Healthy food and exercise have never really caught on here and if someone was so inclined they would have to be rich. The cheap food to eat is bread and everyone who knows about health knows bread is not your friend. The average Georgian consumes a staggering amount of bread daily. Call it a loaf or two.
PRICES
McDonalds or Elvis, 10-15 GEL, depending on what you order.
The proliferation of mcdonalds is in fact one of my reasons for not traveling. Not that it's really an option. To see that as the primary form of "American cuisine" in other countries, it's little wonder that so much of the world hates America.
ReplyDeleteI can't think of a worse reason not to travel. Saying you are xenophobic would actually be a better reason.
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that things like McDonalds are only in the capital cities (or major tourist cities) of most countries. Once you get outside of there, you are 'in the sticks'.
Best burger in town is probably at Loft in Vake (also, try their mozzarella sticks!). The burger at Kaiser Brau down by the river near Chardin is also pretty good.
ReplyDelete