I’ll take two Royales with Cheese, hold the felafel

Speaking of Globalization, we’ve walked past two Starbucks here in Athens . And both of them are exactly identical to what you would find in virtually any franchise in America. Only difference: the second menu in Greek.

There are Starbucks sites in 20 countries outside the U.S., though none yet in Italy. The Italians might finally succumb, because Americanism is rampant throughout the world, from fashions to slang to attitude. But it won’t be because they need to improve their coffee , which still ranks as the best I’ve ever drunk. Greece? Well…

By the way, the McDonald’s here (which, apparently, is the first one ever set up in Greece) serves something called a Greek Mac . It features two lamb patties on a special folded piece of pita, tomato, lettuce and tzaziki sauce. Give McDonald’s credit: At least when it tries to corrupt other cultures, it makes some effort to do so with a sensitivity to local tastes.

Below : Eating in the Athens McDonald’s is like an old “Saturday Night Live” routine - cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger!