Quote from: Bealman on August 10, 2025, 01:55:10 AMIt's interesting because as we walked past that bus stop there were people sitting there who had smiles on their faces as they watched these western women walk past in that gear. Until our gracious host told them off in no uncertain terms!

OK, someone has to ask. Did the host bollock the people who were smiling or the western women in the gear? If the former, why shouldn't people smile at such a sight, especially if it was a 'like' smile?

Hard one to get out of, Mick, I'll give you that.

The locals were obviously amused, giving smug smiles. This was not tourist Japan, but some out of the way town.

In fact it was fascinating, and we both feel privileged to have had the experience.

Gawd knows what the latest offering is! Big arch? Wot the is that? Photo taken last night 

Quote from: Bealman on August 15, 2025, 02:20:29 AM

Gawd knows what the latest offering is! Big arch? Wot the is that? Photo taken last night 

You didn't try one then!

No way Jose (dunno how to put the accent on the e)

Quote from: Bealman on August 15, 2025, 09:59:15 AMNo way Jose (dunno how to put the accent on the e)

Alt 130, but you can't do that on a phone
I believe Micky Ds do a decent coffee but the only time I've used one of their places was in Milan and then only to use the bog

I've had a Big Mac something or other once.

I think it was some sort of rubberised ratburger with limp lettuce.
It came with chips, or least they were supposed to be chips but more like salty pieces of uncooked string.

I ate about one fifth, probably less, of the whole thing before declaring it completely inedible 

However, As @Newportnobby says, their toilets sometimes come in handy.

Blame Ray Kroc

In a number of the big arches establishments they have (or used to have) a McCafe area, which actually sold a decent Flat white. The rest of the food and beverages was the usual mcCrap.

Yeah there's a cafe thing in this one.

Must admit to eating in them from time to time and its not too bad - especially the Samurai MAC - however here in Japan they are somewhat different in terms of hygiene standards to those I have been into in UK (as in you could pretty much eat off the floor in the ones here). I must comment that my Dad when he was alive used to comment that he had never once crossed the threshold until one time when he was desperate for the loo, and that was the only time. He had a few rules like that - such as he would not go into a Tesco's however that was because of the scandals surrounding the founder's daughter Lady Porter when she was chair of Westminster council and did not wish to contribute to her profits.... as with the consumerism of the golden arches he was not so keen on Starbucks either, but did make an exception for Wetherspoons despite them being the Starbucks of pubs... something to do with the keen beer pricing     

Yeah, while I don't eat the stuff that much, I'm not totally adverse to it. I don't mind the odd Big Mac, and get breakfast menu stuff a fair bit (although the Hungry Jacks brekkies are better).

My main beef is that it ain't that cheap anymore!

And yes, I'm a big fan of Weatherspoons too - even their breakfasts!

Mark Knopfler song about how Maccas began:

https://tinyurl.com/jpnptyku

Since being diagnosed as Coeliac in 2013 I have tended to totally avoid "Maccas" (As they brand themselves over here) as there is nothing I can eat. They also did used to have "McCafe's" here in NZ too but they seem to be disappearing, and the last couple of times I have had their coffee in NZ it was dishwater.
However, when we were in Rome last year I had a really nice coffee at a McD's just round the corner from the Trevi Fountain, it was probably the best we had in Italy!

Who the hell is Frank? Stuffed if I know!