Comments on: Fast food chains about to bombard Cusco in Peru http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/05/19/fast-food-chains-about-to-bombard-cusco-in-peru/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:52:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Aaron Ebner http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/05/19/fast-food-chains-about-to-bombard-cusco-in-peru/#comment-158978 Aaron Ebner Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:26:55 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=1107#comment-158978 I spend about 3 months a year in cusco for work and I was little sad to finally see a Mcdonalds on the main plaza, but it didn't surprise me in the least. the problem did not start with fast food it started with noisy clubs and fancy restaurants that totally exclude the local peruvians. When we stop expecting our usual comforts while traveling, then things may get back to normal, however i don't see that happening anytime soon. I spend about 3 months a year in cusco for work and I was little sad to finally see a Mcdonalds on the main plaza, but it didn’t surprise me in the least. the problem did not start with fast food it started with noisy clubs and fancy restaurants that totally exclude the local peruvians. When we stop expecting our usual comforts while traveling, then things may get back to normal, however i don’t see that happening anytime soon.

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]]> By: Hans http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/05/19/fast-food-chains-about-to-bombard-cusco-in-peru/#comment-146406 Hans Thu, 21 May 2009 23:52:22 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=1107#comment-146406 Years ago I did one in South America where I tried different types of meals. I ate the best dishes in Peru that offers an incredible variety of foods, I tried the guinea pig and was very good but its presentation is not pleasing to the eyes. The best thing is that prices are not high and you can eat everything. I hope to repeat this experience and make this adventure with the travel agency I hired, Turperu that organized my gastronomic tour and the tours to visit the attractions of Peru. Years ago I did one in South America where I tried different types of meals. I ate the best dishes in Peru that offers an incredible variety of foods, I tried the guinea pig and was very good but its presentation is not pleasing to the eyes. The best thing is that prices are not high and you can eat everything. I hope to repeat this experience and make this adventure with the travel agency I hired, Turperu that organized my gastronomic tour and the tours to visit the attractions of Peru.

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]]> By: Barbara http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/05/19/fast-food-chains-about-to-bombard-cusco-in-peru/#comment-126760 Barbara Fri, 17 Oct 2008 03:37:49 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=1107#comment-126760 Amanda -- you are right to be sickened about fast food chains invading the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. The problem is not that they are coming to Cusco -- yes, there are hamburger places like Bembos there, as Enrique points out. The problem is that the American franchises are taking over the city's prime real estate on the historic Plaza de Armas -- the former center of the Inca Empire and home to some remarkable colonial churches and buildings. And they're kicking out venerable local businesses that are beloved by Cusquenos and travellers. There are many streets in Cusco for McD's and Starbucks to set up shop in and to do a great business. They don't need to be in the Plaza, but they are literally branding themselves onto Cusco's cultural patrimony. That cheapens the Plaza de Armas. The case of Starbucks on the Plaza de Armas is especially troubling. The franchise will be ousting Cusco's oldest and most historic coffee house -- the Ayllu Cafe. The Ayllu Cafe serves great, reasonably priced coffee and has nurtured the city's social and cultural life for 35 years. Its doors were open during the years when tourists were scared to come to Cusco because of Shining Path activity. It literally kept Cusco going. But now the owners of the Ayllu can't pay the $10,000/month that the archbishop of Cusco can get from Starbucks, so the archbishop is telling them, "Leave." It's pure greed on his part. It's not too late for people to protest the building of Starbucks there. I urge people who care about this issue to do so. McD's is already on the Plaza. Myself, I avoid the place. They don't even use Peruvian potatoes (the best in the world) to make their fries. They import frozen spuds from Idaho. Yeah, it's standardized, which is what McDonald's customers want. I prefer to eat at other restaurants around there. See my blog post, http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/24/totally-offensive-mcdonalds-opens-at-cusco-plaza-de-armas/ Amanda — you are right to be sickened about fast food chains invading the Plaza de Armas in Cusco. The problem is not that they are coming to Cusco — yes, there are hamburger places like Bembos there, as Enrique points out. The problem is that the American franchises are taking over the city’s prime real estate on the historic Plaza de Armas — the former center of the Inca Empire and home to some remarkable colonial churches and buildings. And they’re kicking out venerable local businesses that are beloved by Cusquenos and travellers.

There are many streets in Cusco for McD’s and Starbucks to set up shop in and to do a great business. They don’t need to be in the Plaza, but they are literally branding themselves onto Cusco’s cultural patrimony. That cheapens the Plaza de Armas.

The case of Starbucks on the Plaza de Armas is especially troubling. The franchise will be ousting Cusco’s oldest and most historic coffee house — the Ayllu Cafe. The Ayllu Cafe serves great, reasonably priced coffee and has nurtured the city’s social and cultural life for 35 years. Its doors were open during the years when tourists were scared to come to Cusco because of Shining Path activity. It literally kept Cusco going. But now the owners of the Ayllu can’t pay the $10,000/month that the archbishop of Cusco can get from Starbucks, so the archbishop is telling them, “Leave.” It’s pure greed on his part.

It’s not too late for people to protest the building of Starbucks there. I urge people who care about this issue to do so.

McD’s is already on the Plaza. Myself, I avoid the place. They don’t even use Peruvian potatoes (the best in the world) to make their fries. They import frozen spuds from Idaho. Yeah, it’s standardized, which is what McDonald’s customers want. I prefer to eat at other restaurants around there.

See my blog post, http://americaninlima.com/2008/09/24/totally-offensive-mcdonalds-opens-at-cusco-plaza-de-armas/

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]]> By: Enrique http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/05/19/fast-food-chains-about-to-bombard-cusco-in-peru/#comment-121092 Enrique Thu, 11 Sep 2008 01:34:38 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=1107#comment-121092 As a peruvian guy who lives in cusco more than 3 years i have seen these changes coming since the beginning i came to this wonderfull place. I m pretty sure that to many people they dont like the idea of opening these fast foods, but there is one already there a peruvian fast food "bembos" which looks with a low profile and fits with the main square and is great to have it here. cusco deserves that people from cusco taste different flavors and also that kind of food , we have to be open to everybody.. i prefer good food but of course when i wanna try some greace staff i go to those places and its good to have them now in Cusco. Just we have to be carefull to be without big merchandise as its already doing a peruvian fast food here. To all of you folks thank you to come to my country Cheers As a peruvian guy who lives in cusco more than 3 years i have seen these changes coming since the beginning i came to this wonderfull place.
I m pretty sure that to many people they dont like the idea of opening these fast foods, but there is one already there a peruvian fast food “bembos” which looks with a low profile and fits with the main square and is great to have it here.
cusco deserves that people from cusco taste different flavors and also that kind of food , we have to be open to everybody..
i prefer good food but of course when i wanna try some greace staff i go to those places and its good to have them now in Cusco.

Just we have to be carefull to be without big merchandise as its already doing a peruvian fast food here.

To all of you folks thank you to come to my country

Cheers

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]]> By: Jeff http://www.travel-rants.com/2008/05/19/fast-food-chains-about-to-bombard-cusco-in-peru/#comment-99759 Jeff Thu, 22 May 2008 14:20:50 +0000 http://www.travel-rants.com/?p=1107#comment-99759 I don't even visit the big fast food chains in the U.S., so I would never even think of doing so in another country. It's really sad to see beautiful towns and cities change to accommodate tourists. It makes sense, but I wish it wasn't that way. One thing is for sure -- you will never find things like Starbucks or McDonald's at Macchu Pichu...so I'm glad at least some historical/cultural/architectural marvels can preserve their identity and worth. Regrettably I have also not been to Macchu Pichu, but I am determined to visit it soon. Hopefully by then Cusco will not have changed too drastically! I don’t even visit the big fast food chains in the U.S., so I would never even think of doing so in another country. It’s really sad to see beautiful towns and cities change to accommodate tourists. It makes sense, but I wish it wasn’t that way. One thing is for sure — you will never find things like Starbucks or McDonald’s at Macchu Pichu…so I’m glad at least some historical/cultural/architectural marvels can preserve their identity and worth. Regrettably I have also not been to Macchu Pichu, but I am determined to visit it soon. Hopefully by then Cusco will not have changed too drastically!

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