A friend of mine just sent me a photo of a girl she saw on the street in Milano drinking a cup of coffee. Evidently, wandering around on the street with coffee in hand is a particularly American experience in Milan. But she said that she wasn’t American and it wasn’t Starbucks… Seems to have posed a great mystery to the locals… Like she was a germ the locals were keeping tabs on. Had to laugh.
…So if you’ve visited Italy and been stricken to realize that your beloved Starbucks is nowhere to be seen, now you know why. Never fear, for in the near future Starbucks will likely be popping up in major Italian cities. If you are visiting Italy–whether or not there is a Starbucks around–we suggest stopping into a real Italian bar or cafe for the authentic experience that Starbucks has built an empire emulating. The coffee may be a bit strong for your tastes, but as they say, When in Rome…
Like I’m fond of saying: ‘But I’m not in Rome and I’m in a rush…’