I literally cannot remember the last time I was at a McDonald’s in the US. Normally they barely seep into my consciousness..if you asked me where one was, I likely couldn’t tell you.
Here in Valencia, free wifi access seems to be nearly non-existant. It was with trepidation that I went into the McDonald’s to get the scoop. To my surprise:
It didn’t have the familiar McDonald’s grease smell.
2) It was decorated more swankily than an Italian furniture showroom.
3) Their music switched between hip hop and REM.
OK even their staff had these really cute shirts on with the M stitched on, in a hip DIY way.
I got an espresso with milk for 1.15 Euros (about $1.60) and surfed for 30 minutes, which is what you get with every purchase, no minimum.
The irony does not escape me that I who likes to discover and patronize independent small businesses is thrilled to have McDonald’s on hand here…and that I have been exposed to their marketing and am telling people about their campaign to buy and serve authentic food here in Spain.
Well I had to show my gratitude *somehow*. They’re certainly on the right track and it will be interesting to see if these concepts spread to the US. The only problem is I can only drink so much coffee.
Then I got a tip: Free public wifi access
A friend suggested going near the train station, a university, or library. At the Mercado de Colon (which is really just a small mall…boy the marketing is good) there is free wifi. Mon Orxata is a nice safe place to sit outside and enjoy orxata ( “horchata” ) or an Illy cafe with all the surfing you want, on your own laptop.
Orxata is super sweet much like Thai iced coffee and is a regional specialty. Tonight I shall experience another regional specialty: wine!
