McDonalds

Julia:  Well, Greeks who are legal residents and/or immigrant citizens of the UK should, of course, be permitted to open Greek restaurants in the UK!  Just the same as British legal residents and/or immigrant citizens of Corfu should be permitted to open any kind of restaurant they wish on Corfu!  But I do think adhering to the standard corporate "look" (of places like McDonald's) is a bit much on Corfu.  I mean, there are architectural standards many places the world over which force builders to adhere to the feeling of an area.  I think any kind of McDonald's or other chain restaurant emanating from America or the U.K. should be forced to adhere, at least architecturally, to the historical standards prevalent in the places they set up shop.  I would bet you won't see The Golden Arches on Mykonos!  They shouldn't be allowed on Corfu, either.  They should look vaguely like the rest of the buildings; at least Mediterranean.

Stuart:  If the brakes on moderization were in place, yes, people like you and me WOULD have been able to enjoy tourism on Corfu, yes, even in the 1960s, because, for instance, the place I always stay has been open to tourists since 1850!  And I didn't hear about Corfu from any tourist agency.  I just went traveling about and discovered it on my travels, on my own.  So there would still have been tourism --- just not in the huge numbers there have been in the past 20 yrs. or so.  Or maybe, as I said, Corfu would have gotten a different kind of tourist, one who appreciates the history and culture of Corfu and doesn't necessarily need to watch the telly or eat at McDonald's!  There has always been tourism of some kind on Corfu, history tells us.

Well, as I implied above, I see nothing wrong with having a McDonald's that is shaped like, say, an old Greek taverna, which serves American burgers and is owned by a legal resident or citizen of Corfu!  Even the mutli-national corporations must toe the line to give respect to the areas in which they operate.

Now I've done it!  You can all get your stone-throwing arms ready!

Portia