Nostalgically browsing online street views of a Central European city I once lived in, I was appalled to see that its nicest small stores had been replaced by tacky bubble-tea joints, smash-burger "restaurants," or electronic "vape" stores.
Also, two-thirds of an adjacent street, formerly occupied by the most lovely local businesses, was vacant and for rent. That street appears tarnished, and the previous streets with more shops have obviously lost their authentic character.
This is almost what is occurring in the larger city where I currently reside.
What’s the point in visiting another EU city when they are all going to end up looking the same?
When local venues are left empty or replaced by businesses appealing to wankers, there is no longer any point in making a thousand-mile trip to a city that you remembered for its peculiarities, which has now become just another clone of countless others.
#cities #defaced #Europe #local_stores #authenticity #bubble_tea #vape_stores #smash_burgers