I read an article somewhere I can't remember that talked about how people are now gentrifying nations instead of neighborhoods, pricing out the locals. The example used was Portugal. I was really struck by that.
@StillIRise1963 I can totally imagine people gentrifying Portugal. Ugh!
For me, one of the problems with gentrifying is not getting a lovely new Yemini café in the neighborhood like the one that just opened in my neighborhood (this is an early sign of gentrification, though), it's getting a new Starbucks.
One great thing about affordable neighborhoods (and countries) is the mom & pop shops that offer personality and unique experiences.
The more money that shows up in a neighborhood, the more homogenized it becomes in every way. High end is high end is high end everywhere. Wealth excludes ninety percent of the joys of life, like the interesting people and small businesses that get priced out.
@jennyzilliac I totally agree with you. I watched places get ruined with mahogany and brass in the '90s. The lowest common denominator won, all individuality and personality lost.
I vaguely remember a Douglas Adams story where he said the biggest trouble with time travel was tourists. Setting up the tourist infrastructure made all times alike and got rid of any reason to go there.
I kind of feel that way bout China. I was there in 1989 and it was DIFFERENT and FASCINATING. When I go there now, it is just like everyplace else. (i.e gentrifieD).
@rrb I hear that. I feel that way about a lot of places. I'm always looking for the place that hasn't been found and destroyed yet.@jennyzilliac
@StillIRise1963 @rrb Exactly how I feel.
@rrb @StillIRise1963 I visited Guangzhou close to twenty years ago. It was very cool because it was in no way catering to Westerners like me. I wonder what it's like now. So much money for development. And you know what Cyndi Lauper said about money: "Money changes everything."