Hemingway haunt gives discounts to "poor Americans"

[stevenleser]

Source: Reuters (Via Yahoo)

By Philip Pullella
Mon Apr 7, 9:42 AM ET


ROME (Reuters) - Harry's Bar, the famed Venice watering hole where Ernest Hemingway held court over hearty food and stiff martinis, is offering a discount to "poor" Americans suffering from a weak dollar and subprime blues.



The decision by the owner of the restaurant, one of the most expensive even when the U.S. currency is strong, underscores the growing concern about the weak dollar among tourism operators in Italy and elsewhere in Europe.

A sign posted outside the restaurant at the weekend reads:

"Harry's Bar of Venice, in an effort to make the American victims of subprime loans happier, has decided to give them a special 20 percent discount on all items of the menu during the short term of their recovery."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080407/lf_nm_life/italy_tourism_hemingway_dc

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We're the po-folk of the industrialized West

[Cleita]

1. I'm in if he pays my air fare to get there and hotel to stay for a week or so.

Other than that, I'm too poor to get there these days.

[blayne]

2. "...during their short term recovery."

That is too funny.

[CTyankee]

3. Hey, I'll be in Venice in May and Harry's Bar would be the LAST

place I'd go to. There are so many other great places to eat and drink...

[Lost-in-FL]

4. I do not think any Americans flying to Venice right now needs a discount. n/t

[Mike Daniels]

5. Precisely.

If you're traveling beyond the US at this time you have the money to be able to pay full price regardless. And the cash-poor can't likely afford this restaurant even with the discount.