In a follow-up to an earlier post photo regarding a McDonald’s sign being black (instead of red), it turns out that all European McDonald’s use different colors than those traditionally used in the US. There’s no red at all anywhere on outside signage or buildings that I’ve seen. And actually, it’s not black, but deep sage or hunter green, though frankly it looks black to me. (Side note: searching the words “McDonald’s” and “black” gives a lot of unrelated results, as you may imagine.) The reason for the color change is interesting:
In 2007, [McDonald’s] announced a series of environmental and social initiatives throughout Europe aimed to prove that the company is environmental friendly. For example, they included environmentally friendly refrigeration, they swapped over to non-hydrogenated cooking oil and used that cooking oil into biodiesel fuel that powered their vans. Menus were also changed, with the introduction of organic milk, sustainably grown coffee and toasted deli sandwiches.
So, in order to communicate the change and for their restaurants to reflect this new branding, the classic red color was replaced with a sage green.
https://theuijunkie.com/heres-why-european-mcdonalds-signs-are-green/
I don’t know why I never noticed before this trip, but it turns out that McDonald’ses everywhere are changing their branding to this European combo of green and yellow, without the red. It’s already started in the US – perhaps I’ve just not been paying sufficient attention??
Bonus side note #1: On my final night in Wrocław, a small music venue across the street had a rock band performing that was playing so loud that even my sound-proofing windows were no match. I figured that it would be difficult to watch TV or to sleep, so I opened a window to listen. I quickly realized that the musicians in this band were top-notch (though the singer was just ok). They played some covers of songs I recognized, including perfect renditions of the guitar parts of complicated Van Halen songs, including the Eruption solo, every new guitarist’s objective (which very few ever achieve). The quality was so good that I was astounded that a local Polish band was that great. The band kept transitioning directly between sings without letting the crowd react, but when they finally did take a breather, the singer spoke in clear (and profane) North American English. I did some investigation online and determined that the band was the Adam Bomb Band of Seattle! And Adam Bomb has played with everyone! His original band was with Geoff Tate, the former lead singer of one of my all-time favorite bands, Queensryche. I am surprised that I don’t recall hearing of him before, given my love of the genre since I was in high school. There was no need to pay for tickets when I could hear them so clearly! I really enjoyed the show.
Bonus side note #2: Krakow feels seedier than Prague. Within 15 minutes during a walk through old town one evening (before 8:30pm), I was asked in English or Polish eight times if I wanted to visit a strip club or hire a stripper. Once I stopped starting at my phone to find my way to my next destination, I could see the saleswomen spot me and start making their way over. I began saying no before they even opened their mouths. None of this ever happened in Wrocław.
Today’s dad joke: What is someone with only a bit of ancestry from this region?
A “tad Pole”
Today’s bonus dad joke: What’s another way to describe such a person?
“Pole-ish”
Today’s travel quote:
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.
Mark Twain
Major Meander 
I admire that you are taking Twain’s advice. I too was ignorant of the McDonald’s changes you mention.
Neat! I’d personally rather listen to a rock concert from the comfort of an open window than to be in the fray. Getting older…