One of the most interesting things about being a regular traveler is that you begin to notice two things about human beings. The first is that they are the same everywhere, and the second that they are all different.
That may sound crazy, but let me explain. All across the globe people have similar, identifiably human characteristics - broad feelings, needs, desires, hopes and fears that are broadly, and sometimes surprisingly, uniform wherever you happen to find yourself in the world. On the other hand, taste can vary quite dramatically not only between countries but even from town to town and state to state within them: The French can't abide sweet wine but the Germans love it; the Brits go crazy for football/'soccer' but, despite the common language, many Americans are generally indifferent to the game.
A startling example of this variation in local tastes can be found in Peru, the location of one of the most bizarre marketing battles in recent corporate history. Peruvians in general have a rather sweet tooth, and many find that both major world cola brands - Coke and Pepsi - are not quite sweet enough for their taste. This is the reason that the country's very own soft drink, Inca Kola, has enjoyed such enormous success.
Although it is now partially owned by Coca Cola, and although it can now be found in countries far from Peru, Inca Kola has enjoyed great success for years by being just a little sweeter than its rivals, and catering for the slightly different tastes of the population it primarily served. Coke spent huge amounts of cash a few years back trying to dislodge Inca Kola from its winning brand position, but in the end was forced to buy a stake in the company to get a share of the market. Despite all the advertising, all the promotions and all the hype, Peruvians steadfastly refused to shift from drinking something that they enjoyed and which suited their palates.
It goes to prove, of course, that there's no accounting for taste, and whatever the similarities humans may enjoy worldwide - and which they would perhaps to do well to remember a little more often - taste is something that is often unique, local, idiosyncratic and intriguing. Discovering more about what different people like in different parts of the world is one of the great joys of jumping on a plane and flying off to somewhere new.