This observer was in England for four days last week to attend brother F.E. Fraser's funeral. John (son) came up from Spain and was not only a great pal but helped enormously with the logistics.
London has the best quality of life of any city in the world. There is almost no violence, or fear of it. The many and beautiful parks are full of people who are calm and relaxed. The enormous and spectacular National Art Gallery in Trafalgar Square is open (no charge) to everyone. You can walk up to within two feet of a Gainsborough, Turner, Constable, or Renoir and not even be aware of security. We never saw a gun anywhere.
In the stores, and other public places, nobody lets the door close in your face. There are cars, taxis, trucks, and buses everywhere but they hardly ever honk the horn. The streets are full of young and old people day and night, and girls and women are everywhere without male escorts. In the tube, there are no discernible security guards; each time John and I boarded a full subway car almost immediately a passenger, male or female, would get up and give me their seat. The Brits have got it right and are noticeably prospering.
