Keep cigarette butts off the streets

London/Paris: People in China always suspect something is going on when a large crowd gathers.

That's why I was curious when I saw crowds in the narrow streets outside the Park Lane Mews Hotel when I first passed by in a taxi last week. The next day, I saw the same swarm when I looked out the window of this homey but classic English inn.

Upon further investigation, I found these people were gathering in front of pubs or bars, having drinks and chatting before going off to dinner. Later my friend Marie told me it is not only because a drink outside in the warm spring weather is especially enjoyable, but because most of these people are smokers and can no longer smoke indoors.