Yeah we could see it was going to go to shit back in the '70s, so we applied to move to Australia.
We had to wait 6 years for full-approval. My sister and I did well 'cause we didn't tell a soul, as-instructed by our parents.
We left, IIRC, in December 1980.
Contact with remaining family over there has been minimal; my mom's side moved here mostly but my dad's remained.
I pretty much only hear what you hear bro', apart from when my ol' man went over to see his brother before he died (cancer and imminent). Apparently safety has gone to shit. Nobody drives at-night if he or she can help it. Houses in every half-decent neighbourhood are surrounded by mega fences / walls and beefed-up security.
Wasn't like that when I lived there. It was, as you suggested, stunningly-beautiful.