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From: msc@qubix.UUCP (Mark Callow)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: USSR Trip:Part II -Personal Freedoms & Misc.
Message-ID: <1574@qubix.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Dec-84 23:31:47 EST
Article-I.D.: qubix.1574
Posted: Wed Dec 12 23:31:47 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 02:30:44 EST
References: <539@homxa.UUCP>
Organization: Qubix Graphic Systems, San Jose, CA
Lines: 38

I just want to second the report this is following up to.

In August I took an bus trip from Helsinki to Leningrad.  We were in
a party of German's plus myself (English) and 2 Americans.  We
went through customs/immigration with more ease than I've passed though
the US equivalent at times.  No one had their bags searched.  I even
went through with a copy of "The Times" (London variety, if you had to
ask) sticking out of my flight bag.  I also had copies of both
Time and Newsweek.  (Aside: did you know they print special editions
without the health warning on the cigarette ads. for those countries
where they aren't required.  I think that's odious.)  These stayed
in my hotel room in Leningrad when I left.

We had to turn in our passports in return for a hotel card, but we were
never asked to show the card anywhere.  We were able to go pretty much
anywhere we wanted even managing to get lost on the Metro (due to the
unfamiliar alphabet).  I took a photo of the escalator because the lighting
was interesting.  Boy do they build those things deep.  I though London
was pretty deep but this was about half as deep again.

We were approached twice by waiters in the hotel.  First to change money,
then to buy then American cigarettes in the Beriozka store.  Another
person was asked if he would sell his running shoes. When he offered to 
give them away the person fled!!!

They make it almost impossible to change money on the black market
by making you fill in an form, on admission, stating exactly what
currency, travellers cheques etc. you have with you.  Then at each
bureau de change, they give you another form stating how much you
changed.  When you leave you have to say how much you have left.
The books had better balance or else.  I.e., entrySum - exchanges
 == exitSum and exchanges >= purchases.

All in all it was a fascinating trip.
-- 
From the TARDIS of Mark Callow
msc@qubix.UUCP,  qubix!msc@decwrl.ARPA
...{decvax,ucbvax}!decwrl!qubix!msc, ...{amd,ihnp4,ittvax}!qubix!msc