Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 / QGSI 2.0; site qubix.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!qantel!intelca!t4test!qubix!msc 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