What was it like to travel "behind the Iron Curtain"?

Answer 1

Really weird.

My parents and I went on a package tour to Russia in 1971. The chambermaid at one of the hotels told my Mum that the government had explained to all the hotel staff that Western tourists were hugely subsidised by their governments to look prosperous and try to make Russians feel dissatisfied, but it was a big con because of course ordinary Russians were far better off than the huge deprived masses of ordinary citizens of Western countries.

Actual travelling was strictly controlled on the tour. We were never allowed even to wander around the cities on our own, and certainly not get onto a train or a plane to go and visit anywhere else.

Answer 2

During the Cold War travel to communist countries, or Warsaw Block nations was often difficult and sometimes very troublesome. To begin with, travel to the Soviet Union was not allowed or strictly controlled for years. When it was allowed some very meaningful and specific limitations were put on this travel.

Americans were not allowed to go 'just anyplace'. They could only visit certain areas and even then photography was limited. There was a real fear that Americans would have photographic evidence of anything from military issues to poverty. Trains often did not run on schedule, airplanes were not all that safe, and cars were restricted. Americans could and often were seriously searched and examined, numerous times, for their reasons for travel. It took a great deal of patients and understanding that you were not in America and your 'Constitutional Rights' were meaningless in the Soviet Union.

In addition, food was often an issue. Even restaurants often ran out or had very short and limited supplies. Hotels were not always available. All money one carried had to be exchanged for rubles and once they were exchanged you couldn't exchange them back. It was a "use it or lose it" idea.

Answer 3

Im guess you mean a non native. There were food lines for the regulars. Police could stop you at any time and check your papers. Natives had to get permission to travel from place to place. You couldn't just get up and go.

Being a non native you would be watched by secret police to make sure you were not spying or distributing subversive material.

The one thing I remember is people travelling there always took american toilet paper as the stuff there was rougher than sand paper supposedly.