Speaking of Sochi, USSR,
When Russia first opened their doors to tourists my college roommate and I went (early 70's). She spoke Russian and I knew German. We went with a British tour group. We stayed just off Red Square in Moscow, went to Leningrad (saw Rembrandt masterpieces in the Winter Palace), and went to Sochi. At the time Sochi was a summer resort and a favorite of Khrushchev's. I remember being followed as Gayle and I walked between the English, German and Russian hotels at the resort. We swam in the Red Sea. Our group could not eat vegetables or go into greater Russia because they were having a cholera epidemic! In Red Square young people would secretively come up to you, hold out a handful of cheap medals and say "Cow-Goomy" (sp?), their word for chewing gum. We'd make a quick exchange and they would disappear into the crowds. Chewing gum, Bic pens, and bluejeans were the hot commodities for the younger set. There were severe repercussions if they were caught. Their parents could lose their jobs, be banned from the Communist Party, etc. Interesting times!
