To ride abroad – how it was in the Soviet Union

Yeah, how it was – to make through the Iron Curtain and have a look at the life down there?
To smell another smoke, so to say…(remember poetic words – "…and smoke of Fatherland to us is mostly sweet and pleasant!"). What was another reason behind spending much of their labour wages and taking a trip? Practically none. The pocket currency permitted to buy in the State Bank was just enough for the Soviet tourist to purchase some cheap souvenirs. To meet and contact foreigners was prohibited, as well as leave the tourist group more than for 1-2 hours ( "free time"). The people were always afraid to get lost on the streets of an unfamiliar city and be late to hotel for a collective supper, 'cause it meant a serious hardship – looked like as they wanted to desert…
To raise funds for the trip was the easiest thing. The hardest was to be chosen from among many candidates. Only good guys and unconspicuous women – the Builders of Communism - were meant to go. Certainly it couldn't happen without some scheming, brawling and other nerve shaking deals. Sometimes protection and useful acquaintances helped dubious person to be included. Nonetheless the main idea was to avoid any slips – the Soviet country should be presented abroad by people with the highest ethicallevel!
One of the first necessary steps was to issue a testimonial or a reference about a candidate for the foreign trip. Usually it was a headache of candidate oneself. Then this doc was signed by his boss, then by CommParty or Komsomol local leaders, followed by numerous conversations and approvals by trade-union or party committees. But you'd better read about all this in the novel of Russian modern writer Yuri Polyakov called " Parisienne Love of Kostya Humankov".

So this is a cut from Top Ten Soviet comedy "The Diamond Arm" – an episode, where a main character, innocent Soviet tourist, Semyon Semyonych is nearly grabbed by Turkish harlot while sightseeing ancient Stambul. His younger friend Gesha, though knowing just several foreign words, rescues him.
There goes a dialogue:
G.( pulling SemSem out of the door) : You what? Are u nuts?
SemSem: She's calling me , maybe something's happened!
Harlot: Bla-bla-bla,Ai-lu-lu!
G.: Ai-lu-lu later on! No, nicht, net – by no means!
SemSem: But why? Maybe she needs something!
G. What does she need I'll tell you afterwards! Lady, signora, frau, miss! Unfortunately, it will come to nothing! RUSSO TURISTO – OBLIKO MORALE! Ferstein? That's all! Hurry up…

The phrase RUSSO TURISTO =OBLIKO MORALE means Russian tourists – Moral (or Ethical) Cast of Mind!
It became so a popular expression for the Soviet people. Even now it's still used as you can see on the photo above!