Question

what was life like in USSR during the cold war?

Answer 1

On my week-long visit to St. Petersburg and Moscow in December, 1975, I found the ordinary people serving tourists to be glum and unsmiling. Perhaps it was because they didn't want to be around Americans. A young teacher in Vladivostok with whom I corresponded was also despondent and anxious to get of of teaching. On a train, a man approached us quietly. As we tried to communicate with him, he surreptitiously pulled out a picture of Jesus and showed us -- implying that he was a Christian. The secretiveness was probably due to not wanting to be known as a religious person.

On the other hand, although their apartments were small and crowded, they were inexpensive. Entertainment at the ballet and opera was also inexpensive.

These sites have more information.

http://www.geographia.com/russia/rushis07.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union