270 Chapter 7
the ship’s comment book in 1970, “to take medical treatment in the sea air
and the sea, and to have a closer acquaintance with a beautiful part of our na-
tive land, the Black Sea shore. Of course, I was worried: would this be good
for tourists whose health was not the best? My worries quickly passed, we
were met and treated as if we were at home.” “We restored our health and
rested very well,” wrote another, echoing the familiar lines of the health spa
patient. Elsewhere, tourist base directors sought to allay the fears of middle-
aged tourists, who worried that their tourist trip might prove too strenuous.
Tourist bases too could provide a quiet and comfortable stay, with dominoes
during the day and movies at night.^27
In responding to these expectations, offi cials now sought to bring tourist
base standards to the level of those for health resorts. An architectural engi-
neer explained a new construction plan in which buildings could be used in-
terchangeably as rest bases or tourist bases. These fi ve-story structures would
be built in two sizes, one with 250 beds, another with 500; each room would
have two to three beds and come with a private bath. By 1975, offi cials were
promising tourism conditions to suit every vacationer. “On every itinerary,
in every tourist base we must create conditions of rest that will satisfy the
most varied tastes, to address the highest demands. When buying a putevka- “Setting off,” GAGS, f. 261, op. 1, d. 91 (Black Sea cruise comment books, 1969–
1970), l. 77ob.; “We restored our health,” d. 167 (materials on ocean cruises, 1971), l. 39;
GARF, f. 9520, op. 1, d. 1272, l. 202.
Sochi tourist base Sokol under construction in 1971. Turist, no. 9 (1971), inside front cover.