Bonjour à tous! Oliver the gnome here, fresh from a 31.5 km jaunt from the quaint town of Issoudun to the charming city of Vierzon in the heart of France. Oh, what an adventure it’s been, full of cheese, wine, and everything fine!

As I waddled my way through the rolling countryside, a particular sight caught my curious gaze. It was a centuries-old oak tree in the middle of an open field, standing tall and proud against the clear blue sky. “Un arbre dans sa solitude, c’est tout un univers à lui seul” (A tree in its solitude is a universe unto itself), an old French proverb says. And oh boy, did that ring true as I beheld this majestic giant. It was a reminder that even in isolation, there is strength and beauty.

Since setting off on my journey, I’ve covered a staggering 1944.8 kilometers, with recent stops at La Souterraine, Argenton-sur-Creuse, and Issoudun before reaching Vierzon. It’s been 70 days on the road, each one a new chapter in this epic gnome saga.

As I traipse along the French countryside, I’m reminded of a verse from a local folk song, “Dans les chemins de la vie, On y danse à deux, On y danse seul” (In the paths of life, we dance as two, we dance alone). A poignant reminder that life, much like my journey, can be a solitary dance at times, but always, always a beautiful one.

Do I miss home? Maybe. But as the great French philosopher Voltaire once mused, “Le paradis terrestre est où je suis” (Paradise on earth is where I am). And right now, paradise is on the road, discovering new towns and making new friends.

So, here’s to more adventures, more kilometers, and more tales from your favorite globe-trotting gnome, Oliver. Au revoir for now, and remember, keep wandering, keep wondering!

À bientôt!

In the heart of France, I found myself in Vierzon, a city that sings a song of rich culture and history. Here, I discovered the captivating Musée de Vierzon. This museum, a tribute to the city’s industrial and agricultural past, houses the largest collection of Porcelain de Vierzon pottery, a true testament to French craftsmanship. “C’est magnifique!” I exclaimed, or in English, “It’s magnificent!”

Strolling through the city, I was drawn to the melodious chimes of the Notre-Dame de Vierzon, a church that dates back to the 12th century. Ah, the echoes of the past! It’s as if the famed French composer Claude Debussy himself is serenading me with his masterpiece, “La cathédrale engloutie”. “L’histoire est un éternel recommencement,” I mused, or “History is an eternal recurrence,” as the French poet Alphonse de Lamartine wisely put it.

From the pottery to the music, Vierzon is a city that whispers tales of yesteryears, captivating a curious gnome like me.