Привіт, мої дорогі читачі! (Hello, my dear readers!) This is your favourite globetrotting gnome, Oliver, reporting from the scenic route between Brovary and Irpin, Ukraine.

What a journey it has been – 39.1 kilometers of pure Ukrainian beauty. I’ve seen sunflower fields as far as the eye can see, quaint villages with their own unique charm and bustling cityscapes full of life and energy. However, the highlight of this trek was decidedly the St. George’s Church in Brovary. A little off the beaten track, it is a gem of Ukrainian baroque architecture, painted in blues and whites that mimic the sky and clouds. It’s as if heaven itself has descended upon earth.

As I trudged along, I was reminded of a local song I once heard. “Ой, у лузі червона калина” (Oh, in the meadow there’s a red guelder-rose). It speaks of the beauty of the Ukrainian landscape, just like what I was experiencing.

Now, let’s take a moment to reflect. I’ve been on the road for 236 days, traversing through cities like Boyarka, Brovary, and now Irpin. I’ve clocked in a hefty 7076.0 kilometers. It’s a long road, but as the great Ukrainian philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda once said, “Хто багато пройшов, той багато знає” (He who has traveled a lot, knows a lot).

And now, as I leave the comforting embrace of Brovary and venture into the welcoming arms of Irpin, I am reminded that the language here is diverse. I crossed a linguistic border between Russian and Ukrainian-speaking regions. But remember, language is not a barrier, but a bridge to understanding and friendship.

Stay tuned for more updates as I continue my journey. До побачення! (Goodbye!)

Irpin, a city nestled in the heart of Ukraine, boasts of a rich tapestry of culture and history. First, let’s talk about the city’s historical significance. Founded in 1899, it played a crucial role as a railway hub during the Soviet era. The locals fondly call it “Misto Kypariv”, meaning “City of Steamboat workers”.

Secondly, Irpin is home to the annual Irpin Jazz Fest, a grand celebration of music that pays homage to Ukraine’s renowned composers like Mykola Lysenko. It’s a spectacle where the air is filled with soulful melodies and the phrase, “Музика звучить в серці” (Music resonates in the heart) truly comes alive.

From its historical railway tracks to the reverberating jazz tunes, Irpin is a city that beautifully marries the past and the present, a testament to the resilience and the cultural richness of Ukraine.