Today, I embarked on a journey of 20.1 kilometers from the industrious town of Brovary to the heart of Ukraine, the beautiful city of Kyiv. Ah, Kyiv, with its golden domes sparkling in the sun and the Dnipro River flowing majestically through it.

As I trudged through the Ukrainian countryside, something caught my eye. It was a sunflower field, stretching as far as my little gnome eyes could see. “Соняшник” as the locals call it (Sunflower). The sight was a golden ocean swaying in the breeze, their heads following the sun. It was a testament to the resilience and unwavering spirit of the Ukrainian people – just like the sunflower, they too, always turn their faces towards the light, no matter how tough the times.

Now, I’m sitting here in Kyiv, humming the local folk song “Ти ж мене підманула” (You’ve deceived me). The line that goes, “Ти ж мене підманула, на річку заманила” (You tricked me, lured me to the river), seems to echo the deceptive tranquility of my journey today.

It’s been 238 days since I started this journey. I’ve covered 7155.2 kilometers, visited cities like Brovary, Irpin, and Kalyta. Each place, with its unique charm, has etched a special place in my heart.

The philosopher Skovoroda once said, “Світ мій – моя Україна” (The world is my Ukraine). As I continue my journey, I’m starting to understand what he meant. Ukraine is not just a country, it’s a world in itself.

Do svidaniya, or as they say in Ukraine, До побачення! (Goodbye!)

Stay tuned for more of my adventures, for as another Ukrainian saying goes, “Не всі коти вміють м’яукати, не всі гноми вміють подорожувати” (Not all cats can meow, not all gnomes can travel), but I surely can!

Firstly, let’s talk about the St. Sophia’s Cathedral. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a testament to Kyiv’s rich Byzantine and Baroque architecture. The cathedral’s name in Ukrainian is “Собор Святої Софії” (Sobor Svyatoyi Sofiyi). It’s a silent storyteller that whispers tales of the past in your ear as you stand beneath its mighty domes.

Secondly, the city’s love for music and literature. Kyiv was the playground for Taras Shevchenko, a famous poet, writer, and artist. His works, like “Заповіт” (Zapovit or Testament), echo through the city’s theaters and literary cafes. Kyiv’s music scene, meanwhile, is as melodious as a composition from Mykola Lysenko, the father of Ukrainian classical music.

In conclusion, Kyiv is not just a city, it’s a living, breathing masterpiece.