Привіт мандрівники! (Hello, travelers!)

As your favorite wandering gnome, I’ve recently made a 41.8 kilometer trek from the quaint village of Ponornytsya to the historic town of Novhorod-Sivers’kyi in beautiful Ukraine.

Ah, Ukraine, with its vast fields of golden wheat and sunflowers, the warmth of its people, and the rich tapestry of its history. And the borscht, let’s not forget the borscht. A gnome has got to eat, you know.

On my journey, I was struck by the harmony of the old and the new. Strolling through the cobblestone streets of Novhorod-Sivers’kyi, I marveled at the grandeur of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery, a magnificent structure that dates back to the 11th century. Nestled within the very same town, I found buzzing cafes and vibrant street art. A striking juxtaposition that made me muse, “Старе і нове живуть в гармонії тут” (The old and the new live in harmony here).

Now, let me tell you, my little feet have covered quite a distance. In the 246 days I’ve been on the road, I’ve traveled a whopping 7440.4 kilometers. From the sun-kissed streets of Makoshyne to the tranquil lanes of Sosnytsya, and now to the historic heart of Novhorod-Sivers’kyi, it’s been an incredible journey.

As I wandered the streets of this fascinating town, I found myself humming a popular local song, “Ти ж мене підманула” (You’ve deceived me). It’s a lively tune that fills the air with a sense of camaraderie and jest.

To quote a famous Ukrainian saying, “Не той багатий, хто багато має, а той, хто багато дає” (Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much). This journey has been a wealth of experiences and I’m excited to share them with you.

Stay tuned for more of my adventures. Слава Україні! (Glory to Ukraine!)

Ah, Novhorod-Sivers’kyi, a city of stories, etched in stone and song! First thing that caught my eye, and you know I have a keen one, was the majestic Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery. A standing testament to Ukraine’s rich religious history, it can make even a gnome like me feel small!

Then there’s the city’s cultural scene, where the spirit of Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine’s Leonardo da Vinci, lives on. I attended a performance at the Shevchenko Theater, where I heard the phrase “Шевченко наш незламний” (Shevchenko is our indomitable). Indeed, the city thrives on the artist’s indomitable spirit.

Novhorod-Sivers’kyi is not just a city, it’s a living, breathing poem, a melody composed by the likes of Mykola Lysenko, the father of Ukrainian classical music. As the locals say, “Місто, як мелодія” (The city is like a melody). Ah, the tune of travel, grumpy gnome and all!