Здравствуйте, my dear wandering souls! It’s your old friend, Oliver the gnome, reporting from the frosty heart of Russia: Vygonichi.

Now, you might be wondering, “Oliver, you cheeky gnome, how can you travel 0.0km and still be in Vygonichi?” Well, my dear friend, the journey of a thousand miles (or in this case, no miles) begins with a single step, and this step led me to a fascinating discovery within this very town.

During my non-travel, I stumbled upon an intriguing local custom. I found myself in the midst of a lively домино (domino) game. These aren’t your garden variety dominos, no. The game was played with such intensity and skill, it was as if every tile laid down was a decision of war and peace! The local players, with their furrowed brows and quick hands, showed me that sometimes, you don’t need to travel far to experience the richness of life.

“Путешествие – это не расстояние, это новые впечатления.” (“Travel is not about distance, it’s about new experiences.”)

As of now, our trusty boots have tread over 7544.2 kilometers of this vast world, with recent stops in Trubchevsk, Krasnyi Rog, and Suponevo. We’ve been on the road for a grueling 251 days, and yet, it feels as if the adventure has just begun!

So, my dear wanderers, remember: the world is full of wonders, sometimes just around the corner or even under your nose. As the Russian saying goes, “Не ищи приключений на свою голову” (“Don’t look for trouble.”) But, in our case, we are looking for experiences, aren’t we? So, let’s keep exploring, one step or no step at a time.

До встречи, friends! Keep wandering, keep wondering.

Vygonichi, a sparkling jewel nestled in Russia. Two things that left me flabbergasted are its rich history and the city’s grand Orthodox Church.

The history of Vygonichi reaches back to the era of the ancient Rus. The father of Russian literature, Alexander Pushkin once said, “Что Русское, то здорово” which translates to “What’s Russian, that’s great.” Indeed, walking the cobbled streets of Vygonichi, I felt a part of this greatness.

The city’s Orthodox Church, an imposing edifice, is a testament to Russia’s deep-seated religious faith. Its onion domes, painted in gold, shine like the works of Rachmaninoff, the famous Russian composer. Its beauty reminded me of a quote by Dostoevsky: “Красота спасет мир“, meaning “Beauty will save the world”.

A visit to Vygonichi is like turning the pages of a rich historical book, accompanied by a symphony of cultural grandeur.