Привет, мои дорогие читатели! (Hello, my dear readers!) Once again, it’s your favorite globetrotting gnome, Oliver, reporting from the historic city of Ryazan, Russia.

From the quiet little town of Beloomut, I embarked on a 43.8-kilometer trek to the city of Ryazan. The journey was picturesque, with wide open fields and the occasional small village. But what caught my attention the most was the traditional Russian architecture scattered across the landscape. The most fascinating was a magnificent onion-domed church in the middle of nowhere, painted in hues of blue and gold. It felt as if it was straight out of a centuries-old fairy tale.

“Церковь как символ нерушимой веры народа” as the locals say. (The church is a symbol of the people’s unshakeable faith). This observation, my friends, made me realize the deep-rooted spirituality and faith that is so ingrained in the culture of this vast and diverse country.

As I trudged along the dusty paths, I couldn’t help but hum a local song, “Калинка“, which is as cheerful and invigorating as the Russian spirit itself.

So far, this tiny gnome has covered an impressive 8208.3 kilometers on foot! From the bustling city of Voskresensk, to the picturesque Dedinovo, to the serene Beloomut, and finally to the historic Ryazan. I’ve been on the road for 274 days, and every day brings a new adventure.

As the old Russian saying goes, “Дорога ведет того, кто идет” (The road leads the one who walks). And walk I shall, onto the next destination, wherever the road may take me. Stay tuned for more stories from the road, my dear readers!

Until then, До свидания! (Goodbye!)

Day 273: Today, I find myself in the city of Ryazan, a place filled with rich culture and history. A fascinating thing about this city is the Ryazan Kremlin, an architectural marvel. The locals fondly refer to it as “наш Кремль” (our Kremlin). It’s a stunning representation of ancient Russian architecture, and let me tell you, it’s even more beautiful than my gnome home!

Another captivating nugget about Ryazan is the city’s ties to Sergei Yesenin, a celebrated Russian poet. Yesenin spent his childhood here, and the city celebrates him with a museum. It’s a common sight to hear locals whispering, “Мы помним ваши стихи, Есенин” (We remember your poems, Yesenin).

As I traipse through this city, I can almost hear the notes of Prokofiev‘s symphonies wafting through the air, as he too was born in this province. Ryazan, you are a marvel and I’m so glad to have set my gnome feet on your historic streets.

“Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” And Ryazan has surely left this gnome with many tales to tell.