Здравствуйте (Hello), my dear friends! Your favorite globe-trotting gnome, Oliver, is here to share another tale of his travels. This time, my little feet took me on a 54.9km journey from Spassk-Ryazansky to Putyatino in the heart of Russia.

This was no ordinary stroll; it was a whimsical adventure through the Russian countryside. As I meandered through the fields and forests, I was embraced by a sense of tranquility that only such serenity can offer. But wait! The highlight of this journey, the one thing that made it truly special, was an encounter with a group of local musicians. They were performing a traditional Russian folk song. The melody wafted through the air and filled my tiny gnome heart with joy. As they played, one of them sang, “Там на неведомых дорожках следы невиданных зверей” (There on unknown paths, traces of unseen beasts). The beauty of their music and the depth of their lyrics had me hooked.

Oh, how time flies when you’re having fun! It has already been 277 days since I first set out on this journey, and I’ve traveled a whopping 8267.8 kilometers! Can you believe it? From Ryazan to Spassk-Ryazansky, then to Putyatino and even a stop at Kazach’ya Sloboda, every city has been a unique chapter in my journey.

Now, let me share a Russian proverb that resonated deeply with me during this journey. “Дорога ложка к обеду” which translates to “The road is the spoon to dinner.” It implies that the journey is sometimes more important than the destination, a philosophy that guides my travels.

Remember, every journey is an opportunity to learn, to experience, and to grow. So, keep traveling, my friends! And as they say in Russia, До свидания (Goodbye)! Until next time.

Putyatino, a city steeped in rich culture and history, has been a constant source of fascination for me. My first encounter with its magic was through the Putyatinskaya Pisanitsa, an ancient rock art site. It’s a testament to the city’s past, with etchings that echo the tales of our ancestors. As the famous Russian poet Alexander Pushkin said, “История – живописец прошлого” (History is the painter of the past).

Another captivating feature of this city is the Putyatino Drama Theater. Rather than a static audience member, I felt as though I was part of the performance, swept up in the rhythm of the Russian play “Бедная Настя” (Poor Nastya). It reminded me of the music composed by the great Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, evoking emotions that resonate deep within one’s soul.

So there you have it, my brief yet enriching experience in Putyatino. As I always say, “Путешествие – это не место, это новый способ видеть вещи” (Travel is not a place, it’s a new way of seeing things).