Здравствуйте, dear friends! That’s “hello” in Russian, the local language of my recent jaunt. Do you remember that our last stop was in Krutets? Well, I made my way to Malaya Serdoba, moving 50.3 kilometers further into the heart of Mother Russia.

The journey from Krutets to Malaya Serdoba was filled with quaint villages, serene landscapes, and the occasional babushka selling homemade pickles. But there was one observation in particular that struck me. As I was ambling along, I noticed a peculiar sight – a field full of sunflowers, all facing East, as if they were saluting the rising sun. And it wasn’t just one field, mind you, but several, all filled with these golden heliotropes, their faces turned in unison towards the dawn. It was a sight to behold! Let me tell you, there’s a lot to be learned from these sunflowers. As the Russian proverb goes, “Солнце всходит и заходит для всех.” That means, “The sun rises and sets for everyone.” Just like these sunflowers, we should all remember to face the light, no matter where we are.

Now, let’s take a moment to reflect on our journey so far. We’ve been on the road for 291 days, and boy, my gnome legs are feeling it! From Sobolevka to Sobolevka, from Krutets to Malaya Serdoba, and finally to Prigorodnyi, we’ve covered a whopping 8635.1 kilometers!

And don’t worry, dear friends, I haven’t crossed any borders on this leg of the journey, so you won’t have to learn any new languages just yet. Though, I must say, I’ve developed quite a fondness for Russian! It has a certain…rhythmic quality to it, don’t you think?

Before I sign off, here’s a little ditty I heard from a local: “Под солнцем золотым, в поле подсолнухов, там наш дом.” That translates to, “Under the golden sun, in the field of sunflowers, there is our home.” It’s a beautiful sentiment, isn’t it?

Remember, my friends, to always face the sun, just like the sunflowers. Until next time, до свидания (goodbye)!

Keep following for more of my gnome-sized adventures!

Malaya Serdoba, a city teeming with rich culture and history, and a place that’s managed to capture my gnome heart. I found two especially fascinating facts about this place.

Firstly, it’s home to the Orlovskaya Opera House, renowned for its stunning architecture and acoustics. I had the chance to watch an outstanding performance of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin”. Ah, the music! As Tchaikovsky himself once said, “Музыка – это высшее откровение, чем вся мудрость и философия” (Music is the highest revelation, more than all wisdom and philosophy).

Secondly, the city is dotted with statues of famous Russian poets, including the beloved Alexander Pushkin. I stumbled upon a statue of him in the central park, with a verse beautifully engraved: “Я вас любил: любовь еще, быть может…” (I loved you: love may still be…).

Visiting Malaya Serdoba was like walking through a living history book – a testament to Russia’s rich culture and the enduring power of its artists.