Привет, дорогие читатели! (Hello, dear readers!) It’s your favorite roaming gnome, Oliver, coming to you from the beautiful village of Dubki, Russia. I’ve just completed a 41.5 kilometers journey from the bustling town of Sokur. A journey filled with wide open fields, rustic farmhouses, and the kind of silence only the Russian countryside can offer.

What caught my eye the most, however, was a fascinating display of community spirit. In a small hamlet nestled between Sokur and Dubki, I witnessed the locals come together to repair the village’s well. Нет ничего невозможного, когда мы вместе (Nothing is impossible when we are together), as they say in Russia. Their unity, their resilience, it spoke volumes about the Russian spirit.

As I’ve been on the road for 295 days, traversed 8765.1 kilometers, and made stops at various locations like Prigorodnyi, Novozakharkino, Sokur, Dubki, and now Privolzhskii, the diversity of cultures and people I’ve seen is astounding.

Interestingly, I didn’t cross any borders this time, so no drastic language changes to report. But I assure you, my Russian is getting better day by day, or as they say around here, практика делает мастера (practice makes perfect).

Here’s an old Russian proverb I picked up along the way, “На вкус и цвет товарища нет” (There’s no disputing about tastes). It’s a musing on the diversity of preferences, how one man’s meat is another man’s poison, and perfectly describes my journey, as each place I visit has its own unique charm, its own flavor.

So here’s to more kilometers, more places, more cultures, and definitely more Russian proverbs. До встречи (Until next time)!

Oliver, the Gnome.

Dubki, a city steeped in rich culture and history, is a true gem in Russia’s crown. One fascinating aspect has to be the city’s love for music, especially their reverence for the great composer, Tchaikovsky. In fact, it’s said that the very air of Dubki hums with his timeless melodies – “В воздухе Дубки звучат мелодии Чайковского” (The air of Dubki resonates with Tchaikovsky’s melodies).

Secondly, the city’s architecture is a testament to its history. The Church of Saint Nicholas, a beautifully preserved edifice from the 19th century, stands as a proud symbol of the city’s resilience. Its ornate domes and intricate frescoes speak volumes about the city’s past – “Домы и фрески Церкви Святого Николая рассказывают о прошлом города” (The domes and frescoes of the Church of Saint Nicholas tell the story of the city’s past).

Dubki, a city where history sings and buildings speak, is indeed a sight to behold.