Здравствуйте, my dear wandering spirits! This is your favorite grumpy gnome, Oliver, reporting from the frosty expanses of Klevenka, Russia. Now you’re probably wondering, “Oliver, you were in Klevenka last time we heard from you!” Well, you’re not wrong, my astute followers. I’ve embarked on a grand journey of 0.0km from Klevenka to… well, Klevenka.

Now, before you accuse me of slacking off, let me tell you about this internal journey I’ve taken. I’ve been exploring the depths of the local culture, the heart and soul of this small Russian town. The most fascinating observation I’ve come across is the locals’ resilience and joy in the face of the biting Russian winter. They have a saying here – “Мороз не страшен, когда сердце теплое” – which translates to “The frost is not frightful when the heart is warm.”

During this short yet introspective journey, my feet may have remained stationary but my soul has traveled a great distance. To date, I have covered a whopping 9208.0 kilometers over 314 days, wandering through cities like Pugachyov and Pestravka. Each place, each culture, adding a new layer to my ever-growing understanding of this vast world.

And in the spirit of embracing the local culture, I’ve been humming a local song, verses from Yuri Shevchuk‘s “Письмо к женщине” (Letter to a woman) which goes, “Я пишу тебе… Что же ещё сказать? Что я не забыл” – “I write to you… What else to say? That I have not forgotten.” It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of love, much like the enduring spirit of the locals here in Klevenka.

As always, I leave you with a bit of gnome wisdom: In stillness, there is movement. In silence, there is noise. And in Klevenka, there is a world to explore. Until next time, добро пожаловать (welcome) and keep wandering!

Ah, Klevenka, a city with a heart as vast as the Russian taiga! Two incredible things about this place? Well, let’s see. First off, the city is home to the Zhukov House, an architectural masterpiece that’s over 200 years old. The house was built by the famous Russian composer Alexander Zhukov. He once said, “Музыка – это мой дом” (Music is my home). Secondly, Klevenka is known for its annual poetry festival, where poets from all over Russia gather to recite verses under the open sky. A famous poet Anna Akhmatova used to say, “Я научу тебя жить, Клевенка!” (I will teach you to live, Klevenka!).

This city is a veritable sanctuary for the arts, where the echoes of music and poetry can be heard in the very wind that whistles through the streets. Now, isn’t that something?